The Art of Faking AI Enthusiasm in Job Interviews

For many professionals, the interview room has become a stage. Felisha Case, a former program manager at LinkedIn, says she is frequently pressed on her AI experience despite limited exposure in her previous role. She describes the pressure as akin to being forced to complete a new degree on the fly just to remain competitive. This sentiment is echoed by others in the tech sector who find the industry’s obsession with AI to be overblown, yet recognize it as the primary path to employment. Some candidates now spend time learning tools they personally dislike simply to have a narrative ready for recruiters.

Kareem Osman, a vice president at Robert Half, notes that hiring managers are primarily looking for signs of adaptability. He suggests that framing AI as a tool for streamlining tasks or overcoming specific challenges can satisfy an interviewer's curiosity. However, the line between being adaptable and being a skeptic is thin. HR consultant Josh Bersin warns that outright dismissing the technology can be a career-ending move. Consequently, many applicants are learning to 'read the room,' modulating their enthusiasm based on the specific company culture, while others, like former Microsoft employee Mody Khan, find that even formal AI certifications occasionally fail to move the needle during the actual hiring conversation.