Interview Trends In 2026: What The Experts Are Saying
- Rach Recruiting
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
What The Experts Are Saying
I recently sat down with professional interview coaches through the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches™ for an open Q&A session on interview trends in 2026. I'll walk you through some of the key trends that stuck out.
Today's Job Search Is Complicated
One word to summarize what coaches are seeing in 2026 is desperation. Job seekers are showing up to coaches overwhelmed with rejection after applying to hundreds of jobs with little success. They're mentally drained from being ghosted. Job seekers are applying for junior level positions due to being in the market so long. Job seekers are also using AI prior to seeking out help from a coach.
According to resumegenius "78% of job seekers said they either already use AI in the application process or would consider using it".
AI Adds To Confusion Rather Than Adding To Clarity
Career coaches help clients communicate their story with clarity and confidence. Jobseekers that are overusing AI however are losing their confidence through over usage and losing the skill of thinking through how to authentically communicate their value. Using AI to write your story will in return craft a generic answer because AI doesn't know your story.
Where AI Performs Well For Job Seekers
AI excels at creating interview questions that the interviewer may ask in the interview. Lets face it, AI can outperform better than our brain here. I personally like using Anthropic's Claude for sample interview questions to utilize as a recruiter. Others prefer ChatGPT.
Leveraging AI to prepare interview questions can also lead to perfectionism which can become addicting and create more confusion for the job seeker. Stories were shared of clients showing up with pages upon pages of AI drafted interview questions and questioning why they're failing interviews.
Mock Interview Platforms
There were a few standout platforms to consider using for mock interviews. The key to finding a helpful AI mock interview platform is ensuring you can input a job description and write the answers. Yoodli.ai and Huru.ai were recommended platforms because you can input a job description and type your answers. Many others were mentioned but failed to hit the mark due to lacking the features recommended above.
What To Never Ask AI To Do
Never ask AI to come up with answers to interview questions. The art of interviewing well is being able to deliver your message clearly and effectively. This starts with practicing how to speak through your answers as well as developing some bullet points as notes to help you as a guideline. Listen to the question, and think through the answer that the interviewer would be looking for as an answer. Follow the answer up with some proof such as sharing an accomplishment or result. The STAR method is a great method to follow as you prepare.
Transcribing Interview Notes For Feedback
Asking AI to provide you with feedback after an interview is not recommended for many reasons:
AI transcripts are verbatim and focused on value.
AI can't determine if the candidate can do the job.
AI does not read body language.
AI can't read facial expressions.
AI is focused on filler words.
AI can't determine if the candidate is aligned with the company.
AI can't teach communication skills.
Final Thoughts
AI usage is growing in use by job seekers and companies and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Use AI in moderation and as an enhancement tool but be careful not to over use it. Over usage creates reliance on scripts, and the more fear you have the more you'll rely on a script. Lili Foggle said it best.
"We don't speak the way we write" - Lili Foggle, Founder - Impressive Interviewing
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About The Author
Brian Rach
Brian Rach founded Rach Recruiting in 2024 after nearly a decade helping companies find great people. From his roots on a Wisconsin dairy farm to building teams for top manufacturing and tech firms, Brian brings passion and expertise to every search. He’s a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate, AIRS Elite Certified Recruitment Expert, and currently pursuing his Certified Professional Career Coach certification.