I Can See You Reading That. Yes, Really.

I was conducting a virtual interview recently when something caught my eye. The candidate was wearing glasses, and in the reflection, I could see exactly what was on their other screen. They were reading. Not glancing at notes. Reading. Full sentences, scrolling as they went.

I want to be clear: I did not need the glasses to tell me. I could already tell from the way they were responding, the slight delay before each answer, the eyes that weren't quite focused on the camera, the responses that were technically correct but somehow felt like they were happening in a different room than the one I was in.

The glasses just confirmed it.

And here is the thing. I am not writing this to shame anyone. I am writing this because I genuinely believe it is hurting candidates who are otherwise qualified, and I would rather say it plainly than watch good people talk themselves out of opportunities they deserved.

Preparation Is Good. Over-Scripting Is Something Else.

Let me say clearly: preparing for an interview is smart. Thinking through your experience, reflecting on what you have accomplished, anticipating common questions, all of that is genuinely useful. Please do it.

But there is a difference between preparation and a script. And there is a growing trend, accelerated by AI tools that can generate polished answers to any interview question in seconds, of candidates arriving to interviews not prepared but armed. Armed with responses they have not really internalized, answers that sound impressive but do not quite fit the question that was actually asked, and a dependence on having the right words in front of them rather than finding the right words in the moment.

That dependence shows.

What Recruiters Are Actually Evaluating

When I am interviewing someone, I am not just listening to what they say. I am watching how they think.

Can they listen to a question and respond to what was actually asked, not what they hoped would be asked? Can they handle a follow-up they did not anticipate? Can they sit with a moment of uncertainty, gather their thoughts, and find their way to an answer that is genuinely theirs?

These are not trick questions or stress tests. They are just conversations. But they tell me an enormous amount about how someone will show up on the job, where things will not always go according to plan, where they will need to adapt, think on their feet, and work with people who are unpredictable in all the best and most human ways.

In a world where AI can produce a technically perfect answer to almost anything, relational intelligence is more valuable than ever. The ability to actually be present with another person, to listen, respond, and connect, is not something any tool can replicate for you. It is the thing that gets you hired.

The Specific Problem With AI-Generated Answers

Using AI to research a company before an interview? Smart. Using it to brainstorm questions you might be asked and think through your responses? Also smart. Using it to generate word-for-word answers that you then read from a second screen during the interview itself? That is where it stops working in your favour.

Here is why. AI generates answers that are technically correct and professionally worded. They are also generic, slightly detached from your actual experience, and almost impossible to follow up on naturally. When I ask a follow-up question and the answer suddenly shifts in tone, stumbles, or does not connect to what was just said, I notice. When the response to "tell me about a time you navigated a difficult team dynamic" sounds like it came from a leadership textbook rather than a real moment in your career, I notice that too.

And if you are wearing glasses, I might also notice the reflection.

What To Do Instead

Practice out loud before the interview. Not by memorizing scripts, but by talking through your experience the way you would explain it to a friend. What did you actually do? What was hard about it? What did you learn? Get comfortable with your own stories in your own words.

Think about the overall impression you want to leave. Not every answer, but the overall picture. What do you want the interviewer to understand about who you are and what you bring? Hold that as your north star and trust yourself to find your way there.

Give yourself permission to pause. A moment of silence before answering a question is not a weakness. It is a sign that you are actually thinking about what you were asked. That is a good thing.

And if you do not know the answer to something, say so. "That is a great question, I have not encountered that specific situation but here is how I would approach it" is a genuinely strong response. It shows self-awareness, honesty, and the ability to think through something new. Those are qualities every good employer is looking for.

The Bottom Line

No interview will go exactly the way you prepared for it. There will always be a question you did not anticipate, a direction you did not see coming, a moment where you have to just be present and figure it out. That is not a flaw in the process. That is the point of the process.

The candidates who stand out are not the ones with the most polished answers. They are the ones who show up as a real person, listen well, think clearly, and make the interviewer feel like they just had an actual conversation.

Be that person. Put the second screen away.

Jody Bomhof is the Founder of Momentum Talent Solutions Inc., a boutique Canadian contract talent placement firm specializing in strategic placements for HR, Marketing, and AI professionals. When she is not writing about the things that are quietly costing candidates great opportunities, she is spending time with her daughter, or you’ll find her out on the golf course or the mountain bike trails.

Looking for support navigating your job search with a team that actually pays attention? Reach out at info@momentumtalent.ca. We would love to be in your corner.