AI Interviews
What to expect from Terac's AI voice interviews, and how to get set up for one.
Terac uses two short AI voice interviews. This guide explains what each one is, how to get set up, and what to do if something goes wrong.
The Two AI Interviews
The onboarding interview
The last step of onboarding is a conversation with Sophia, our AI interviewer, about your background and the kind of work you want. It helps us match you with the right opportunities.
- It takes about 10 minutes and runs in English.
- It is optional. Choose Skip for now, and you can take it later from Home.
- If you need to stop, choose Leave and finish later. What you have said so far is saved, and next time you pick up where you left off.
- Once you have finished it, it cannot be taken again.
The AI screening interview
Some opportunities screen applicants with a Quick chat with our AI interviewer.
- It takes about 3 minutes, sometimes a little longer, and there is no hard time limit.
- If the opportunity offers more than one language, you choose it on the screen before you start. Otherwise it runs in the opportunity's language.
- Once you have finished it, it cannot be taken again. If it dropped, or you ended it early, you can start it again from the beginning.
The interviewer does not decide whether you are approved. A person on our team reviews the recording and transcript, and on some opportunities our automated review can approve or decline it.
Other interview tasks
Some opportunities have an interview task that is not one of these. It either opens on another website, or it is a live call you book with Schedule your interview. See Completing Tasks.
What You Need
- A computer or phone with a camera and microphone. Both are required: the camera stays on for the whole interview. Some opportunities only run on a computer, and will tell you if you open them on a phone.
- An up-to-date browser. Chrome or Edge work best. Safari and Firefox can work, but some checks are not available in them.
- A quiet, well-lit place where your face is clearly visible, with minimal interruptions.
- A stable internet connection.
Before You Start
The screening interview opens with a short checklist:
- Disconnect external monitors (on a computer). Unplug any extra screens. The check clears itself once they are unplugged.
- Share your entire screen. Pick Entire screen, not a window or a tab. On a device that cannot share its screen, this step is skipped.
- Allow camera and microphone when your browser asks.
- Check your framing. Center yourself in the outline, in good light, then click I'm ready.
Then click Start interview.
During the Interview
The interviewer introduces itself, then asks questions one at a time, with follow-ups based on your answers.
- Listen to the whole question, then answer clearly and in your own words.
- Keep pauses short. A long silence can be taken as the end of your answer. If you need a moment, say "let me think."
- Be specific. Real examples from your experience are what researchers want.
- Stay in the interview window. Switching tabs, leaving the window, exiting full screen, muting, turning off your camera, and stopping your screen share are all recorded for the reviewer.
The controls at the bottom let you mute, turn your camera on or off, and manage your screen share. End interview ends the screening interview straight away, with no confirmation, so only click it when you are done. You can also say you are done, and the interviewer will wrap up.
Common Issues and Solutions
"Access to your camera and microphone is blocked"
- Click the lock or site-settings icon in your browser's address bar.
- Set camera and microphone to Allow.
- Reload the page.
On a phone, open your phone's settings, allow camera and microphone for your browser, then reload the page.
The wrong microphone is being used
Choose your microphone in your browser's site settings or in your computer's sound settings, then reload the page. There is no microphone picker inside the interview.
"External monitor detected"
Unplug the extra screen. The message clears once it is disconnected.
Screen sharing picked the wrong thing
If you shared a single window or tab, click Try again and choose Entire screen, or the name of your monitor.
The interview did not start, or it disconnected
If you see We couldn't start the interview, wait a moment and try again. If a screening interview drops partway through, go back to the step and start it again from the beginning. If the onboarding interview drops, you pick up where you left off.
Audio quality is poor
Move closer to your microphone, reduce background noise, and use headphones to prevent echo.
FAQ
Can I retake an interview?
Not one you have finished. A screening interview that dropped or that you ended early can be started again from the beginning.
Are interviews recorded?
Yes. We record video of your camera and your shared screen, the audio, and a transcript, along with events such as switching tabs or turning off your camera. See our data usage policy.
What language should I use?
The language the opportunity is in. If it offers more than one, you choose on the screen before you start. The onboarding interview is in English.
How long do interviews take?
The screening interview takes about 3 minutes, and the onboarding interview about 10. The estimate is shown before you start.
Who reviews my interview?
A person on our team, and on some opportunities our automated review, looks at the recording and transcript. The AI interviewer asks the questions, but it does not make the decision.
What's Next?
Review best practices to improve your overall success rate on Terac.