How do I set up and complete an interview session?
This guide walks you through the full process of using the AI Interview Simulator — from selecting your CV to receiving your coaching report. Follow these steps the first time you use the simulator, or refer back to specific sections as needed.
Quick Steps
- Open the Interview Simulator from the navigation menu or homepage.
- Select your CV from the dropdown list.
- Paste the job description for the role you're targeting.
- Choose your settings — session length, difficulty level, language, and microphone type.
- Confirm and start the interview.
- Answer questions using your voice for the length you selected.
- End the interview when you're done or let the AI conclude naturally.
- Review your coaching report — available as a downloadable PDF.
How do I access the Interview Simulator?
You can reach the Interview Simulator from several places:
- Navigation menu — Click "Interview Simulator" in the top menu bar
- Homepage — Click the "Interview Simulator" button on the homepage
- CV Builder — Open the simulator directly from your CV Builder dashboard
If you haven't created a CV yet, the system will redirect you to the CV Builder with a message explaining that a CV is required first.
How do I set up the interview lobby?
The lobby screen is where you configure your interview session before it begins.
Select your CV
Choose one of your existing SkilOre CVs from the dropdown. The AI will read your CV content — your work experience, skills, education, and achievements — to generate questions specific to your background.
Tip: Select the CV that best matches the role you're preparing for. If you have multiple versions tailored to different industries, pick the one most relevant to this job description.
Paste the job description
Copy and paste the full job description into the text area. The minimum length is 100 characters. The more detail you provide, the better the AI can tailor questions to the role's actual requirements.
The system automatically extracts a job title from the first lines of the job description. This title appears in your interview history for easy reference.
Choose your settings
Session length — Choose how long you want the interview to run: 5, 15, 30, or 45 minutes. Shorter sessions are good for a quick drill; longer ones give a fuller mock interview. When you pay with Smart Tokens, the cost scales with the length you pick (5/10/20/25 tokens).
Difficulty level — Select Junior, Intermediate, or Senior based on the seniority of the role you're preparing for.
Language — Choose from 12 supported languages and dialects. The AI interviewer will conduct the entire session in your selected language.
Microphone setup — Select your microphone type to optimize voice detection:
- Headset / Earbuds — for close-range microphones (near-field)
- Laptop — for built-in laptop microphones (far-field)
- Conference — for conference room microphones (far-field)
Recording — Toggle recording on or off. When enabled, the full interview audio is saved and can be replayed from your interview history.
How does starting a session work?
Before the interview begins, a confirmation step shows how you'll access this session, based on your account:
- On a plan — If you're on the Practice or Accelerate plan, the simulator is included and no tokens are charged.
- Free practice session — If you're on the free tier and haven't used your free session yet, you can start it at no cost.
- With Smart Tokens — Otherwise, the confirmation shows the token cost for your chosen length (5/10/20/25 tokens), your current balance, and your balance after the session. Tokens are deducted when the session starts, and refunded automatically if the session fails to start or ends too early.
Confirm to proceed and the interview begins.
What happens during the interview?
Once the session starts, you enter a live voice conversation with the AI interviewer.
How the conversation flows
The AI interviewer follows a structured approach:
- Opening — A brief introduction and context-setting question
- Technical questions — Role-specific questions based on the job description and your CV
- Behavioral questions — Situation-based questions expecting structured answers (STAR method)
- CV-based questions — Questions that probe specific claims, projects, or transitions in your CV
- Closing — The interviewer summarizes and concludes the session
The reflection pattern
After each of your answers, the interviewer paraphrases what you said before moving to the next question. This serves two purposes:
- It confirms the interviewer understood your answer correctly
- It gives you a chance to correct or clarify anything before the conversation moves on
If the paraphrase misses something important, simply say so — the interviewer will adjust.
How long does it last?
The session runs for the length you chose in the lobby (5, 15, 30, or 45 minutes). The AI interviewer will naturally wrap up as that time approaches or once enough topics have been covered. You can also end the interview early by clicking the "End Interview" button.
What happens when the interview ends?
When the session concludes:
- Short interview check — If the session was very brief (fewer than 4 exchanges or under 60 seconds), it's flagged as a short interview. Any tokens spent are refunded and no coaching report is generated.
- Normal session — The interview data is sent to the feedback engine, which generates your coaching report. This typically takes 30–60 seconds.
- Report available — Your coaching report appears in your interview history as a downloadable PDF.
How do I end an interview early?
Click the "End Interview" button at any time. A confirmation dialog will appear:
- Short interview — If you haven't answered enough questions, the dialog explains that any tokens spent will be refunded and no feedback will be generated.
- Normal interview — The dialog confirms the session will end and your coaching report will be generated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pause the interview?
The interview runs as a continuous voice conversation and cannot be paused. If you need to stop, end the session — your data up to that point is preserved.
What if the AI misunderstands my answer?
The reflection pattern helps catch misunderstandings. If the interviewer's paraphrase doesn't match what you said, correct it in your next response. The AI will adjust its assessment accordingly.
Can I redo an interview for the same job?
Yes. Each session is independent. You can start a new session with the same CV and job description as many times as you like. On the Practice or Accelerate plan sessions are unlimited; otherwise each session uses your free session or Smart Tokens.
What if my microphone isn't working?
Check your browser permissions — make sure the site has access to your microphone. Try selecting a different microphone type in the lobby settings. If issues persist, test your microphone in your device's audio settings before starting a new session.
Do I need to speak in complete sentences?
Speaking naturally gives the best results. The AI evaluates content, structure, and communication quality. Clear, complete answers score better than fragmented responses, but you don't need to be overly formal.
Related Articles
- Introduction to the AI Interview Simulator — Overview and prerequisites
- Understanding Your Coaching Report — How to interpret your results
- Interview History & Progress Tracking — Review and compare sessions