By Richard D. Harroch and Dominique A. Harroch
Let’s face it—job interviews can make even the most confident people nervous. But here’s the good news: being prepared can make all the difference in how you present yourself and how comfortable you feel in the interview chair. While you may have (and still should) practice answering classic questions about your career goals and experience, there’s a new topic taking center stage in interviews across all industries: artificial intelligence (AI).
AI isn’t just a foreign concept anymore—it’s transforming how we work. From helping us work smarter to providing valuable insights, AI tools have become part of our daily professional lives. As these technologies continue to evolve and shape our workplaces, employers are increasingly interested in how candidates understand and use AI in their work and personal lives. This shift has led to a new essential interview question that you should be ready to answer. Let’s explore with some insights and research assistance from AI.
The New No. 1 Question Being Asked in Job Interviews
“Tell me how you have recently used AI at work or home.”
This question is quickly becoming one of the most asked in job interviews, as employers want to understand how comfortable candidates are with AI and how they can utilize it in their work and personal lives. The rise of automation, AI-driven decision-making, and machine learning tools has revolutionized industries, and businesses want to ensure that their employees are capable of navigating and benefiting from these technological advancements.
As AI permeates more aspects of life, interviewers want to know if candidates are aware of the latest trends, tools, and platforms available. The way you answer this question can showcase your adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and your openness to new technologies. It’s not just about your technical proficiency, but also how you apply AI to make processes more efficient, improve productivity, or enhance decision-making.
You don’t need to be an AI software engineer, but you do have to be familiar with how to use some key AI tools.
Why Interviewers Are Asking This Question
Interviewers are increasingly asking this question because they want to gauge your familiarity and fluency with AI. In today’s world, AI isn’t just reserved for tech-heavy industries; it’s making waves across all sectors including healthcare, marketing, finance, and even customer service. Employers know that AI is shaping the future of business, so they’re eager to hire candidates who can embrace this change and integrate AI tools into their work processes.
The goal behind this question is to assess how comfortable you are with emerging technologies. AI can help streamline workflows, enhance customer experiences, and even create innovative solutions to longstanding challenges. Companies that understand the potential of AI want employees who can not only use it effectively but also envision ways to use it to add value to their roles and the organization as a whole. Therefore, your response can showcase your technical proficiency, creativity, and ability to think critically about how AI can be applied in real-world scenarios.
Sample Answers to the Key Question
Here are 10 example answers to the question, “Tell me how you have recently used AI at work or home,” that will help you craft your response.
- AI in Project Management
“I used AI-powered project management tools like Trello and Asana to automate task assignments based on team members’ workloads. The AI helped prioritize tasks by analyzing deadlines and dependencies, saving me a lot of time in planning and scheduling.” - AI in Customer Service
“At my last job, I worked with a chatbot powered by AI to improve customer service. By automating basic queries, we were able to respond to customer concerns 24/7, which significantly reduced response time and increased customer satisfaction.” - AI for Data Analysis
“I’ve used AI tools like Tableau and Google Analytics to analyze large datasets and derive meaningful insights. The AI automatically generated visual reports that helped me identify trends, optimize marketing campaigns, and increase customer engagement.” - AI for Content Creation
“I’ve used AI-driven writing assistants like Grammarly and ChatGPT to help generate content ideas and improve the readability of my articles and memos. It suggested alternative phrasing and keywords, making my writing process faster and more efficient.” - AI for Task Automation
“At home, I use AI-powered personal assistants like Google Home to automate my day-to-day tasks. From controlling my home’s temperature to managing my calendar, AI has streamlined my schedule and helped me stay organized.” - AI in Financial Planning
“I use AI tools to help manage personal finances. These tools analyze my spending patterns, recommend budgeting adjustments, and even suggest saving opportunities based on my financial goals.” - AI for Marketing Campaigns
“In my previous role, I used AI to optimize marketing campaigns. By analyzing customer behavior and preferences, AI suggested which ads would have the highest conversion rates, which led to a 20% increase in ROI on our ad spend.” - AI in Hiring and Recruiting
“At work, I used an AI-driven recruitment tool to help screen resumes and match candidates to job descriptions more efficiently. It helped streamline the hiring process, reducing the time to find qualified candidates by 30%.” - AI for Image Editing
“At home, I use AI tools like Dall-E and Photoshop’s AI-powered features to speed up my image creation and editing process. The AI auto-adjusts elements such as brightness and contrast, saving me significant time when working on design projects.” - AI in Healthcare Management
“In the healthcare sector, I’ve used AI to assist in scheduling and patient data management. By using AI tools to predict patient needs based on medical history and appointments, the clinic was able to improve operational efficiency by 15%.”
Conclusion on the Top Job Interview Question
The question “Tell me how you have recently used AI at work or home” reflects the growing importance of AI in today’s job market. Employers want candidates who can demonstrate an understanding of AI’s potential and how to incorporate it into daily tasks. Your response to this question is your chance to showcase how you’ve leveraged AI to improve efficiency, solve problems, and adapt to new technologies.
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s already here, making waves across industries. As AI continues to evolve, it will become an even more significant part of the workplace. By being prepared to answer questions like these, you can position yourself as a forward-thinking candidate who is ready to harness the power of AI to help your future employer achieve success.
However, it’s equally important to demonstrate your understanding of AI’s limitations and potential risks. Being able to discuss topics like the importance of human oversight and the need to verify AI-generated outputs shows employers you take a thoughtful, responsible approach to using these tools. The ability to speak knowledgeably about AI tools and how they impact both your personal and professional life will help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.
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Copyright (c) by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved
Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and AllBusiness.com. Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn.
Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at AllBusiness.com. She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event management at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies, Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.
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