Executive Summary
The PyjamaHR AI Interviewer is an advanced, add-on feature designed to automate and streamline the initial candidate screening process. Leveraging AI-driven video interviews, it evaluates candidates based on customizable screening criteria, saving recruiters significant time while ensuring a fair and consistent assessment. This guide covers everything you need to know to maximize the value of AI Interviewer, from setup and advanced usage to troubleshooting and FAQs.
Detailed Overview
What is the PyjamaHR AI Interviewer?
The AI Interviewer is an automated, video-based interview tool within PyjamaHR that conducts structured interviews with candidates on your behalf. It asks role-specific questions, evaluates responses using AI, and generates detailed reports with fitment scores and summaries for each candidate.
Key Benefits:
- Scalability: Screen hundreds of candidates quickly without manual scheduling.
- Consistency: Every candidate is evaluated using the same criteria, reducing bias.
- Customization: Tailor the interview to specific roles, skills, and company requirements.
- Integration: Works seamlessly with other PyjamaHR features like job postings, candidate pipelines, and reporting.
When to Use:
- High-volume hiring or initial screening rounds.
- Roles requiring standardized skill or language assessments.
- When you want to reduce manual interviewer workload and speed up shortlisting.
Business Impact:
- Reduces time-to-hire by automating early-stage interviews.
- Improves candidate experience with flexible, on-demand interviews.
- Ensures objective, data-driven shortlisting.
Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up and Using AI Interviewer
Prerequisites
AI Interviewer is an add-on feature and requires purchasing credits (see Pricing FAQ).
Only available to paid PyjamaHR accounts (not on the free trial after credits are exhausted).
Candidates need a device with a camera and microphone (desktop recommended, mobile supported).
1. Accessing AI Interviewer
Log in to your PyjamaHR account.
Navigate to the Jobs section.
Select the job for which you want to use AI Interviewer.
2. Configuring the Interview
Click “Send AI Interview” or similar CTA on the candidate pipeline.
In the configuration screen:
Screening Criteria: Enter detailed requirements (skills, experience, specific questions). This guides the AI in generating relevant questions.
Role/Skill Selection: Choose from 2000+ available skills or specify custom requirements.
Assessment Type: Select video interview, coding test (with compiler), MCQ, or cognitive test as needed.
Expiration: Note that interviews now have a standard expiration time (manual selection is no longer available).
[Screenshot Suggestion: Show the “Configure AI” screen with fields for screening criteria, skills, and assessment type.]
3. Inviting Candidates
Select candidates from your pipeline or import them (manual entry, CSV upload, or referral).
Click “Send AI Interview Invite”.
Candidates receive a standardized email with the interview link (currently not customizable).
4. Candidate Experience
Candidates click the link, grant camera/microphone access, and are greeted by the AI avatar (e.g., “Suchal” or custom name).
The AI explains the process, asks questions, and listens to responses.
For technical roles, coding environments or MCQs may be included.
Candidates can complete the interview at their own pace within the expiration window.
5. Reviewing Results
After completion, find interview reports under the candidate’s profile, in the AI Interview tab.
Reports include:
Fitment Score
Summary of responses
Skill breakdown
Video/audio recordings
[Screenshot Suggestion: Candidate profile with AI Interview tab and sample report.]
6. Shortlisting and Next Steps
Use the AI-generated insights to move candidates through your hiring pipeline.
Communicate results or schedule further interviews as needed.
Advanced Usage & Best Practices
Customization and Power Tips
Custom AI Avatar Name & Introduction: You can request to personalize the AI interviewer’s name and introductory spiel (e.g., “Harvey” for HydraMed). Provide your preferred name and script to support for setup.
Screening Criteria Optimization: The more detailed your screening criteria, the more relevant and tailored the AI’s questions will be.
Role-Based Assessments: Select or specify the exact skills for each role to ensure the AI interview is highly relevant.
Candidate Q&A: While the AI primarily asks questions, you can instruct it to prompt candidates for their questions and provide pre-set answers (see FAQ).
Technical Assessments: For coding roles, enable the compiler environment and MCQ options.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Test the process with your free credits before purchasing in bulk.
- Inform candidates upfront that the interview is AI-driven and explain the process.
- Encourage candidates to use a desktop with a stable internet connection for best results.
- Use the “Configure AI” section to specify must-ask questions or topics.
Don’t:
- Don’t share PyjamaHR login credentials across multiple users (can trigger account blocks).
- Don’t use extremely long or complex questions without breaking them down.
- Don’t expect to manually edit individual AI-generated questions (use screening criteria instead).
Troubleshooting & Common Issues
Common Problems & Solutions
Issue/Message | Solution |
AI is not audible / can’t hear questions | Check candidate’s microphone and speaker settings; try rejoining the interview. If unresolved, switch browsers or devices. |
AI interviewer is “thinking” or stuck | Leave and rejoin using the same link. If still stuck, wait and try again later. |
Exceeded maximum number of attempts | Contact support to reset the attempt limit. This can happen if the link is opened in multiple tabs or devices. |
Interview link expired or not working | Try again after some time; if still not working, request a new link from the recruiter. |
Interview shows as incomplete after finishing | Usually, the interview is recorded and submitted. Check with support to confirm submission. |
AI repeats questions or skips ahead | May be due to network lag or browser issues; recommend rejoining or switching devices. |
Candidate not audible to AI | Ensure microphone permissions are granted and device is functioning. Try a different browser if needed. |
Cannot customize invite email | Currently, the invite email is standardized and cannot be edited. |
AI interview not progressing | Refresh, rejoin, or switch devices. If the issue persists, contact support. |
AI interviewer not responding after first question | Leave and rejoin. If still unresolved, contact support. |
Recovery Procedures
Rejoining Interviews: Most issues can be resolved by rejoining with the same link.
Extending Expiry/Attempts: Support can extend interview windows or reset attempt limits on request.
Technical Escalation: For persistent platform issues, share screenshots or recordings with support for faster resolution.
Comprehensive FAQ
1. What is the AI Interviewer and how does it work?
The AI Interviewer is an automated video interview tool that asks candidates questions based on your specified criteria, evaluates their responses, and generates a fitment report.
2. How do I customize the questions asked by the AI?
You cannot edit individual questions directly, but you can specify detailed screening criteria and must-ask questions in the “Configure AI” section.
3. Can the AI interviewer answer candidate questions?
Yes, if you instruct the AI to prompt for candidate questions and provide possible answers in the configuration, it can respond to candidate queries.
4. Can I send multiple AI interviews to the same candidate?
Currently, this is not standard, but you can request this capability from support if your process requires multiple rounds.
5. How many skills can be tested?
Over 2000+ skills are available, including technical, cognitive, and language assessments.
6. Can I see a list of all available skills?
There is no pre-made public list; you can explore available skills directly in the platform during configuration.
7. What happens if a candidate’s interview is interrupted?
Candidates can rejoin using the same link. If the interview is marked incomplete, support can verify submission or reset the attempt.
8. Is there a time limit for completing the interview?
Yes, interviews have a standard expiration window (typically 48–72 hours). Manual expiration settings are no longer available.
9. Can candidates use a mobile device?
Yes, but desktop is recommended for best experience.
10. How do I review AI interview results?
Go to the candidate’s profile and open the AI Interview tab to view reports, scores, and recordings.
11. Can I customize the AI avatar’s name and introduction?
Yes, contact support with your preferred name and intro script.
12. What if the AI interviewer is not responding or stuck?
Leave and rejoin the interview. If the issue persists, contact support with details.
13. How are AI interviews priced?
AI Interviewer is an add-on, charged per credit/interview. Free credits are provided on new company sign-up; bulk purchases are required thereafter.
14. What if I exceed the maximum number of attempts?
Contact support to reset your attempt limit.
15. Can I extend the interview deadline for a candidate?
Support can extend the window in case of technical issues.
Related Features & Next Steps
Candidate Pipeline Management: Use AI Interviewer results to move candidates through custom hiring stages.
Technical Assessments: Combine AI interviews with coding tests and MCQs for technical roles.
Bulk Candidate Import: Use CSV upload or referrals to add candidates for AI interviews.
Reporting & Analytics: Export candidate data and interview results for further analysis (job-level export only).
Custom Branding: Request custom AI avatar names and scripts for a branded candidate experience.
Recommended Next Steps:
- Review How to Export Candidate Data
- Explore Integrating PyjamaHR with Job Boards
- Contact support for demos, advanced configuration, or troubleshooting.
Summary Table: Common Customer Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Mistake | How to Avoid |
Not specifying detailed screening criteria | Use the “Configure AI” section to guide the AI for relevant questions |
Sharing login credentials across users | Invite each team member separately to avoid account blocks |
Expecting to manually edit AI questions | Use screening criteria for customization instead |
Not informing candidates about the AI process | Include a clear intro in the AI avatar’s script |
Ignoring technical prerequisites | Advise candidates to use desktop, check camera/mic, and stable internet |
Real-World Scenarios & Use Cases
High-Volume Screening: A recruiter needs to screen 200+ applicants for a sales role. AI Interviewer automates the first round, shortlisting only those who meet communication and experience criteria.
Technical Hiring: For a Java Developer role, the AI Interviewer is configured with coding questions and a live compiler environment, providing objective skill assessment.
Custom Branding: A company customizes the AI avatar to introduce itself as “Harvey” and includes a branded introduction, improving candidate experience and transparency.
Candidate Q&A: The AI is instructed to prompt candidates for questions at the end, and answers are pre-loaded for common queries.
Still Need Help?
If you encounter issues not covered here, or need advanced customization, contact PyjamaHR Support with:
- Job ID and candidate email
- Screenshots or screen recordings of the issue
- Detailed description of the problem
Support is available via in-app chat or at [email protected].
Related Articles:
- How to Export Candidate Data
- Integrating PyjamaHR with Cutshort
- Understanding Access Types
This guide is based on real customer conversations and is updated regularly to reflect the latest features and best practices for PyjamaHR AI Interviewer.