How to Interview AI Talent: 5 Tips for Hiring the Right People
Hiring AI talent can be risky if you do not know what to look for. You do not need to be a data scientist to run a strong interview. Focus on business outcomes, communication skills, delivery experience, and problem-solving, rather than technical jargon. These five tips will help you make better hiring decisions and avoid costly mis-hires.
1. Focus on Problems, Not Buzzwords
Strong candidates can explain their work in simple terms. Ask them about the business problem they were solving and the outcome, not the model name or algorithm.
For example:
What problem were you trying to solve?
How did your work improve business results?
What changed because of your project?
Look for candidates who talk about results such as revenue growth, time saved, or improved accuracy, not just technical complexity.
2. Look for Ownership and Delivery
AI projects often fail before reaching production. The best candidates can describe how they delivered real outcomes despite obstacles.
Ask about:
Taking a model from prototype to live use
Working with cross-functional teams
Handling setbacks and failed experiments
You want people who can make things work, not just discuss ideas.
3. Test for Communication, Not Just Competence
AI specialists must explain complex topics to non-technical colleagues. During the interview, ask them to describe a past project as if they were presenting it to an executive.
If they cannot explain it clearly, they may struggle to influence decisions or gain support once hired. Clarity is a sign of real understanding.
4. Use Real Scenarios to Assess Thinking
You do not need to run coding tests. Instead, give a short scenario and ask how they would approach it. For example:
“We receive thousands of customer enquiries each week. How could AI help us respond more efficiently?”
Listen for structured thinking: defining data sources, identifying success metrics, and considering risks. You are assessing how they think, not whether they know the latest algorithm.
5. Bring in the Right Support
You can run a good interview without deep technical knowledge, but it helps to use the right support.
Ask internal data or engineering staff to review tasks or sit in on second-round interviews.
Use recruiters or consultants who actually understand AI roles.
For senior hires, consider an independent technical advisor.
Conclusion: Clear Questions, Better Hires
The strongest interviews focus on clarity and outcomes, not jargon. Ask about problems solved, results achieved, and how candidates worked with others to deliver impact.
With the right questions and a structured process, you can confidently hire AI talent that drives value instead of hype.