Real-time interview assistant setup comes down to five checkpoints: the day before, 30 minutes before, 2 minutes before, during the call and after it. Almost everything that goes wrong on the day, such as no captions, the wrong headset or a session that runs out mid-round, can be caught the day before. So most of the work happens there, and the later checkpoints get shorter.
This checklist is written for CoPilot Interview, a desktop app for Windows 10+ and macOS 12+ that listens to your computer's audio output, shows live captions of the interviewer's question and then a structured answer in about 2 seconds. Most steps apply to any desktop assistant. Each section ends with a "done when" line, so you know when to move on.
One day before: install, rehearse and plan for problems
Do this on the same computer, headset and network you'll use for the interview. Give it 45 minutes, including a rehearsal.
Install and grant permissions
- Download the zip from the official site: CoPilot_Interview_Setup.zip on Windows, CoPilot Interview.zip on macOS. Unzip it and run it. No signup is needed to start.
- Allow the permissions your system asks for on first launch, then quit and reopen the app so they take effect. The step-by-step details are in our guides to setting up on Windows and setting up on a Mac.
- Install pending system updates and restart now, so nothing forces a restart tomorrow.
Route the audio and pick your headphones
- Use a wired or USB headset if you have one. Bluetooth works but can drop into a lower-quality mode when its microphone is in use. Laptop speakers can echo into your microphone.
- Set the headset as your computer's default output and input.
- In the call app your interview uses, set the same headset as the speaker and microphone. When the call app and your computer agree, the interviewer's voice plays where the assistant is listening.
- Connect the headset before you open either app, and plan to leave it connected for the whole call.
Set the language
CoPilot Interview supports 50+ languages. Set the language to the one the interview will be held in, so the speech-to-text model isn't guessing. If the interview may switch languages, pick the one most questions will use.
Test with a recording or a friend
You need someone else's voice coming out of your computer. Either option works:
- A friend on a call. Join a short call on the same app as your interview. Open Candidate Mode and have your friend read three interview questions at a normal pace. The captions should show their words, not yours, and an answer should follow in about 2 seconds.
- A recording. Play a recording of someone asking interview questions through your headset, such as a mock interview video. Because the app listens to your computer's output, the captions should follow the recording. This tests audio routing, though not the real call app.
Then do one Mock Interview. Add your résumé and the job description, answer a few questions out loud, and read the scores. Each spoken answer is scored out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer, and you get a report card at the end. If you hear the questions and your answers get scored, your output and microphone both work. Our guide on how to practice with an AI interview assistant covers what to do with the results.
Check that your plan covers the interview
Session length is the setup step people forget. The free plan gives you 15 minutes every day, in sessions up to 15 minutes, which suits practice and short tests. For a longer live round:
- Standard: 60 minutes per session, unlimited sessions 2 hours apart. $14.99 a month on sale (regular $19.99).
- Pro: 70 minutes per session with no gap between sessions. $29.99 a month.
- Pay as you go: 1 hour for $5.99, one-time, never expires.
Every plan is on the pricing page, and the free AI interview assistant page lists what the free plan includes.
Write a dropped-call plan
- Save the invite, the recruiter's email and any dial-in number somewhere you can reach from your phone.
- Know how you'd get back online if your Wi-Fi fails, for example a phone hotspot.
- Write the one-line message you'd send: "My connection dropped. I'm rejoining now."
Done when: captions show another person's voice, a Mock Interview has scored your answers, your session length covers the round and your dropped-call plan is written down.
30 minutes before: clear the computer and the desk
- Plug the laptop into power. A long call on battery can slow everything down.
- Close apps you don't need, especially ones syncing large files, and extra browser tabs.
- Turn on Do not disturb or Focus so notifications don't pop up during the call.
- Use Ethernet if you can, or sit close to the router. A slow answer is usually the network, not the AI.
- Open the invite and confirm which call app it uses. Update that app if it asks.
- Connect your headset, then open CoPilot Interview, then the call app, in that order.
Place the windows
Put the CoPilot Interview window beside your call on the same screen, on the side nearest your camera, so a glance doesn't take your eyes far from it. Keep it clear of the interviewer's video and of any editor you'll type in. If you use a second monitor, keep the call, the camera and the app on the same one. A glance should feel like checking your notes, not turning your head.
Done when: the computer is on power, notifications are off, both apps are open and the windows don't overlap.
2 minutes before: the final sound check
- Headset check. In the call app, confirm the speaker and microphone are still your headset.
- Mode check. Switch to Candidate Mode.
- Language check. Confirm the language matches the interview.
- Model check. Pick the model for the round. CoPilot Interview has 9 AI models: fast free models on Free and Standard, ChatGPT and Gemini models on Pro, plus Claude on Pro+. Fast suits screens and quick questions. Deeper suits system design and hard coding.
- First caption. When the interviewer says hello, glance at the window. Their words should appear as a caption. If yours appear instead, the call is playing on another device. Fix it now, before the first real question.
- Your own notes. Water, a pen, and your list of stories and numbers within reach.
Done when: the interviewer's greeting shows up as a caption.
During the interview: three habits that keep you in control
- Read the caption before the answer. If the caption isn't the question you heard, ignore the answer and ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify. That one habit catches most errors. Our guide to real-time interview assistant accuracy explains why.
- Use the structure, not the script. Take the order of points from the answer and say them in your own words, with your own examples and numbers. Never repeat a claim about your past that you can't back up in a follow-up.
- If it stops, keep going. Don't troubleshoot on camera. Answer from your own preparation, and fix the app between questions only if it's quick.
Follow the rules of the employer or assessment you're in — many people use it only to practice, which works on the free plan. For what live help looks like across coding, system design and behavioral rounds, see the real-time interview assistant overview.
If the call drops or the audio breaks
Decide your moves now, so you don't improvise them under pressure.
| Problem | First 30 seconds | If it's still broken |
|---|---|---|
| The call drops | Rejoin from the invite link and say you're back | Send your one-line message to the recruiter, or dial in by phone. Captions won't work on phone audio, so continue without them. |
| Captions stop after a headset reconnects | Reconnect the headset you tested | Restart the app between questions, or carry on without it |
| Captions show only your voice | Set the call app's speaker back to your headset | Check the computer's default output matches it |
| The interviewer's audio is choppy | Ask them to repeat the question | Suggest switching to phone audio for the rest of the call |
| Answers arrive slowly | Answer from your own preparation | Switch to a faster model at the next question |
| Your session time runs out | Keep answering on your own | Check your plan's session length before the next interview |
After the interview: review, practice and reset
- Write down the questions. Do it within the hour, while you still remember the follow-ups. Session files stay in your own Documents folder, so you can look back over the session.
- Practice the weak ones. Take the two questions you answered worst into Mock Interview and answer them again until the score improves.
- Note what to change. Did the window sit in the right place? Was the model fast enough? Did the headset behave? Fix it before the next round.
- Reset your computer. Turn notifications back on and resume updates if you paused them.
- Send your thank-you note. A short, specific message referencing one thing you discussed.
On privacy: audio is streamed in short encrypted segments through our proxy to a speech-to-text model, the question text goes to the AI model you chose, and nothing is kept on our servers beyond the request. The security page has the details.
Done when: your questions are written down and your two weakest answers are on tomorrow's practice list.
Your real-time interview assistant setup on one screen
Keep this table open, or copy it into your notes, for every interview.
| When | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| Day before | Install, permissions, headset routing, language, a test with a friend or recording, a Mock Interview, session length, dropped-call plan | Captions show another voice and your plan covers the round |
| 30 minutes before | Power, apps closed, notifications off, network, invite checked, apps opened in order, windows placed | Both apps open, nothing overlapping |
| 2 minutes before | Headset, Candidate Mode, language, model, notes | The greeting appears as a caption |
| During | Caption first, structure not script, keep going if it stops | You answered every question in your own words |
| After | Questions written down, weak answers practiced, settings reset, thank-you sent | Your practice list is updated |
Still choosing a tool? You can compare AI interview assistants on platform support, price and free plans, then run this same checklist on your top pick.
Start your day-before setup now
Download CoPilot Interview for Windows or macOS, unzip and run it, and work through the first checkpoint tonight. 15 free minutes every day, no signup and no credit card.
Download CoPilot Interview freeFAQ
How early should I set up a real-time interview assistant?
The day before. Install it, grant permissions, route your headset, set the language and test it with a friend or a recording. On the day, you only need a short check 30 minutes before and a sound check 2 minutes before.
How do I test it without a friend?
Play a recording of someone asking interview questions through your headset. Because CoPilot Interview listens to your computer's audio output, the captions should follow the recording. Then run a Mock Interview to check your microphone.
What headphones work best?
A wired or USB headset. Bluetooth can work but may drop into a lower-quality mode when its microphone is in use, and laptop speakers can echo the interviewer's voice into your microphone.
Where should I put the assistant window?
Beside your call on the same screen, on the side nearest your camera, and clear of the interviewer's video and any editor you type in. A glance should feel like checking your notes.
What if my call drops during the interview?
Rejoin from the invite link and tell the interviewer you're back. If you have to dial in by phone, the assistant can't hear phone audio, so continue without it and answer from your own preparation.
Is the free plan long enough for a real interview?
The free plan gives you 15 minutes every day in sessions up to 15 minutes, which suits setup tests and practice. A longer live round needs Standard with 60 minutes per session, Pro with 70, or a one-time pay-as-you-go hour.