Asking for adjustments

If any part of a company's hiring process doesn't work for you, you can ask the company to change it. People ask for adjustments for many reasons: a disability or health condition, neurodivergence, a speech difference, caring responsibilities, an unreliable connection or the language. The company that's hiring decides what it can offer, so ask them directly: from an AI screen's first page, or by replying to the recruiter.

What you can ask for

• More time for a screen, a question or a task.
• A different format, for example an interview with a person instead of an AI interviewer, or questions in writing.
• Your camera off, if the screen or interview asks for it on.
• Breaks, or splitting a long interview into shorter parts.
• A different time, if the schedule clashes with caring, health or religious commitments.
• Practical support, such as captions, a sign language interpreter, step-free access or a quiet room.
• No recording, if you'd rather an interview wasn't recorded. See When your interview is recorded.

What an AI screen already lets you do

Some flexibility is built into Emoti's AI screens, so check the welcome page first. It tells you how long the screen takes, whether your camera is needed, and who reviews your answers.

• Before you start, you can choose Need an adjustment, or rather talk to a person? on the welcome page and ask for more time for each answer, written answers instead of speaking, a conversation with a person instead, or something else. The request goes to the company's recruiting team.
• You take the screen when it suits you, and you can pause between questions.
• Choose Hear it again to have a question repeated.
• The minutes shown for each question are a guide. You move on when you choose Next question.
• The camera is either required, up to you or off, and the page says which. When it's up to you, your scores never depend on it.
• If the company offers more than one language, you choose which one to answer in.

See Taking an AI voice screen for the whole process.

How to ask

For an AI screen, use the request on its welcome page, described above. For anything else, or if you'd rather explain in your own words, reply to the recruiter or the person who sent your invite. Say what you need and, if you're comfortable, why. You usually don't need to share a diagnosis: what matters is what would help. For example:

"Thanks for the invitation to the screen. I have a stammer, and I'd find a conversation with a member of your team easier than a voice interview with an AI interviewer. Would that be possible at the same stage of the process?"

Ask them to confirm the adjustment in writing, so everyone involved knows what's been agreed.

When to ask

As early as you can, ideally before you start a screen or a few days before an interview, so the team has time to arrange it. You can still ask later. If something went wrong during a screen, such as your connection dropping or a question format that didn't suit you, tell the company afterwards and explain what happened.

If the answer is no

Ask what alternatives they can offer. In many places, employers have a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates. This isn't legal advice: if you think you've been treated unfairly, a local employment adviser, a disability organization or a lawyer can help. Emoti can't change a company's hiring process, but if something in Emoti itself stopped you from taking part, see Getting help.