How to Use AI During a Zoom Interview on Windows and Mac

So you've got a Zoom interview coming up and you want some AI backup. Smart move. But if you've never set this up before, there are a few things you need to get right — otherwise you'll be fumbling with settings while your interviewer waits. Not a great look.

I'm going to walk you through exactly how to get an AI assistant working during a Zoom call on both Windows and Mac. I'll use Craqly for the walkthrough since it's what I use and recommend, but the general principles apply to any desktop-based AI interview tool.

Before You Start: Why Desktop Apps Beat Browser Extensions for Zoom

Quick but important point. If your Zoom interview runs through the Zoom desktop app (which most do), a browser extension won't be able to hear anything. Browser extensions only capture audio within the browser. Since Zoom's desktop app runs outside the browser, the extension is deaf.

That's why you need a desktop application that captures system-level audio. It hears everything your computer outputs, regardless of which app it comes from.

Step 1: Download and Install

On Windows

Head to craqly.com/download and grab the Windows installer. Run the .exe file, follow the prompts, and let it install. It takes about 30 seconds. Once installed, open Craqly from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.

On Mac

Same download page — grab the Mac version (.dmg file). Open the disk image, drag Craqly to your Applications folder, and launch it. Important on Mac: you'll need to grant microphone and screen recording permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security. macOS will prompt you for these on first launch. Say yes to both — the screen recording permission is needed for the overlay to appear on top of other windows.

Step 2: Set Up Your Profile

Before your interview, take five minutes to configure your profile in Craqly:

• Upload your resume — Craqly uses this to personalize suggestions with your actual experience, projects, and skills
• Paste the job description — This helps the AI tailor answers to what the company is specifically looking for
• Add any notes — Company research, talking points you want to hit, questions you want to ask at the end

The more context you give it, the better and more relevant the suggestions will be. Generic setup gives generic answers. Specific setup gives answers that sound like they came from you.

Step 3: Configure Audio Capture

This is the part most people get wrong, so pay attention.

Windows Audio Setup

Craqly on Windows captures system audio automatically in most cases. But you should verify:

• Open Craqly's settings and check that system audio capture is enabled
• Make sure your Zoom audio output is set to your speakers or headphones (not some weird virtual device)
• If you're using Bluetooth headphones, pair them before launching Craqly — switching audio devices mid-session can cause issues

Mac Audio Setup

macOS is trickier with audio capture because Apple restricts system audio access. Craqly handles this with a built-in virtual audio driver that gets installed during setup. After installation:

• Check System Settings to confirm the Craqly audio driver is present
• In Craqly's audio settings, verify it's capturing from the right source
• In Zoom's audio settings, make sure your speaker output is set to your actual speakers (not the virtual device) — you want to hear the interviewer normally

Pro tip: Do a test call before your real interview. Call a friend on Zoom and have them ask you a few questions. If Craqly is transcribing their words correctly, your audio setup is good. If it's only picking up your voice, something's misconfigured.

Step 4: Position the Overlay Window

This is where it gets personal — everyone has their own preference. But here are the setups that work best:

Single monitor setup: Position the Craqly overlay at the bottom of your screen, just below or beside the Zoom video window. Keep Zoom in the upper portion of your screen with the camera at the top. When you glance at suggestions, your eyes move down slightly — which looks more natural than looking to the side.

Dual monitor setup: Put Zoom on your primary monitor (the one with the webcam) and Craqly on your secondary monitor. Position the Craqly window at the edge closest to your primary screen. Your glances toward the second monitor will be minimal.

Overlay opacity: Don't make it fully opaque. A slightly transparent overlay lets you see both the suggestion and your Zoom call simultaneously. Around 80-85% opacity works well for most people.

Step 5: Screen Sharing — The Critical Part

Some interviews require screen sharing, especially for technical roles. Here's what you need to know:

Craqly's overlay is not captured by Zoom's screen share. When you share your screen in Zoom, Craqly's overlay runs as a separate process that doesn't appear in the shared view. The interviewer sees your screen without the AI suggestions. This is one of the biggest advantages of a desktop app over a browser extension.

However, there are nuances:

• If you share your entire screen (not a specific window), test this beforehand to make sure the overlay doesn't show up in the share preview
• Sharing a specific window (like VS Code or a browser) is always safer — only that window's content gets shared
• Stealth mode in Craqly adds an extra layer of protection. Enable it before any interview where screen sharing is likely

Always test screen sharing with a friend first. Share your screen, have them confirm they can't see the overlay, and only then feel confident about using it in a real interview.

Step 6: During the Interview

Once you're in the Zoom call with Craqly running, here's how to use it naturally:

• Let the interviewer finish speaking. Craqly needs a moment after they stop talking to process and generate suggestions. Don't jump in immediately.
• Take a natural pause. Say something like "That's a great question, let me think about that for a moment." This buys you 2-3 seconds — plenty of time for Craqly to display suggestions.
• Glance, don't stare. Quick eye movements to the suggestion area and back. Don't read from the screen — pick up the key points and deliver them in your own words.
• Adapt the suggestions. If Craqly suggests mentioning a project, add your own specific details and emotions around it. "We shipped the feature in two weeks" becomes "I remember our team was exhausted but genuinely excited when we shipped that feature in just two weeks."

Quick Troubleshooting

If Craqly isn't transcribing the interviewer: check your audio settings. Make sure system audio capture is working, not just microphone capture.

If suggestions are slow: close other heavy applications. AI processing needs some CPU/memory headroom.

If the overlay disappears: it might have moved off-screen. Check Craqly's settings to reset the overlay position.

Ready to Try It?

The setup takes about 10 minutes the first time. After that, it's a one-click launch before each interview. Download Craqly, do a practice run this week, and walk into your next Zoom interview with a reliable AI assistant running quietly beside you. It won't guarantee you the job — but it'll make sure you don't blank on the answer you knew perfectly well five minutes ago.