How to Prepare for a Talview Interview (Ivy AI Interviewer, 2026)

A candidate's walkthrough of the Talview interview, built only from Talview's own help pages, plus practical prep that works for any AI interviewer.

The short answer

A Talview interview is usually a conversation with Ivy, Talview's AI interviewer. You open a link from your invite, verify your email, consent to face capture and session recording, and then answer spoken questions one at a time, with follow-ups based on what you say. Each question has a visible time limit, and your camera and microphone stay on the whole time. To prepare, build a few specific stories from the job description, practice answering out loud in about two minutes each, and run Talview's system check on the device you'll use. If your invite says "exam" or "proctored," expect stricter rules, including sharing your entire screen.

What kind of Talview interview did you get?

Talview sells several products, and candidates meet them under different names. The words in your invite tell you which one you're facing, and each needs slightly different preparation.

If the invite mentions...	It's probably	What to expect (per Talview)
Ivy, AI interview, "Start Assessment"	An Ivy AI interview in your browser or the Talview app	Spoken questions with follow-ups, a timer per question, camera and mic on
A phone call from Ivy	An Ivy audio call	A call, usually from a US or UK number, lasting about 5 to 10 minutes
Proctored exam, photo ID, Secure Browser	A Talview assessment with proctoring	ID check, room scan, full screen sharing, sometimes a second device
A scheduled time with a person	A live interview in a Talview interview room	A normal video interview with a human, hosted on Talview

Most of this guide covers the Ivy AI interview, since that's what most job candidates get. The proctored assessment has its own section below.

A Talview interview, step by step

Talview publishes a step-by-step guide for candidates. In short, here's the flow it describes:

Open the invite. The email shows the assessment name, date, duration and a Start Assessment button. Talview notes links are often time-sensitive, so check the deadline.
Sign in. Enter the same email address the invite was sent to, request a one-time code, and type the 8-digit code from your inbox.
Grant permissions. Accept the terms and privacy policy, and consent to face capture and session recording.
Face capture. Hold steady while it takes a photo for verification.
Read the instructions and join. Turn on your camera and mic. Talview offers a "Reduce" option to cut microphone noise.
Talk with Ivy. Ivy asks questions one by one and may follow up based on your answer. Talview suggests muting your mic for 2 to 3 seconds after you finish so Ivy can process your answer.
End the session. Click End session, rate the experience, and look for the on-screen confirmation that your interview was submitted.

Talview says interview length depends on how the employer set it up, and a timer shows your progress. Afterward, Ivy produces a report with your responses and scores, the hiring team reviews it, and you hear about next steps by email.

What Talview records and how Ivy evaluates you

This is the part candidates ask about most, so here is exactly what Talview's candidate pages say, without filling the gaps.

Recording: you consent to face capture and session recording before you start, and your camera and microphone must stay on.
Scoring: Talview's Ivy FAQ says Ivy scores you "based only on the transcript" and doesn't analyze facial expressions or body language. It lists communication, problem-solving and critical thinking as criteria.
Other data: the same FAQ also says camera access lets Ivy observe non-verbal cues, and that Ivy collects data such as facial recognition information, screen activity, responses and behavioral cues.

Those statements don't fully line up, and Talview's pages don't spell out what "screen activity" covers in an Ivy interview. If it matters to you, ask the recruiter before you start: "What does the Talview interview record, and is my screen captured?" That's a fair question, and the answer can differ by employer setup. Talview also links its privacy policy from the consent step, so read it there.

What this means for preparation: since Talview says scoring is transcript-based, the words you say carry the weight. Clear, specific, well-structured answers matter far more than a perfect background.

How to prepare for a Talview interview: content

Ivy asks structured, role-specific questions and then digs into what you mention. That rewards real examples and punishes memorized speeches.

Pull 4 or 5 skills from the job description. The ones listed first or repeated most are usually what the employer configured Ivy to probe.
Match one real story to each skill. Use the STAR shape: a sentence of situation, your task, what you did, and the result with a number if you have one. Our STAR method guide shows how to tighten each part.
Rehearse the follow-up, not just the answer. Talview says Ivy asks follow-ups when you mention relevant experience. For each story, prepare for "What exactly was your part?", "What would you change?" and "How did you measure that?"
Practice against a clock. Each question has a time limit on screen. Aim for 60 to 120 seconds per answer, and keep the result in, even if you trim the setup.
Warm up with common questions. Our lists of behavioral interview questions and questions AI interviewers ask cover most of what a first round includes.

One Talview-specific tip: Ivy's troubleshooting page says it may pause if a response runs too long or drifts off topic. Answer the question first, then add detail.

Your Talview tech checklist

Talview publishes specific requirements for Ivy. Check them a day early, not five minutes before.

Device: a desktop or laptop is recommended. Windows 10 or later, or macOS 12.7.2 or later. Mobile works through the Talview app (Android 8.0 or later, iOS 13 or later).
Browser: the latest Chrome (recommended), Edge or Firefox. Talview's troubleshooting page says to avoid Safari and mobile browsers for AI interview features.
Hardware: at least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended) and a webcam that does at least 15 frames per second.
Internet: at least 5 Mbps upload and download. Talview runs a speed test you can use first.
Permissions: allow camera, microphone and pop-ups for the Talview site, then refresh.
Conflicts: close Zoom, Teams, Meet and anything else that grabs your camera or mic.
Use a personal device if you can. Talview notes that corporate firewalls and device restrictions can block the platform.

Talview's own tips round this out: a quiet room, your face lit and visible with the camera at eye level, and no app switching or phone checking during the interview.

Talview proctoring: if your invite is an exam

A Talview assessment with proctoring is stricter than an Ivy interview. Talview's onboarding guide says to have a laptop, a valid photo ID and, depending on the exam, a fully charged phone or tablet as a second device. During onboarding you review the data collected (face capture, session recording and a photo ID check), allow camera and mic access, and share your entire screen. Talview says choosing a single tab or window may stop you from continuing, and that you should not stop sharing during the exam.

You'll also do an environment check, a slow 360 degree scan of the room, either with the second device or by rotating your laptop. Some exams use Talview's Secure Browser, which needs camera, microphone and screen recording permission on your computer before you start. Set those permissions in advance, because on a Mac you'll need your administrator password.

Talview also notes that the no-speaking rule for proctored exams does not apply to Ivy interviews. In an Ivy interview, you're supposed to talk.

If something goes wrong

The window closed: rejoin right away with the original link. Talview says that, depending on the employer's setup, you may resume or restart.
Ivy stops responding: check your mic permission and connection, refresh, or try a private window to rule out extensions. Wait a few seconds after each question and avoid talking over Ivy.
Not sure it submitted: look for the on-screen confirmation. If you didn't see it, email your recruiting coordinator with the time and what happened.
Can't get in at all: check spam for the right link, then contact the support contact in your invite.

A short, factual email to the recruiter almost always gets a technical problem sorted. Write down what you saw and when.

Play it straight

Talview is clear that your link is yours alone: letting someone else use it or take the assessment for you violates its integrity policies and can get you disqualified. The same goes, at most employers, for hidden AI assistants feeding you answers. It's usually against the rules, it can get an application rejected, and with live follow-ups it tends to show anyway. Notes with the names of your stories are a different matter, but if you're unsure what's allowed, ask the recruiter first.

Questions

Does Talview's Ivy judge my facial expressions?

Talview's Ivy FAQ says Ivy scores you based only on the transcript of your answers and does not analyze facial expressions or body language. Other Talview pages mention observing non-verbal cues, so ask the recruiter if you want a definite answer for your interview.

How long does a Talview interview take?

Talview says it depends on how the employer configured the role, and a timer shows on screen. An Ivy audio call usually lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. Block extra time so you're not rushed if you need to fix a setting.

Can I take a Talview interview on my phone?

Yes, through the Talview app on Android or iOS, according to Talview. It recommends a desktop or laptop for the best experience, and its troubleshooting page advises against mobile browsers for AI interview features.

Can I retake my Talview interview?

Talview doesn't publish a general retake rule for candidates. If you're disconnected, rejoin with the original link, and the employer's settings decide whether you resume or restart. For anything else, ask your recruiting coordinator.

Want a low-stakes rehearsal first? You can practice a live adaptive AI interview free on NTRVSTA. It isn't Talview's Ivy and won't use Talview's questions; it's simply a way to get used to answering out loud and handling follow-ups. For the broader picture, read what an AI interview is and our general guide on how to prepare for an AI interview. If you're on the employer side, see how Talview compares or book a 20-minute demo.