Observation Mode in Interviews

Observation Mode in HackerRank Interviews allows interviewers to monitor a candidate's screen activity in real-time. This feature operates similarly to screen sharing, enabling you to observe the candidate's progress throughout the interview without interruption.

Starting Observation Mode

• On the interview screen, click the dropdown on the candidate’s name.
• Select Observe Candidate.
  • When activated, your screen will display a colored outline, indicating Observation Mode is active.

Key Features

• The candidate’s screen mirrors yours, updating in real-time with their actions. For eg. actions like switching tabs (e.g., Input/Output) or clicking Run Code will reflect on your screen.
• You can access the scorecard, chat, and question description functionalities without exiting Observation Mode.

Important Notes

• Anonymity: Candidates are not notified when Observation Mode is active.
• Independent Operation: Each interviewer in a multi-interviewer session can independently use Observation Mode without affecting others.
• Limitations:
  • Observation Mode is currently available only for coding questions.
  • If a candidate switches to a non-coding question, you will automatically exit Observation Mode.
  • If a candidate disconnects or becomes idle, you will be moved out of Observation Mode.
  • The question description opened by the candidate will not be mirrored.

Ending Observation Mode

You can exit Observation Mode in two ways:

1. Click anywhere in the code editor.
2. Click the candidate’s name and select Exit Observation.