Interview stage

Screen Before You Interview,Not Instead of It

TestHike is coding interview software that screens candidates on real coding ability before you spend engineer time on a live interview — asynchronous, graded, and desktop-secure.

Quick definition

What is coding interview software?

Coding interview software is used during technical hiring to evaluate a candidate's programming ability — either live, during a video interview, or asynchronously, through a graded coding assessment completed before an interview is scheduled.

Why it matters

Live Interviews Are the Most Expensive Filter You Have

A live technical interview costs a senior engineer's time, costs the candidate a scheduling headache, and measures performance under pressure as much as it measures actual coding ability. Using it as your first filter means every unqualified candidate still consumes that expensive slot.

TestHike sits earlier in the process. Candidates complete a graded coding assessment asynchronously, on their own schedule, in a real programming environment. Only candidates who clear the bar move on to a live interview — where that time is much better spent on judgment, communication, and team fit.

  • Filters out candidates who can't code before any interview is scheduled
  • No engineer time spent proctoring a first-round screen
  • Candidates complete it on their own schedule, in any timezone
  • Consistent grading criteria for every candidate, every time
Where TestHike fits

A Screening Layer, Not a Video Call Replacement

01

Before the First Interview

Send a short assessment as soon as a candidate applies. Only advance the ones who actually pass.

Most common use
02

Instead of a Live Coding Round

Replace a scheduled live coding interview with an asynchronous, more consistently graded equivalent.

Saves engineer time
03

Alongside a Conversation Interview

Use TestHike to confirm the coding bar, then spend your live interview time on system design discussion and team fit instead.

Best for senior roles
FAQ

Common Questions About Coding Interview Software

What is coding interview software?

Coding interview software is a tool used during the technical hiring process to evaluate a candidate's programming ability, either through a live coding interview or an asynchronous graded assessment completed before an interview is scheduled.

Is TestHike used for live coding interviews?

No. TestHike is built for asynchronous, proctored assessments that candidates complete on their own schedule within a window you set — typically used as a screening step before a live interview, not during one.

Why screen with an assessment before a live interview?

A live coding interview is expensive: it takes a senior engineer's time, and it measures live performance as much as actual skill. Screening with a graded assessment first means only candidates who can actually code reach that expensive step.

Can TestHike replace live technical interviews entirely?

For many teams, TestHike replaces an early live coding round rather than every interview. Most hiring processes still include a later conversation-based interview for team fit and technical discussion once the coding bar is confirmed.

What do candidates use during the assessment?

Candidates download the free TestHike desktop app and complete the assessment in a real code editor with the required programming language and test cases already configured — no separate live interviewer needed for this step.

Protect Your Team's Interview Time

Only bring candidates who can actually code to your next live interview.