How Developers Skill Assessment Software Helps to Hire Top Talent?

Skill assessment software has become the new buzzword in the software development industry. Recruiters are looking for highly skilled candidates to handle their software development duties. The market for systems integration, software, and IoT hardware has reached $520 billion as of 2021 compared to $235 billion in 2017 and is expected to continue the trend for many years. As a result, the demand for talented software developers is witnessing unprecedented growth.

While the number of software developers globally is estimated to reach 28.7 million by 2024, this number falls woefully short of the required levels. As the demand for software developers shows no signs of abating, recruiters are eager to hire qualified software developers.

Are you also looking to hire the best software developer to grow your business? How can you ensure that the candidate you select best fits the role?

You need to find a well-rounded candidate that is sufficiently qualified in both hard and soft skills. Asking the right technical interview questions when recruiting developers is important but so is clear communication, good work ethic, and alignment with your organization’s goals.

First, let’s tackle the technical expertise of a candidate, which can be determined with a coding assessment platform. It is one of the most popular skill assessment tools as it offers recruiters direct insight into the candidate’s skill set.

What are developer technical skills testing software?

Technical Skills Assessment Software solutions are used by companies to ascertain the candidates’ technical skills. Recruiters use these platforms to test the technical skills of the candidates, like coding, while shortlisting prospective employees for technical roles. Software developer assessment platforms are widely used for pre-employment testing as they offer the flexibility to set difficulty levels, select the coding language, and then rank the candidates based purely on performance. As a result, companies can eliminate candidates who do not possess the necessary skill sets from the recruitment process.

A coding assessment platform is nowadays an integral part of the recruitment process as it allows for live coding interviews as well. Moreover, these software solutions also support remote interviewing for different technical profiles. A technical talent assessment platform comes with an in-built video feature to facilitate remote interviews. Alternatively, the software can also integrate with a suitable video call platform.

Why companies are using technical assessment software to hire the right talent

Key Benefits Of Coding Assessments Tools

Most software development companies use skill assessment software to complete the coding assessment for candidates who have applied for the vacancy. These platforms allow the companies to screen out unsuitable candidates at the outset, allowing the time and flexibility to select the best developers for the available profiles.

Higher accuracy

Technical assessments are quickly replacing traditional interviews in software developer assessment. Technical assessment software ensures higher accuracy while selecting candidates for specific profiles. The results of such a skill assessment are free from bias and are more reliable. Moreover, these tests help with the long-term prospects of the candidate in the given profile.

Real-time assessment

Skill assessment software allows recruiters to test the coding abilities of a candidate in real-world scenarios. This helps ensure that the shortlisted candidates possess all the required skills that the job demands. A technical assessment of a candidate’s skills offers deep insights into their ability to cope with the demands of the job.

Quicker and accurate

Completing a software developer assessment through technical assessment software is much quicker and more accurate than any other option that recruiters can use. These assessments are conducted at pre-interview levels and most often can be completed online. As a result, recruiters get insights into the skill set of the candidates before the interview stage, thereby allowing for shortlisting of the most suitable candidates only. Hence, the recruitment processes can be expedited through this approach.

Interesting recruitment process

An online assessment platform enables the recruiters to define the coding language and difficulty level per the requirements. This feature makes the assessment test an interesting experience for the candidates as well as for the recruiters. By eliminating mundane recruitment processes, these platforms allow the recruiters to shortlist the candidates based on purely their performance in the technical test.

Better employee retention

Online skills assessment software allows recruiters to accurately match candidates with suitable job profiles. As the candidates possess the required skills for a given profile, they enjoy better job satisfaction when they start working. As a result, employees are more likely to continue working with the company for an extended duration as their skill sets perfectly match the job requirements.

Also Read: 6 things to look for in your coding assessment tool

How does online skills assessment software work?

A skill assessment software tests a candidate’s expected skills through an engaging user flow. Recruiters can get rid of multiple offline hiring stages with the help of online skills assessment software. Moreover, these software solutions empower informed decision-making by ensuring transparency around the performance of every candidate. Here is a summary of how online skills assessment software works: –

Define the parameters: – First, you must select the coding language and difficulty level required for the test. You can also define the good and bad answers to help the platform grade the candidates accurately
Invite candidates: – You can invite the candidate through email or share a direct link on the recruitment page with the candidate. You can also monitor the progress of the candidates through this software
Check the result: – After the coding assessment has been completed, you can check the performance of candidates in the software. The candidates will be ranked based on the parameters defined by you
Finalize a decision: – After you have assessed the performance of different candidates, it is time to make a final decision. You can email the candidates with details related to the further selection process

Also, read: Some technical interview questions that you should ask potential software engineers when interviewing

Go beyond the technical: Soft skills the right talent needs

Now that you know how to ascertain the technical knowledge of your candidates, let’s take a look at some of the behavioral aspects of a candidate that sets them apart from the rest.

Communication

Communication skills are crucial while assessing the skills of your new hire. When working on a new project, developers must know how to start, the what, why, and how of the project for successful completion. And this happens when they ace at written and verbal communication well.

Oral communication: Imagine a developer reviewing a code for errors based on their manager’s instructions. Now, they have to explain where they found the error and how they are planning to improve it. This requires the developer to communicate their explanation in a simpler way that clarifies all the doubts.

Written communication: Beyond the documentation, your full-time developer needs to communicate over email and Slack messages. So, check how clearly they can communicate their written message.

To identify whether the developer you’re hiring is good at communication, do this:

Set up scrum meetings with the hiring managers and observe the interaction style of the developer
Get them to write emails and see how clear they are in their written communication

Also, read: Ask the right interview questions to reveal a candidate’s personality

Leadership

While working on an important project, your team needs to take the final call— sometimes without their team leader too. That’s where they need to have the in-built leadership trait in them to ease the work.

To analyze this trait while hiring your next developer, don’t *just* emphasize asking them technical questions but also ask them about their life experiences where they displayed ownership and leadership qualities. Listening to their responses, you can identify how good leadership skills they have.

Also, read: What Leadership Means To Us At HackerEarth

Skill assessment software solutions are designed to transform how hiring processes for technical profiles are completed. Armed with such solutions and ensuring to test candidates for culture fit, recruiters are in a better position to select the best candidates in an unbiased manner.

Remember, a mix of strong technical skills and interpersonal qualities is how you spot good candidates for your tech teams.

Discover more articles

Gain insights to optimize your developer recruitment process.

Hackathons

Vibe Coding: Shaping the Future of Software

A New Era of Code

Vibe coding is a new method of using natural language prompts and AI tools to generate code. I have seen firsthand that this change makes software more accessible to everyone. In the past, being able to produce functional code was a strong advantage for developers. Today, when code is produced quickly through AI, the true value lies in designing, refining, and optimizing systems. Our role now goes beyond writing code; we must also ensure that our systems remain efficient and reliable.

From Machine Language to Natural Language

I recall the early days when every line of code was written manually. We progressed from machine language to high-level programming, and now we are beginning to interact with our tools using natural language. This development does not only increase speed but also changes how we approach problem solving. Product managers can now create working demos in hours instead of weeks, and founders have a clearer way of pitching their ideas with functional prototypes. It is important for us to rethink our role as developers and focus on architecture and system design rather than simply on typing c

The Promise and the Pitfalls

I have experienced both sides of vibe coding. In cases where the goal was to build a quick prototype or a simple internal tool, AI-generated code provided impressive results. Teams have been able to test new ideas and validate concepts much faster. However, when it comes to more complex systems that require careful planning and attention to detail, the output from AI can be problematic. I have seen situations where AI produces large volumes of code that become difficult to manage without significant human intervention.

AI-powered coding tools like GitHub Copilot and AWS’s Q Developer have demonstrated significant productivity gains. For instance, at the National Australia Bank, it’s reported that half of the production code is generated by Q Developer, allowing developers to focus on higher-level problem-solving . Similarly, platforms like Lovable enable non-coders to build viable tech businesses using natural language prompts, contributing to a shift where AI-generated code reduces the need for large engineering teams. However, there are challenges. AI-generated code can sometimes be verbose or lack the architectural discipline required for complex systems. While AI can rapidly produce prototypes or simple utilities, building large-scale systems still necessitates experienced engineers to refine and optimize the code.

The Economic Impact

The democratization of code generation is altering the economic landscape of software development. As AI tools become more prevalent, the value of average coding skills may diminish, potentially affecting salaries for entry-level positions. Conversely, developers who excel in system design, architecture, and optimization are likely to see increased demand and compensation.
Seizing the Opportunity

Vibe coding is most beneficial in areas such as rapid prototyping and building simple applications or internal tools. It frees up valuable time that we can then invest in higher-level tasks such as system architecture, security, and user experience. When used in the right context, AI becomes a helpful partner that accelerates the development process without replacing the need for skilled engineers.

This is revolutionizing our craft, much like the shift from machine language to assembly to high-level languages did in the past. AI can churn out code at lightning speed, but remember, “Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.” Use AI for rapid prototyping, but it’s your expertise that transforms raw output into robust, scalable software. By honing our skills in design and architecture, we ensure our work remains impactful and enduring. Let’s continue to learn, adapt, and build software that stands the test of time.

Ready to streamline your recruitment process? Get a free demo to explore cutting-edge solutions and resources for your hiring needs.

Tech Assessment

Guide to Conducting Successful System Design Interviews in 2025

What is Systems Design?

Systems Design is an all encompassing term which encapsulates both frontend and backend components harmonized to define the overall architecture of a product.

Designing robust and scalable systems requires a deep understanding of application, architecture and their underlying components like networks, data, interfaces and modules.

Systems Design, in its essence, is a blueprint of how software and applications should work to meet specific goals. The multi-dimensional nature of this discipline makes it open-ended – as there is no single one-size-fits-all solution to a system design problem.

What is a System Design Interview?

Conducting a System Design interview requires recruiters to take an unconventional approach and look beyond right or wrong answers. Recruiters should aim for evaluating a candidate’s ‘systemic thinking’ skills across three key aspects:

How they navigate technical complexity and navigate uncertainty
How they meet expectations of scale, security and speed
How they focus on the bigger picture without losing sight of details

This assessment of the end-to-end thought process and a holistic approach to problem-solving is what the interview should focus on.

What are some common topics for a System Design Interview

System design interview questions are free-form and exploratory in nature where there is no right or best answer to a specific problem statement. Here are some common questions:

How would you approach the design of a social media app or video app?

What are some ways to design a search engine or a ticketing system?

How would you design an API for a payment gateway?

What are some trade-offs and constraints you will consider while designing systems?

What is your rationale for taking a particular approach to problem solving?

Usually, interviewers base the questions depending on the organization, its goals, key competitors and a candidate’s experience level.

For senior roles, the questions tend to focus on assessing the computational thinking, decision making and reasoning ability of a candidate. For entry level job interviews, the questions are designed to test the hard skills required for building a system architecture.

The Difference between a System Design Interview and a Coding Interview

If a coding interview is like a map that takes you from point A to Z – a systems design interview is like a compass which gives you a sense of the right direction.

Here are three key difference between the two:

Coding challenges follow a linear interviewing experience i.e. candidates are given a problem and interaction with recruiters is limited. System design interviews are more lateral and conversational, requiring active participation from interviewers.

Coding interviews or challenges focus on evaluating the technical acumen of a candidate whereas systems design interviews are oriented to assess problem solving and interpersonal skills.

Coding interviews are based on a right/wrong approach with ideal answers to problem statements while a systems design interview focuses on assessing the thought process and the ability to reason from first principles.

How to Conduct an Effective System Design Interview

One common mistake recruiters make is that they approach a system design interview with the expectations and preparation of a typical coding interview.
Here is a four step framework technical recruiters can follow to ensure a seamless and productive interview experience:

Step 1: Understand the subject at hand

Develop an understanding of basics of system design and architecture
Familiarize yourself with commonly asked systems design interview questions
Read about system design case studies for popular applications
Structure the questions and problems by increasing magnitude of difficulty

Step 2: Prepare for the interview

Plan the extent of the topics and scope of discussion in advance
Clearly define the evaluation criteria and communicate expectations
Quantify constraints, inputs, boundaries and assumptions
Establish the broader context and a detailed scope of the exercise

Step 3: Stay actively involved

Ask follow-up questions to challenge a solution
Probe candidates to gauge real-time logical reasoning skills
Make it a conversation and take notes of important pointers and outcomes
Guide candidates with hints and suggestions to steer them in the right direction

Step 4: Be a collaborator

Encourage candidates to explore and consider alternative solutions
Work with the candidate to drill the problem into smaller tasks
Provide context and supporting details to help candidates stay on track
Ask follow-up questions to learn about the candidate’s experience

Technical recruiters and hiring managers should aim for providing an environment of positive reinforcement, actionable feedback and encouragement to candidates.

Evaluation Rubric for Candidates

Facilitate Successful System Design Interview Experiences with FaceCode

FaceCode, HackerEarth’s intuitive and secure platform, empowers recruiters to conduct system design interviews in a live coding environment with HD video chat.

FaceCode comes with an interactive diagram board which makes it easier for interviewers to assess the design thinking skills and conduct communication assessments using a built-in library of diagram based questions.

With FaceCode, you can combine your feedback points with AI-powered insights to generate accurate, data-driven assessment reports in a breeze. Plus, you can access interview recordings and transcripts anytime to recall and trace back the interview experience.

Learn how FaceCode can help you conduct system design interviews and boost your hiring efficiency.

AI Recruiting

How Candidates Use Technology to Cheat in Online Technical Assessments

Impact of Online Assessments in Technical Hiring

In a digitally-native hiring landscape, online assessments have proven to be both a boon and a bane for recruiters and employers.

The ease and efficiency of virtual interviews, take home programming tests and remote coding challenges is transformative. Around 82% of companies use pre-employment assessments as reliable indicators of a candidate's skills and potential.

Online skill assessment tests have been proven to streamline technical hiring and enable recruiters to significantly reduce the time and cost to identify and hire top talent.

In the realm of online assessments, remote assessments have transformed the hiring landscape, boosting the speed and efficiency of screening and evaluating talent. On the flip side, candidates have learned how to use creative methods and AI tools to cheat in tests.

As it turns out, technology that makes hiring easier for recruiters and managers - is also their Achilles' heel.

Cheating in Online Assessments is a High Stakes Problem

With the proliferation of AI in recruitment, the conversation around cheating has come to the forefront, putting recruiters and hiring managers in a bit of a flux.

According to research, nearly 30 to 50 percent of candidates cheat in online assessments for entry level jobs. Even 10% of senior candidates have been reportedly caught cheating.

The problem becomes twofold - if finding the right talent can be a competitive advantage, the consequences of hiring the wrong one can be equally damaging and counter-productive.

As per Forbes, a wrong hire can cost a company around 30% of an employee's salary - not to mention, loss of precious productive hours and morale disruption.

The question that arises is - "Can organizations continue to leverage AI-driven tools for online assessments without compromising on the integrity of their hiring process? "

This article will discuss the common methods candidates use to outsmart online assessments. We will also dive deep into actionable steps that you can take to prevent cheating while delivering a positive candidate experience.

Common Cheating Tactics and How You Can Combat Them

Using ChatGPT and other AI tools to write code
Copy-pasting code using AI-based platforms and online code generators is one of common cheat codes in candidates' books. For tackling technical assessments, candidates conveniently use readily available tools like ChatGPT and GitHub. Using these tools, candidates can easily generate solutions to solve common programming challenges such as:
- Debugging code
- Optimizing existing code
- Writing problem-specific code from scratch
Ways to prevent it
- Enable full-screen mode
- Disable copy-and-paste functionality
- Restrict tab switching outside of code editors
- Use AI to detect code that has been copied and pasted
Enlist external help to complete the assessment

Candidates often seek out someone else to take the assessment on their behalf. In many cases, they also use screen sharing and remote collaboration tools for real-time assistance.

In extreme cases, some candidates might have an off-camera individual present in the same environment for help.

Ways to prevent it
- Verify a candidate using video authentication
- Restrict test access from specific IP addresses
- Use online proctoring by taking snapshots of the candidate periodically
- Use a 360 degree environment scan to ensure no unauthorized individual is present
Using multiple devices at the same time

Candidates attempting to cheat often rely on secondary devices such as a computer, tablet, notebook or a mobile phone hidden from the line of sight of their webcam.

By using multiple devices, candidates can look up information, search for solutions or simply augment their answers.

Ways to prevent it
- Track mouse exit count to detect irregularities
- Detect when a new device or peripheral is connected
- Use network monitoring and scanning to detect any smart devices in proximity
- Conduct a virtual whiteboard interview to monitor movements and gestures
Using remote desktop software and virtual machines

Tech-savvy candidates go to great lengths to cheat. Using virtual machines, candidates can search for answers using a secondary OS while their primary OS is being monitored.

Remote desktop software is another cheating technique which lets candidates give access to a third-person, allowing them to control their device.

With remote desktops, candidates can screen share the test window and use external help.

Ways to prevent it
- Restrict access to virtual machines
- AI-based proctoring for identifying malicious keystrokes
- Use smart browsers to block candidates from using VMs

Future-proof Your Online Assessments With HackerEarth

HackerEarth's AI-powered online proctoring solution is a tested and proven way to outsmart cheating and take preventive measures at the right stage. With HackerEarth's Smart Browser, recruiters can mitigate the threat of cheating and ensure their online assessments are accurate and trustworthy.

Secure, sealed-off testing environment
AI-enabled live test monitoring
Enterprise-grade, industry leading compliance
Built-in features to track, detect and flag cheating attempts

Boost your hiring efficiency and conduct reliable online assessments confidently with HackerEarth's revolutionary Smart Browser.