HackerRank makes Chakra available for interviews with developers
HackerRank is making Chakra available to customers on Monday after approximately six months of beta testing. Candidates work on a task involving a real code repository with an AI assistant; the tool tracks their approach, asks follow-up questions and assesses their performance.
HackerRank is making Chakra generally available to its customers on Monday. The tool conducts and evaluates interviews with developers. According to the company, approximately six months of beta testing involved more than 500 000 interviews; companies taking part included Snowflake, Snorkel and Capgemini.
The candidate receives a task involving a real code repository and works in an environment with an AI assistant. Chakra asks follow-up questions based on their approach, such as why they chose a particular solution or how they would adapt it if the requirements changed. According to the company, the assessment is also intended to capture critical thinking, judgment and the ability to assign work to AI, evaluate its outputs and guide it towards a solution.
According to company head Vivek Ravisankar, one interview using Chakra can combine an initial recruiter screening, a take-home assignment and a follow-up interview with a developer. The company reports 70 to 80 % fewer flags for suspicious activity during testing than in comparable traditional assessments on the HackerRank platform, with differences by region and seniority. These are internal findings, rather than a demonstrated reduction in cheating. According to the company, the final hiring decision is to remain with people. The article also highlights potential bias in automated assessments and New York City rules that require an independent bias audit and advance notice to candidates for certain tools.
Why it matters
The interview can also assess decision-making while working with AI, which is not apparent from the finished code alone. Its practical value therefore also depends on whether the assessment criteria match the role; the company claim of consistent assessment does not, on its own, guarantee the absence of bias.
Two audiences, two different impacts
What this means
For individuals
During an interview using Chakra, the candidate gets access to an AI assistant but must also explain their own approach and evaluate the proposed solutions. Preparation therefore includes defending decisions, as well as producing correct final code.
For a business
According to the company, recruitment teams can combine three stages of the hiring process into one interview. This changes the division of work between recruiters and developers, while responsibility for the final hiring decision remains with people.
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Event sources
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