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Rounds8 min read

Choose a round type

The five Interview type cards, the eight AI interview round types, their lengths, which ones open a code editor or a whiteboard, and when to reach for each.

Before you start

  • A job you are about to add rounds to.
  • A rough idea of what you need to see from candidates at this stage.
Steps

5 steps, in order.

1

Know the two layers

There are two choices, not one. Interview type is the outer layer, picked as a card on Basic Details: Resume Screening, AI Interview, Human-Led Interview, AI Prompt Assessment, Coding Test. Round type is the inner layer, picked on Round Configuration, and it only applies when the Interview type is AI Interview. Eight round types sit inside that one card.

Dashboard›Clients›Stripe›Backend Engineer
Create a round
Basic Details
Set up basic round information
Round
1
Round title *
Enter round name
Interview type *
Resume Screening
AI analyzes skills, experience, and education to generate a readiness score - no interview required.
AI Interview
An AI interviewer conducts and evaluates the session, grading communication, confidence, and technical depth.
Human-Led Interview
A live meeting with the candidate - host it in Expert Hire, or on Zoom/Meet/Teams with a notetaker. Scored with a full report.
AI Prompt Assessment
Candidates demonstrate AI prompt-engineering skill by writing prompts to an AI tool for real-world tasks. Scored on 8 dimensions including prompt quality, context framing, and iteration strategy.
Coding Test
Candidates solve a sandboxed coding problem with real execution against hidden test cases. Scored on correctness, efficiency, code quality, and complexity.
BackContinue

The five Interview type cards on Basic Details. The eight round types live inside AI Interview.

2

Read the eight types side by side

Every type has a fixed format and a fixed time limit. Two of them open a code editor. One opens a whiteboard. Nothing here is configurable, so pick the type that already has the tools you need. The number is the round plus a 10 minute intro, which is how the Round type dropdown shows it.

  • Coding

    Format
    Coding
    Time limit
    20 + 10 min
    Code editor
    Yes
    Whiteboard
    No

  • General Interview

    Format
    Q and A
    Time limit
    15 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    No

  • Communication

    Format
    Q and A
    Time limit
    15 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    No

  • HR Round

    Format
    Q and A
    Time limit
    10 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    No

  • Problem Solving or Aptitude

    Format
    Q and A
    Time limit
    15 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    No

  • System Design

    Format
    Whiteboard
    Time limit
    15 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    Yes

  • Academic

    Format
    Q and A
    Time limit
    15 + 10 min
    Code editor
    No
    Whiteboard
    No

  • Task

    Format
    Coding
    Time limit
    10 + 10 min
    Code editor
    Yes
    Whiteboard
    No
3

Pick by what you need to see

Coding is a technical assessment with programming questions and a code editor. General Interview covers broad topics and overall fit. Communication tests clarity and articulation. HR Round is behavioural questions and cultural fit. Problem Solving or Aptitude is logical reasoning and analytical thinking. System Design is an architecture discussion with whiteboard support. Academic is for faculty recruitment at universities. Task is one focused coding challenge plus two or three follow-ups.

Dashboard›Clients›Stripe›Backend Engineer
Create a round
Round Configuration
Configure round settings and parameters
Step 2 of 4
Difficulty Level *
Medium
Round type *15 + 10 min warm-up
General Interview15 + 10 min
Non-negotiables
Add a checklist question
Add
No items yet - add one above.
Candidate warm-up (+10 min)
Adds a settling-in stretch before the graded questions. Leave it on unless the round is very short.
Require desktop app
Candidates are pushed to take this in the ExpertHire desktop app for stronger proctoring.
BackContinue

Round Configuration. Round type sits with Difficulty Level, Non-negotiables and Require desktop app.

4

Respect the time limit

The limit is per round, not per question, and every round adds a 10 minute intro on top. A 10 + 10 min HR Round is a short behavioural screen, not a full interview. If you need 30 minutes of signal, use two rounds rather than trying to stretch one.

  • Do not load 12 questions into a 15 + 10 min round. The round ends when the time is up.
5

Sequence the rounds

A common engineering sequence is resume screening, then General Interview, then Coding, then HR Round. A campus drive is often resume screening, then Communication, then Problem Solving or Aptitude. A senior backend loop usually swaps Coding for System Design. Each round has its own threshold, so the filter tightens as the sequence runs.

  • Task is the cheapest way to see someone write code. 10 + 10 min, one challenge, two or three follow-ups.
What you get

At the end of this guide.

A round type whose tools and time limit already match the signal you need.

A sequence where each round narrows the field instead of repeating the last one.

Predictable interview length, because the limit is fixed per type.

Common mistakes

What goes wrong, and the fix.

Using General Interview for a role that needs code.

General Interview has no code editor. Use Coding for 20 + 10 min or Task for 10 + 10 min.

Running System Design expecting a code editor.

System Design gives a whiteboard, not an editor. Add a separate Coding round if you need both.

Using Academic for a corporate role.

Academic is built for faculty recruitment at universities. Use HR Round or General Interview instead.

Stacking four rounds before anyone has been screened.

Put a resume screening round first. It costs 1 credit per scan and cuts the volume before interviews start.

FAQ

Questions people ask on this one.

Still stuck? Talk to us and we will walk through your setup.

Read next

Related guides.

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Add an AI interview round

Walk the Create a round wizard. Name the round on Basic Details, pick the Interview type, set the round type and difficulty, fill the Questions step, and set the score cutoffs on Workflow.

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Assessments

Run a coding test

Pick the Coding Test card, set difficulty and topic, and get real code execution against hidden test cases with a complexity verdict on the report.

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Job setup

Create a job

Fill in Job details, add the job description, add requirements with a level on each, pick the interview language, and create a job that rounds can be added to.

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All guides

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