Beyond Code: How CoderPad Naturally Reveals Soft Skills Through Live Coding

Hiring an engineer based only on technical ability is like picking a co-founder because they can write great emails. Sure, it’s a useful skill. But it’s not enough.

Yet, too many teams still rely on technical assessments that only measure code correctness—ignoring the soft skills that actually determine success on the job.

Yes, technical skills matter (please don’t hire an engineer who can’t code). But soft skills? That’s what separates a productive teammate from someone who rage-quits when asked to refactor.

• Can they translate tech jargon into plain English?
• Can they roll with the punches when requirements inevitably change? Even better: can they see around the corners and plan ahead by deeply understanding users and the business problem? 
• Do they take feedback without combusting?

If you’re not assessing these things, you’re making hiring way harder than it needs to be.

That’s why the smartest teams don’t just test whether someone can write code. They test how they work.

And the best way to do that? Live and realistic coding interviews.

CoderPad’s Interview product naturally surfaces both technical and soft skills—so you don’t have to guess how a candidate will perform once they’re actually in the job.

Why Live Coding Interviews Are Key For Soft Skills Evaluation

Take-home tests and automated coding assessments serve a purpose: they provide an initial screen for technical proficiency. But they don’t tell you how a candidate breaks down a complex problem, how they handle challenges in the moment, or whether they communicate effectively under pressure.

To make a real hiring decision, you need more than a coding score. You need to see the human behind the keyboard.

CoderPad’s live interview environment transforms the hiring process from a one-sided test into a dynamic, collaborative experience. Candidates don’t just write code—they work through problems together, just like they would on the job. This is where soft skills shine.

The Five Soft Skills That Matter Most (and How to Spot Them)

Here’s what to look for in a live coding interview—and the best ways to uncover these skills in action.

1. Technical Communication

Can they explain what they’re doing without sounding like they swallowed a textbook?

🚀 Great engineers:
✅ Clearly articulate their thought process before coding
✅ Adapt their explanations depending on the audience (PMs ≠ engineers ≠ execs)
✅ Don’t go silent when asked, “What are you thinking?”

🔥 Try asking:
🗣️ “Explain this to me like I’m five.”
🗣️ “If you had to describe this to a product manager, how would you do it?”

2. Structured Problem-Solving

Do they methodically break down problems, or are they just throwing code at the wall?

🚀 Great engineers:
✅ Identify core issues quickly
✅ Think through edge cases before things break
✅ Explain why they chose their approach—not just what they did

🔥 Try asking:
🗣️ “What made you choose this approach?”
🗣️ “What happens if we scale this up?”

3. Collaboration

Do they treat the interview like a dialogue—or a solo mission?

🚀 Great engineers:
✅ Engage in actual discussion, not just monologues
✅ Incorporate feedback without getting defensive
✅ Work with the interviewer like a teammate, not an adversary

🔥 Try asking:
🗣️ “What do you think about trying this differently?”
🗣️ “How would you approach this if we were pair-programming?”

4. Initiative & Ownership

Are they driving the solution—or waiting to be spoon-fed?

🚀 Great engineers:
✅ Take responsibility for their choices
✅ Proactively spot and address potential issues
✅ Make decisions confidently, while staying open to better ideas

🔥 Try asking:
🗣️ “Do you see any risks in this approach?”
🗣️ “If you had more time, what would you improve?”

5. Adaptability

What happens when the problem changes? Do they panic or pivot?

🚀 Great engineers:
✅ Stay composed when requirements shift
✅ Integrate new information without losing momentum
✅ Maintain productivity under uncertainty

🔥 Try asking:
🗣️ “What if this suddenly needed to handle a million users?”
🗣️ “Actually, this now has to work offline—how would you adjust it?”

How to Actually Run a Good Interview

Here’s the trick: Make the interview feel like real work, not a LeetCode puzzle.

✅ Start with a warm-up. A little rapport goes a long way.
✅ Encourage thinking out loud. No mind-reading required.
✅ Use practical problems. Ditch the abstract brainteasers—test what they’d actually do on the job.
✅ Dive deeper. Watch how they break down problems, explain ideas, and adapt in real time.

And CoderPad makes it easy with:

🎥 Live code pairing → See how they collaborate, not just how they compile
🔊 Video/audio → Hear how they think: Growth mindset > memorized syntax
📌 Drawing tools → Sketch it out, scale it up: see their system design in action
🎞️ Code playback → Replay the magic: break down their problem-solving step by step

Why This Matters for Candidates, Too

A great interview isn’t just about assessing talent—it’s about helping candidates assess you.

Live coding lets them step into your world, solving real problems like they would on the job. Instead of a robotic assessment, they get a hands-on feel for your team’s  collaboration, communication, and problem-solving style.

Better Interviews, Smarter Hiring Decisions

Hiring isn’t just about finding someone who can code—it’s about finding someone who can contribute.

By assessing technical and soft skills together, teams make more informed hiring decisions. You don’t just see what a candidate can do—you see how they’ll work with others, handle feedback, and navigate challenges. That’s how you find engineers who thrive. And if you’re not testing for both, you’re rolling the dice on every new hire.

Want to actually enjoy working with the engineers you hire?

Start using CoderPad today to seamlessly assess both technical and soft skills. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.