--- title: "Focus Time - CoderPad Interview Docs" description: "Learn how to use Focus Time, a feature that gives candidates a period of unobserved time to collect their thoughts and start coding before the interview starts." canonical: "https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/interview/focus-time/" last_modified: "2024-08-29 12:09:43" --- 1. [Docs home](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/) / 2. [Interview](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/interview/) / 3. [Focus Time](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/interview/focus-time/) [Documentation menu](#docs-navigation) # Focus Time Last updated on August 29, 2024 Focus time is an Interview platform feature that gives candidates 5 minutes of quiet, unobserved time to collect their thoughts, and start working on a solution, before the interview starts. - [Start Focus Time](#start-focus-time) - [End Focus Time early](#end-focus-time-early) - [After the interview](#after-the-interview) - [Disable/enable Focus Time](#disable-enable-focus-time) ## Start Focus Time Both the interviewer and the candidate can start Focus Time. In the pad, click the Focus button in the left tabs menu. [![The focus time button is highlighted in the left tab menu.](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-24.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-24.png) A pop-up opens explaining the benefits of Focus Time. The interviewer sees this pop up: [![start focus time. How can you assess a candidate's coding skillset when they're under artificial stress? Giving a qualified candidate a few minutes to collect their thoughts can drastically improve their ability to pass technical assessments.](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-25.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-25.png) The candidate sees this one: [!["start focus time. you're stressed, we get it. you're more likely to perform better if you take a few minutes to collect your thoughts. focus time "pauses" your interview for 5 minutes so you can think through the problem on your own, without the interviewer watching. we'll ring a bell when 10 seconds are left, and again when time is up."](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-26.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-26.png) To start Focus Time, click Begin Focus Time. The interviewer’s screen blurs out and they have no audio or video while Focus Time is in progress: [![A pad with the "focus time in-progress" window open. The remaining time is shown. The pad itself is blurred in the background.](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/image-67-1024x463.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/image-67.png) The candidate has access to the pad and can begin working on a solution: [![A pad is shown with the focus time timer shown at the top of the pad.](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-61-1024x476.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-61.png) Both the interviewer and candidate see the Focus Time clock counting down. The interviewer and candidate are alerted with a pleasant sound when Focus Time reaches 0:00 minutes. At that time, Focus Time ends, the pad unblurs, audio and video return, and the interview begins. ## End Focus Time early > ❗We highly caution against an interviewer ending Focus Time early, as this leads to a poor candidate experience. Interviewers can click the End Early button to end Focus Time before the 5 minutes is up. [!["focus time in progress. while your candidate is taking 5 minutes to wrap their head around the coding assessment you gave them, you can learn more about why focus time is a good idea, take a break, or (quickly) go get something else done. Turn your sound up to hear a notification sound when focus time is done."](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/img_61dc487954e36.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/img_61dc487954e36.png) Candidates can end Focus Time early clicking on the timer drop-down and clicking on End Early. [![The image shows a section of a coding interview platform where "Focus Time" is active. Here’s a detailed description: - **Focus Time Countdown:** At the top, there is a countdown timer labeled "Focus Time," which currently shows 2 minutes and 37 seconds remaining. This feature provides candidates with 5 minutes of uninterrupted time to think or plan their approach to a coding problem. - **Explanation:** A message explains the purpose of Focus Time, stating that "Focus Time (5 minutes of alone time to think) has been shown to drastically improve a candidates’ ability to pass technical assessments." It reassures the candidate that the interviewer cannot see what they are doing during this time. - **Encouragement:** The message encourages the candidate to use this time to plan, brainstorm, or take a deep breath before diving back into the task. - **Sound:** There’s a mention of a sound, "Intro 01" by rhodesmas / CC-BY, which might be playing in the background during Focus Time. - **End Early Button:** At the bottom of the dialog, there’s a prominent green button labeled "End Early," allowing the candidate to end Focus Time before the 5 minutes are up if they are ready to continue with the interview. This feature is designed to help candidates perform better by giving them a brief period to gather their thoughts without the pressure of being observed.](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/image-3.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/image-3.png) ## After the interview Interviewers can review the candidate’s progress during Focus Time in Playback Mode. Find out more in [our Focus Time article](https://coderpad.io/blog/product-updates/focus-time-launch/). ## Disable/enable Focus Time To turn Focus Time on or off, simply navigate to the [Organization settings page](https://app.coderpad.io/dashboard/organization/settings) and scroll to the Manage Pad section of the screen. You’ll see this toggle under the Focus Time section, which you can use to enable or disable the setting: [![Section header says "focus time". There is a toggle with text next to it that says "enable focus time for your organization". below that is text that says "focus time allows your candidates to perform better during interviews".](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-4.png)](https://coderpad.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-4.png) Close Docs Index - [Screen](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/) Toggle children pages - [Quick start guides](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/recruiters-quickstart/) Toggle children pages - [Onboarding Checklist](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/recruiters-quickstart/screen-onboarding-checklist/) - [The CoderPad Screen Score Guide](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/the-coderpad-screen-score-guide/) - [Video Guides](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/recruiters-quickstart/video-guides/) - [Tests](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/tests/) Toggle children pages - [Creating a test](https://coderpad.io/resources/docs/screen/tests/creating-a-test/) - 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