General Questions

How does Interview Zen work?

Interview Zen streamlines technical interviews in three simple steps: 1) Create custom technical questions for your assessment, 2) Invite candidates who download our secure proctor app to record their responses, 3) Review a full AI hiring brief plus video replay, code answers, and security flags to make confident hiring decisions.

What types of coding questions can I create?

Create any type of technical question including algorithmic problems, system design questions, debugging exercises, and role-specific tasks. Set custom time limits. Candidates write code in their preferred language while our app records their screen and monitors for integrity violations.

How long does it take to set up an assessment?

Assessment setup typically takes 5-10 minutes. Create your questions, then generate a secure candidate invite link from the dashboard. You'll receive an AI hiring brief automatically when the candidate finishes.

How do I review candidate assessments?

Once a candidate completes their assessment, you get an AI hiring brief summarising their answers and code quality, plus tabs for Q&A replay, video review, and a security report showing any proctoring flags. Everything is in one place — no manual review of raw recordings required.

What programming languages are supported?

We support all major programming languages including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C++, Go, Ruby, Rust, and more. Candidates write code in their preferred language with syntax highlighting.

Is candidate data private and secure?

Yes. All candidate interview data is stored securely with AES-256 encryption in transit and at rest. Only authorized hiring team members can access interview recordings and assessments. We never share candidate information with third parties, and you can delete interview data at any time.


Features and Capabilities

What's included in the free plan?

The free plan includes 3 assessments per month with video recording & replay, an AI hiring brief after every assessment, and our built-in ATS candidate pipeline. Perfect for founders and small teams getting started.

What are the paid plan options?

Our Pro plan is $29/month for 15 assessments and adds security proctoring with infraction logs, so you can see exactly when and why a flag was raised. Our Premium plan is $79/month for 100 assessments and includes bulk candidate management and phone support. All plans include the AI hiring brief.

Do candidates need to install anything?

Yes — candidates download the Interview Zen Proctor desktop app (available for macOS, Windows, and Linux). The app handles screen recording, video capture, and security monitoring. Hiring managers use the web dashboard at app.interviewzen.com — no installation needed.

What if I'm not satisfied with candidate assessments?

You can review interviews multiple times at no extra cost. The AI brief, code answers, video replay, and security report all remain available. You can also leave notes and move candidates through the ATS pipeline at your own pace.


Privacy and Data Protection

How does Interview Zen ensure data security?

Interview Zen uses AES-256 encryption for all interview data in transit and at rest, along with time-limited JWT tokens for candidate access and strict role-based access controls for hiring managers. Our infrastructure is self-hosted on private Kubernetes infrastructure with regular security audits and penetration testing.

Who owns the interview data?

You own all interview data generated with Interview Zen including candidate responses, code solutions, video recordings, and AI briefs. You can download, share, and use this data for your hiring decisions. We never claim ownership of your interview content or candidate assessments.

How does Interview Zen handle candidate privacy?

We follow privacy-by-design principles. Candidates are fully informed about what is recorded before their assessment begins. Interview data is only used for your specific hiring process and is never used to improve our general AI systems. We collect only what is necessary to provide the assessment service.

Is Interview Zen compliant with privacy regulations?

Yes. Interview Zen adheres to GDPR and CCPA, ensuring transparency and legal compliance in all candidate data-handling practices. We're actively working toward SOC 2 Type 2 certification for enterprise customers.


Getting Started

How long does it take to get started?

You can sign up and create your first assessment in under 10 minutes at app.interviewzen.com. Most hiring managers send their first candidate invite within 30 minutes of signing up.

What does the hiring manager need?

Hiring managers use the web dashboard at app.interviewzen.com — works in any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) on macOS, Windows, or Linux. No installation required.

What does the candidate need?

Candidates download and install the Interview Zen Proctor app for their platform (macOS, Windows, or Linux). The app is lightweight and walks them through setup step by step. Mobile devices are not supported — a desktop or laptop is required.

Can I update my interview questions after creation?

Yes — you can modify questions, add new challenges, and update your assessment at any time before inviting candidates.


Pricing and Plans

How much does Interview Zen cost?

We offer a free plan with 3 assessments per month including the AI hiring brief and video replay. Our Pro plan is $29/month for 15 assessments with full security proctoring. Our Premium plan is $79/month for 100 assessments with bulk candidate management.

Are there any hidden fees or usage limits?

No hidden fees. Each plan has a clear monthly assessment limit. All plans include unlimited question creation, video recording, AI hiring briefs, and access to the ATS candidate pipeline.

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

Yes, you can cancel at any time. Your historical assessments and data remain accessible, but new invites will be limited to the Free plan's 3-per-month cap after cancellation.

Do you offer refunds?

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied during your first month of a paid subscription, contact support@interviewzen.com for a full refund.

Support and Help

What support options are available?

Free and Pro subscribers get email support at support@interviewzen.com. Premium subscribers get priority support with faster response times and access to phone support.

How do I create effective interview questions?

Start with clear, concrete problem statements: 'Write a function to find the longest substring without repeating characters.' Be specific about constraints and expected approach. Keep it to 1-3 questions per assessment so candidates have time to demonstrate depth.

What should I do if the proctor app has a problem?

Check that the candidate granted screen recording and camera permissions on their OS. Our proctor app displays specific error messages for permission issues. If the problem persists, contact support@interviewzen.com with the error message.

How do I contact support?

Email us at support@interviewzen.com or use the help section in your Interview Zen dashboard. We typically respond within 24 hours on business days.