How to Use Blackbird with HireVue
HireVue runs recorded, one-way video interviews where you answer prompts on a timer with no interviewer present.
What HireVue captures
- —A recorded video and audio answer per question
- —Response timing and retake counts
- —Transcript analysis of what you said
- —Browser focus events during the recording
- —Coding assessments in the same session for technical roles
How Blackbird fits in
HireVue only sees your camera, your microphone and the exam tab. Everything else on your desktop is invisible to it, and the recording never includes your screen.
Blackbird is a lightweight native Windows overlay drawn at the system compositor level. It is not a browser tab, an Electron window, or a shared surface, so it does not show up in screen recordings, screen-share streams, or active-window checks. It stays on top, accepts clicks without stealing focus, and disappears instantly with a hotkey. Put the overlay directly under your webcam so glancing at notes reads as looking at the camera.
Practical tips
- +Place the overlay just below the webcam to keep your eye line natural.
- +Speak in your own voice rather than reading sentences verbatim.
- +Use bullet prompts, not full scripts — reading aloud is obvious on camera.
- +Practise once so the pacing feels conversational.
Frequently asked questions
Can HireVue see my notes?
No. HireVue records the webcam and microphone, not your screen, and the overlay is excluded from screen capture regardless.
Does it detect reading?
Transcript and delivery analysis can notice a scripted answer. Use short prompts and speak naturally.
Does it work for the coding portion?
Yes, the same overlay works over HireVue's coding assessment.
Windows only?
Yes, Windows 10 and 11.
You are responsible for following the rules of any exam, employer or institution you use Blackbird with. No tool can account for human observation or behavioural review.