Second-device proctoring adds a side camera to a Simplehire screening interview. The candidate pairs their own phone by scanning a code from the interview page, props it to one side, and the phone gives a side view of them, their laptop and the desk around it. The recruiter can require it, there's nothing for the candidate to install, and candidates are told before monitoring begins.
What does a side camera show that a webcam can't?
A webcam points at the candidate's face. In a Simplehire screen it shows their face on the main interview screen, and very little else. Several common ways to get help in a remote interview sit just outside that frame:
- a second person beside the laptop, feeding answers
- a phone, tablet or printed notes on the desk
- a second monitor showing notes or a chat window
This happens often enough to plan for. In Checkr's September 2025 survey of 3,000 US managers, 35% said someone other than the listed applicant had participated in a virtual interview. The FBI's July 2025 advisory tells employers who interview remotely to "Mandate video and request that their backgrounds be unobscured." A side camera applies the same idea to the desk in front of the candidate.
How does the candidate set it up?
- The candidate is told about the second camera before monitoring begins.
- The interview page in their browser shows a QR code. They scan it with their own phone. There's no app to install and no account to create.
- They prop the phone to one side so it can see them, their laptop and the desk.
- Lighting, framing and camera angle are checked before the interview starts, so a phone aimed at the ceiling or into a dark corner comes to light during setup, not after the interview.
- The voice interview runs as usual.
Your invite can head off setup trouble. Say that a second device is required, so candidates have a charged phone nearby, and suggest something to rest it on, like a phone stand or a stack of books. Decide in advance what you'll do if a candidate doesn't have a smartphone, and apply the same rule to everyone on the req.
What does the recruiter see?
The side view feeds the same integrity record as the rest of the screen. When something in it raises an alert, such as a second person in view, the alert appears in the screening report with a timestamp, a screenshot and a severity of Low, Medium, High or Critical concern. Browser events such as tab switches and paste attempts sit in the same report.
A person reviews every alert. Simplehire raises it, and the recruiter decides what it means. Treat an alert as a reason to look closer. A family member walking behind a candidate for a few seconds is different from someone sitting beside them through the whole interview, and the screenshots and timestamps let you tell which one you're looking at. If you still aren't sure, follow up with a short live video call, as our guide on how to spot a proxy interview suggests.
What doesn't second-device proctoring do?
- It doesn't put any software on the candidate's phone or ask them to create an account.
- It doesn't judge the candidate's answers or decide whether they used AI. It gives a person a wider view and a record of alerts. Our piece on AI cheating in interviews explains why we don't claim more than that.
- It sees only what's in its frame. A helper in another room, an earpiece or a message on a smartwatch may not show up.
- It depends on the candidate's setup. The pre-interview checks on lighting, framing and angle help, but rooms and phones vary.
- It isn't an identity check. To confirm the person matches a government ID, use the ID check.
When should you require a second device?
Match it to what a stand-in or a hidden helper would cost you on that req.
| Situation | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Remote role you'll submit to a client | Require it |
| Senior or client-critical role screened on Advanced | Require it, along with the ID check |
| Remote IT contract role with access to client systems | Require it, and see the IT staffing setup |
| High-volume junior roles on Basic | Usually skip it; the browser checks on every screen cover a first pass |
| Candidates you'll meet in person before submission | Your call, weighing the extra setup step against the risk |
How does it fit with the other checks?
Every Simplehire screen runs in enforced full-screen mode and records tab switches, window changes, focus loss and copy and paste attempts. Desktop proctoring adds checks on supported Windows and Mac interviews for risky applications such as remote-desktop tools. The second device covers the desk, which neither of those can see. The integrity features page compares all of them, and the proctoring overview has the full detail.
Screens cost $2, $3 or $5 depending on the tier, and you can start with 25 free Basic screens a month with no credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Does the candidate need to install an app for second-device proctoring?
No. The candidate pairs their own phone from the browser by scanning a code. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
What does the side camera show?
A side view of the candidate, their laptop and the surrounding desk. Lighting, framing and camera angle are checked before the interview starts.
Are candidates told about the second camera?
Yes. Candidates are informed before monitoring begins.
Does the side camera decide whether a candidate cheated?
No. It can raise integrity alerts, such as a second person in view, and each alert is timestamped in the report with a screenshot. A person reviews every alert, and the recruiter decides.
