that's an interesting idea. how can we implement that without it becoming awkward?
the problem i see is this:
it is unexpected, so the interviewee doesn't know what to make of that offer.
i don't know how much time to give them, and they don't know how much time they need. they also don't know how much time they should take.
i don't even know if they are the type that likes to take a quiet time to think. if they aren't then that offer could come across as a suggestion that their answer is wrong and they should think about it more.
at best it would be some institutionalized coffee-break, like we do the interview in two parts, first we are doing a bunch of exercises, then we take a break and after the break we do something else, but the interviewee is offered to add thoughts on the exercises that they may have come up with during the break.
The solution to unexpectedness is to tell them up front what you're going to offer. With that in mind, I like the idea of the "coffee break" where you're allowed to wander off.
Of course, you can also just leave the room while they're working on it.
the problem i see is this:
it is unexpected, so the interviewee doesn't know what to make of that offer.
i don't know how much time to give them, and they don't know how much time they need. they also don't know how much time they should take.
i don't even know if they are the type that likes to take a quiet time to think. if they aren't then that offer could come across as a suggestion that their answer is wrong and they should think about it more.
at best it would be some institutionalized coffee-break, like we do the interview in two parts, first we are doing a bunch of exercises, then we take a break and after the break we do something else, but the interviewee is offered to add thoughts on the exercises that they may have come up with during the break.