Ever wonder what HTTP stands for? Or can you list all the network protocol layers? How about naming some big ECMAScript updates?
These are just a few interview questions folks shared with me after my last post about LLMs in code reviews.
But one story really stuck with me.
"I had a take-home task from a company. I am more comfortable with TypeScript, but went with Python because they seemed to use it a lot. They penalized my application for not using TypeScript."
This guy's been in IT for 20 years. If he's facing this at Senior Lead level, it must be way tougher for Juniors.
He got the vibe right. He showed he could adapt. Still lost out.
Here's what's messed up with hiring right now:
1. Interview tasks that set you up for failure based on the very answers they guide you to.
2. Processes meant for new grads but used on folks who've launched real systems across three tech eras.
3. Trivia that checks your memory, not your skills. Just knowing what HTTP stands for doesn't mean you can design a solid API.
4. Feedback that totally contradicts the requirements they gave you at the start.
Plus, the whole setup is flawed. Candidates are stressed out. Interviewers have all the control. Even a senior engineer who confidently ships stuff daily can choke on a question they know the answer to. The format tests how you handle stress, not your actual skills.
Here's what those companies just don't get:
Interview benchmarks often reflect the interviewer's own learning curve from way back, not what the job actually needs now. What they struggled with a decade ago ends up being the gate every candidate must pass through. It's not about testing skills. It's a mirror.
Developers who can adapt to whatever tools the team uses are showing exactly why senior engineers get hired. Seeing the situation and making the right call? That's not a flaw. That's the job.
The right company will:
1/ Look at what you've built, not just whether you picked the right answer under stress.
2/ See adaptability as a strength, not a sign you're lacking skills.
3/ Know the difference between "this isn't how I'd do it" and "this is wrong."
If a company's process punishes adaptability, imagine the chaos in their codebase when requirements change.
The interview is broken. Not the developer.
What's your story? Still collecting them.