That assumes that the fundamentals you're learning are relevant to your job. Pushups are relevant to football players, because they help build and maintain the

That assumes that the fundamentals you're learning are relevant to your job. Pushups are relevant to football players, because they help build and maintain the same muscles that players use in matches. Could you say the same about a UX engineer learning how to clone a directed graph? I think not. The problem is that we tend to lump all programmers together by assuming they should all know the same things. The reality, however, is that there are different kinds of programmers who need to be proficient at different skills. Wide receivers, quarterbacks, kickers, and linebackers all have different coaches, diets, and training regimens for a reason. Companies who realize this and incorporate this into their hiring will be at an advantage. Companies who don't will be at a disadvantage (unless they are so hot that they get 100s of resumes from over-qualified applicants every day, in which case it doesn't particularly matter what they do).