" If you know binary searches, you’re in. " No you are not in. I know 'binary searches' but I have been rejected after the phone interviews when I applied one

" If you know binary searches, you’re in. " No you are not in. I know 'binary searches' but I have been rejected after the phone interviews when I applied one year ago. The asked problems were certainly harder than 'binary search', but these were not that DEEP problems. (I've solved much deeper problems in my life.) I don't know the reason of my rejection. My final solution was correct, I checked that afterwards. I was probably just not fast enough, and I made mistakes because of stress (which I corrected later). Also, when they asked 'how would you test it', I might answered incorrectly. IMHO they use a boolean formula when evaluating you: A and B and C and D rather than A or B or C or D If you fail in one aspect (or at least they perceive that you fail in that aspect) they reject you, because they can find people who dont't fail in any aspects (or at least they perceive that). This was the first time in my life that I've been rejected by a company. I was a bit angry for a day, but eventually I realized that it is not a big deal: they have plenty of people to choose from. Maybe I will try it once again if the startup that I am working on now fails. But I will practice more before the interview.