Agreed, and we software engineers just keep letting them do it to us by agreeing that leetcode algorithm hazing should be the absolute measuring stick by which

Agreed, and we software engineers just keep letting them do it to us by agreeing that leetcode algorithm hazing should be the absolute measuring stick by which all software hiring is judged. If you feel like you barely squeaked your way in the door as someone was whipping you and yelling “dance monkey dance” then you’re helping them identify you as a gullible goober they can pay peanuts (relative to your value add) while overworking you, and get you to thank them for the sweet ping pong and happy hours. Until young candidates just say no to this shit, then it’s an abyss of open-office, grab-ass culture we have no one to blame for but ourselves.