> I'm happy to prove to you know I have a solid enough foundation in data structures and algorithms, I can program my way out of a paper bag and I can problem s

> I'm happy to prove to you know I have a solid enough foundation in data structures and algorithms, I can program my way out of a paper bag and I can problem solve and communicate effectively but as soon as you ask me to spend a week--even a day--on some audition project, forget it. I think it's about balance, an who you are talking to. If i were hiring a young programmer without that much prior experience, having some hobby projects for a portfolio, that seems to be a nice fit, but i want some confirmation, the idea of an audition project seems very nice to me. And to take an extreme example, if you are hiring Peter Norvig (lucky you), you won't even think about that audition project. I never hired anybody, just seems the way i would do things. Also on my first computing gig, i had an audition project, and i found it very nice. I was young and happy to prove myself (still am :))