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I've been programming professionally for 35 years. I've never needed to invert or balance a tree. When I need a tree, there is usually a library that does what

I've been programming professionally for 35 years. I've never needed to invert or balance a tree. When I need a tree, there is usually a library that does what I need, and if not, I can google the algorithm that I need. I could figure it out, but the issue is that it will take time, and it is stressful. A new college grad by contrast still remembers Data Structures 101, and how to manipulate trees. This kind of "bozo filter" favors both new grads, and people who spend a lot of time memorizing trivia in order to solve these problems quickly.

ryandrake 2y ago
Yea, the real low pass filter is simply FizzBuzz or "Write a for loop." That will eliminate over 50% of your candidate funnel who literally don't know how to program. For a real candidate, it should take 30-90 seconds and you got it out of the way. "Invert a binary tree" like questions just filter out anyone who hasn't recently graduated with a CS degree or recently and deliberately studied algorithms. I don't think they're that useful if you want to find a leader.