> Asking me to solve an extremely esoteric problem that has zero relevance to my day-to-day and if the solution I come up with on the spot under time pressure i

> Asking me to solve an extremely esoteric problem that has zero relevance to my day-to-day and if the solution I come up with on the spot under time pressure is incorrect or even just not the most efficient I'm rejected? At that point you're just filtering for starry-eyed recent grads you can underpay. Eh I think it's fine to try to find people who are interested in solving problems and will give any maths problem a go, no matter how hard it may seem.