"Being a non-programmer, I don't have the tools to easily tell the difference." Then you shouldn't. Period. EDIT: It is unfortunate that the types of people (

"Being a non-programmer, I don't have the tools to easily tell the difference." Then you shouldn't. Period. EDIT: It is unfortunate that the types of people (quick learner, genius at a subject) are not considered for engineering jobs usually because the interviewers don't know how to interview. They ask stupid technical questions instead of having a technical conversation and what code on a whiteboard. Why not do calculus with an abacus? Not to mention the problem of people who make hiring decisions having no idea of what the problem they need to solve is and hire unqualified people under false pretenses. The old bait and switch.