Comment by sulam

The idea of screening for a software engineering gene is patently absurd. In an ideal scenario, we screen for the ability to do the work the job requires. In the normal scenario, we screen for some mix of that and the ability to apply cookie-cutter techniques to (hopefully) novel problems in the space of ~45 minutes. Some companies also ask you to do a sample practical problem either on site or on your own time. None of this indicates anything about someone's "innate genetic talent", if there is any such thing.