People bomb, including good people. That is sadly part of the system.
Once I had this candidate. Damn, I know my questions are deceptively simple on purpose, but he literally couldn't do anything. Not even a trivial brute force. Not even any related simple knowledge questions. Couldn't tell an average from a median. The only good thing I could write in the feedback was "seems to know some basic syntax".
It was quite a learning moment to read that everyone else was praising how this was the most brilliant candidate they've seen in years. Well, mine was the interview just before lunch, in a schedule that was atypically later than usual. I guess starting an interview after most people start their lunch break was asking for it. He also got hired - apparently the committee agreed that "can't think when hungry" is not really that important a flaw.
Once I had this candidate. Damn, I know my questions are deceptively simple on purpose, but he literally couldn't do anything. Not even a trivial brute force. Not even any related simple knowledge questions. Couldn't tell an average from a median. The only good thing I could write in the feedback was "seems to know some basic syntax".
It was quite a learning moment to read that everyone else was praising how this was the most brilliant candidate they've seen in years. Well, mine was the interview just before lunch, in a schedule that was atypically later than usual. I guess starting an interview after most people start their lunch break was asking for it. He also got hired - apparently the committee agreed that "can't think when hungry" is not really that important a flaw.