I disagree.<p>A typical adult has the spare time to study 3-5 algorithms prior to an upcoming interview, and the algorithm question lottery has room for several hundred.<p>This means that the practice of trying to stump them with algorithm questions provides a strong benefit to hiring managers: can this candidate read my mind even before I&#x27;ve decided what it is I will ask of him?<p>They&#x27;re selecting for psychic powers and do-what-I-want-ness. Which is what most management in the United States (elsewhere probably, but I&#x27;m an uncultured redneck type... wouldn&#x27;t know) values.