Wondering if the &quot;cover your ass&quot; is a factor in these hiring decisions.  If you&#x27;re the guy&#x2F;gal who hire a new engineer, who turns out <i>not</i> to know their stuff, your ass is probably on the line.  Making engineering candidates jump through hoops might provide them with a level of protection against future reprisals.<p>While I don&#x27;t interview for engineering jobs, we do bid on municipal contracts which are dominated by this concept (cover your ass, hire the big guy).  A different animal indeed, but in a employment hierarchy where employees are held accountable for performance of new hires, it seems similar incentive would exist.