[kafkaesq]

"We want to figure out whether a candidate can do the work we need them to do."

Well, yeah, that's the thing - the answer is (or should be) so self-evident that one wonders if one wonders whether the question is really worth the bandwidth.

[kevinr]

So few companies are clear about it in their hiring processes, and therefore wind up hiring for all sorts of skills which have at best weak bearing on actual job performance in most roles (eg. brain teaser memorization) that the answer is, empirically, yes.

[kafkaesq]

Hmm. I have they sense they know do what they want ("a candidate who can do the work") but have but are basically at a loss as to how to deterministically assess that via the standard interview format. Hence the brain teaser stuff.