[jamn]

I second this. I just graduated and as I was looking for a job and I interviewed for a bunch of companies.

One of them asked that I solve some programming challenges. Sure, I like puzzles and I like being challenged. However, at the time I was already being challenged by my thesis work, problem sets, interviews... it's hard to agree to make a huge time commitment just to get the right to a first round interview.

Since other hot startups/ cool companies (Google, FB) don't require this type of activity, it makes sense to me to think that a lot of people simply won't have the time to apply because they're busy solving more interesting puzzles.

[ig1]

Facebook are well known for their application puzzles,

http://www.facebook.com/careers/puzzles.php

And Google are notorious for having a long drawn out interviewing process.

[jchonphoenix]

Facebook's interview puzzles aren't a prerequisite requirement to getting a job. The good developers who don't have time will just interview and get offers.

Google's are drawn out, but each interview takes 1 hour max so there is an upper bound on your time.