[jogjayr]

> I do think there's some signal in whether a candidate can get the syntax right

I agree with that. I've had candidates explain certain points of syntax as they worked, or demonstrate their knowledge in other ways, or write their code particularly well or cleanly, and I make sure to mention that positively in my notes. But less-than-flawless syntax by itself isn't a negative for me.

I agree with the main things you look for - I too try to focus on those more than syntax.