[grumple]

What do you consider a huge lapse in basic knowledge?

Knowledge is usually the easiest problem to fix. It’s a google search away. All the bad hires I’ve seen have had masters or phds and the problem has been poor work ethic, focus, and practical application of knowledge towards solving business problems. Interviews, in my opinion, can easily test for basic dev knowledge but should focus more on the way the candidate will conduct themself as an employee.