[coldtea]

>If you can finish and launch a software project, then you are OK.

In what way would he be OK? Tons of developers launch software projects, but most don't go anywhere...

>The consensus seems to be that interviews are bad at identifying capable people.

Perhaps, but self-selection is even worse...

>I think JK Rowling's Harry Potter books were rejected by 10 publishers, so fuck other people's judgement.

Well, the books of some authors were rejected by ALL publishers though, and the books of other authors were accepted by sold nothing, so there's that too...

[edmundsauto]

If they can launch, they can develop. Regardless of whether something comes off or, it’s a confidence booster and reinforces belief in their skill sets.