[coffeenut]

The theory behind the technical questions is not whether you can reverse a linked list, but rather:

  -Do you know basic computer science concepts
  -How are your problem-solving skills
  -Can you move beyond "obvious, yet flawed" answers
  -Do you exhibit passion (passion to get to the right answer, enjoyment of problem solving, etc)
  -Can you present and justify solutions
  -Integrity (If you've seen the problem before, tell the interviewer, don't 'fake solve' it!)
  -Are you thorough (probing to understand problem, handling error cases, boundary cases, etc)
  -Can you communicate/collaborate with the interviewer

Anyway, that's the theory. In reality, many interviewers use whiteboard questions as a crutch to an easy interview loop and don't really understand why they're asking what they're asking.

My biggest piece of advice is to remember the technical interview isn't just (or even mostly) about the technical aspect. Communicate constantly, verbalize your thoughts, ask questions, show passion. I've hired plenty of people who have done not-so-well at the technical portion, and I've given a 'no hire' to plenty who have aced the technical portion.

[peacemaker]

Thanks for your input. I get most of the reasons you listed and feel that I do communicate well (I've been in charge of small teams/mentored etc.) and don't get flustered when asked these questions. But a lot of the time they require some kind of "leap" from the problem to the solution. Usually it's some obscure data structure I should have used or an adapted sorting algorithm which in my 10 years of developing software I've never had to use before - and I've worked in some diverse industries.

I've got another day long interview in a couple of days and to get there I had to do 2 phone screens and a 3-day long skills test at home. I get it, you have to get the right people but in a country where you can just sack someone at the drop of a hat it seems so over the top. Even more so in comparison to the UK where firing someone is extremely difficult.

[16s]

You may "quit at the drop of a hat" as well so it works both ways. In the US, it's called "at will employment" so if you get stuck somewhere you don't like, you may leave. But if you want to use the company as a reference for future jobs, be nice to them and provide a few weeks notice, etc.