>>>The interviewers know the real problems facing the company, but the polite fiction is that they’re only temporary, and soon everyone will be able to focus entirely on the algorithms, which are what really matter. Since most companies tell the same story, candidates have to read between the lines to see if there’s a good fit.

I've walked away from a few places because of the interview process. It's like the old song the gambler by Kenny Rodgers. You need to know when to walk away and know when to run.

If I get put in a room with a puzzle sheet and they lock the door for 20 minutes, I'm out. Not because I can't solve the problems, but because any company that thinks my ONLY value is in solving puzzle questions has no idea how to hire people and have devaluated the role of the senior SE's at that company. You can tell a lot about a company by the way in which they conduct the interview process.