Well it's not just that -- algorithms do matter, and a very small number of programmers do move the needle in this industry through their ability to shine in that area.

But the vast majority of the time -- that's not what your company needs at all. You need someone who's smart and reliable, and more to the point, believes in your mission. And who will go in and do all that far from algorithmic, highly unglamorous stuff that keeps your business from going underwater, day in, day out.

But of course - those skills are difficult to evaluate in a short amount of time. So instead companies go for a skill that can be "measured".

A skill like -- you guessed it -- algorithms.