I failed a C++ test that was a requirement to get a job (30 minutes timed, multiple choice). I had written a C++ application that I had sold to thousands of customers (Fortune 100s in there too). I had mistakenly thought I could be a programmer at a real job.

Later, I sold $20,000 worth of source code that took me 60 hours to produce. The client thought it was easy to read.

I still don't think I'm a real programmer. The test sure seemed to prove that. But, people still buy my software today (I have other apps).

From my perspective, it seems the current technical interviews are looking for something in particular, from which you don't later actually do that for the real job. Kinda like seeing if you can survive a skydive, but you'll actually only be packing chutes after hire.

I wish there was a way to say, up front, that there are different types of programmers, vs the catch all "programmer" job title. Because it sure seems like I'm typing out code. The computer has always accepted it.