Lame? It’s a bare minimum demonstration of ability.

The number of experienced candidates I’ve interviewed just in the past few months who have trouble writing a for-loop in the language they’re “experienced” in might astound you.

Welders sometimes (always?) have to go to a certification center to demonstrate that they can actually perform the types of welds the job they’re applying for requires.

https://www.aws.org/Certification-and-Education/Professional...