I was approached by a company recruiter. Here is my version of how NetApp would have interviewed Shakespeare if NetApp were a company that created stories:

NetApp interviewer: Do you know a poem that talks about stars? Shakespeare: No, sir. I don't have one from memory, but I can create one if you like. NetApp interviewer: Okay, you have 20 minutes.

Shakespeare starts thinking and begins writing down various words and prose.

NetApp interviewer interrupts: Oh, you are done? Because the time is 10 minutes already. Shakespeare: Well, I am trying to think, as you can see, exploring various ways and words to form a poem. NetApp interviewer: Okay, you see, it starts with "Twinkle, twinkle..." Shakespeare: Sir, like I said, I don't memorize poems mostly. You can see me work. I like writing and creating from my imagination and experience. NetApp interviewer: We don't have time for that. Sorry. Bye.

Essentially, they are looking for people who have memorized some programming problems. So, if you are already familiar with that problem, you are hired. The creative programmer who solves problems has no chance of getting hired here.

A question about search