I was initially contacted by some staffing firm Bloomberg uses to source in candidates. This particular time, I managed to get a phone screen by the STAFFING FIRM. They basically hit me with all sorts of esoteric questions about C/C++. Stuff no one really cares about in day-to-day work programming activities. So I work on their initial quiz (which took a day). Then the phone screener hits me with another programming question about reversing a C-string. So I wrote my standard answer, which is pretty efficient anyway. then this guy asks me how to reverse the string in one pass, and gives me 24 hrs to think about it. So after 24 hrs, they call me back. I told them what is the end-goal to this, and what comes next if I succeed? They said more tricky questions by THEM. If I pass that, THEN I get to talk to Bloomberg. I told them their question wasn't worth the trouble, and I'll pass on them. They gave me some kinda lip about college students being able to solve their pet question in short order. So I got some good ole New Jersey/New York attitude for my efforts! Basically, I now ignore these bozos whenever they come knocking..you should too!