you and others are ignoring the fact that the guy has been rejected more than a dozen times at technical interviews. He has demonstrated an inability to pass what's the bare minimum: basic programming, algorithms and data structure. If someone with a PhD cannot re-master this material (which he/she has supposedly learned in undergrad) within few weeks of preparation, no matter how fancy the PhD research is, then that in itself is telling about his/her commitment, drive or competence. These claims sound like saying oh I am a best seller novelist yet having forgotten (and unwilling or unable to revisit) the alphabet. At the end of the day, there is no evidence that PhDs have a hard time getting interviews (the author got 20 or so), and if they really ace the interviews, heck even do reasonably well, they will have no problems getting hired. A PhD degree by itself will not get them hired, but it will not jeopardize their chance either, provided that they do well in the interview.