>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html?hp&rref=opinion
>
>Tom Friedman is usually a pompous, self-centered stuffed shirt, but I read his columns anyway because now and then I get something from one.
>
>This is one of those exceptions.
>Great reading.
>
>14% non college grads!
>
>I also like what he said about MBA's!

Context is everything. It depends on the job.

I don't discount that pattern recognition, cognitive ability, etc. are key aspects.

But for our general line of work, where many of us get gigs that are 6 months, 9 months, one year and then a potential "to-hire", many of those gigs need skills in key technical areas (whether in writing SharePoint webparts, writing stored procs, converting a truckload of VB code, etc etc). . In those situations, believe me, they damn well are also looking for people with strong expertise.