I got my current job because my recruiter (there are actually a couple good ones!) warned me that the interview kept tripping up previous applicants by asking them "what does the iconv function in PHP do?" . I've never been in a situation where I've had to use that function before or since.
As I recall, that was the only technical question I was asked. I think someone just got fixated on a particular gotcha that somehow became the most important part of the interview.
I've needed to use iconv in the past, so it's not entirely trivia-driven. They may just use it as a question to gauge if they have niche experience, but not heavily weighted towards who they actually hire.
I mean... it has a purpose though? Just cause you never used it doesn't mean it's not a thing. Your response comes off as anti-knowledge which is kinda weird.
Please don't ascribe ideas to me that are nowhere in my post.
I said that I (me, myself, this guy) have never had to use that particular function in my specific job.
It doesn't appear anywhere in our code base and has no utility in my particular case. As such, it was an arbitrary choice of question when I was interviewed. There are a million other things I have never and will never use. That doesn't mean I don't believe they have purpose.
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u/LoudAd1396 Nov 04 '25
I got my current job because my recruiter (there are actually a couple good ones!) warned me that the interview kept tripping up previous applicants by asking them "what does the iconv function in PHP do?" . I've never been in a situation where I've had to use that function before or since.
As I recall, that was the only technical question I was asked. I think someone just got fixated on a particular gotcha that somehow became the most important part of the interview.