I've understood that FizzBuzz is the lowest possible requirement for any programming job. It's a trivial programming exercise that doesn't require experience in algorithmic theory or mathematics. It's like going to the driving test and being asked to start the car: anyone who wouldn't know how to do that is likely highly incapable of passing the actual test.
Now, the astonishing issue, for me, is that there apparently are huge loads of people applying for programming positions who actually fail FizzBuzz. In effect, it's akin to applying for the position of a bus driver "coz I once travelled on a bus". I don't get that but apparently it does happen often enough to warrant FizzBuzz.
What's even more astonishing to me than the fact that programming applicants mess it up is the fact that when the problem is introduced to a programming forum or blog there will inevitably be commenters commenting with a solution, and that solution will be wrong. The only car analogy I came up with was a person hearing about someone putting on their spare tire, so they go out to do it on their own car from memory of the account, and they do it wrong, when the instructions were right in the glovebox.
Now, the astonishing issue, for me, is that there apparently are huge loads of people applying for programming positions who actually fail FizzBuzz. In effect, it's akin to applying for the position of a bus driver "coz I once travelled on a bus". I don't get that but apparently it does happen often enough to warrant FizzBuzz.