I think they're BS also. What you should be looking for is does the person understand how the project(s) they have worked on fit into a larger system. For instance, I have a high level understanding of how the other systems at the Co I work for work. I know what they do, I know what data they ingest and expel. I know how the data I consume is generated. I know how it all fits together and I can talk conversantly about it. I know that when a change request comes in if it affects other teams and I voice out when it does.
I think this is what you should look for in most candidates except high level system engineers and jr developers.
I think this is what you should look for in most candidates except high level system engineers and jr developers.