Hello,
I was asked recently at an interview to take some file cards and put them in alpha filing order. Some were first name and last --Doris Smith and some were last name, first--Smith, Doris, and some were an initial and last name--D. Smith.
I separated the first and last name order and put them in one pile and then put the last name, first name in order in another pile.
Are you suppose to mix them all together?
Thanks

Yes you were to put them all in order, not just in separate piles.

You would have filed them like this:

1. Smith, D.
2. Smith, Doris
3. Doris Smith (this would have been the way you would have treated this card if there already was a Smith, Doris in the batch)