Series: Smarter Coding Interview Prep
Why Random LeetCode Grinding Fails and What to Do Instead (1/3)
If you think solving 300 random LeetCode problems guarantees a job offer… think again.
Here’s why that strategy fails and how to replace it with a targeted approach that top engineers swear by.
The “Grind” Problem
❌ Forget patterns when problems aren’t grouped.
⏳ Waste time on low-frequency topics.
📚 Build short-term recall, not deep understanding.
💡 Top companies use pattern variations and without mastery, you’ll struggle.
Replace Random with a “Topic-First” Plan
🎯 Pick a topic (e.g., binary search).
📖 Learn the core principle.
🧩 Solve increasingly harder problems in that topic.
🔍 Review why you picked each approach and how to optimize.
Use the “Weighted Topic” Approach
🔥 High frequency: Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps, Graph Traversals, DP basics.
⚡️ Medium: Tries, Segment Trees, Union-Find.
❄️ Low: Rare advanced algorithms.
📊 Spend ~60% on high, 30% on medium, 10% on low.
Adopt a Time-Bound Plan
📅 Month 1: Core data structures & algorithms.
🏃 Month 2: Systematic practice + mocks.
🛠 Month 3: Weak areas + timed practice.
⏳ Short on time? Compress, but don’t skip fundamentals.
💡 Here's your challenge: ✍️ Write down your available prep time and list topics in priority order. Start with your #1 high-frequency topic tomorrow.
📌 Next in this Series: How to choose your interview programming language strategically.
Why Random LeetCode Grinding Fails and What to Do Instead (1/3)
If you think solving 300 random LeetCode problems guarantees a job offer… think again.
Here’s why that strategy fails and how to replace it with a targeted approach that top engineers swear by.
The “Grind” Problem
❌ Forget patterns when problems aren’t grouped.
⏳ Waste time on low-frequency topics.
📚 Build short-term recall, not deep understanding.
💡 Top companies use pattern variations and without mastery, you’ll struggle.
Replace Random with a “Topic-First” Plan
🎯 Pick a topic (e.g., binary search).
📖 Learn the core principle.
🧩 Solve increasingly harder problems in that topic.
🔍 Review why you picked each approach and how to optimize.
Use the “Weighted Topic” Approach
🔥 High frequency: Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps, Graph Traversals, DP basics.
⚡️ Medium: Tries, Segment Trees, Union-Find.
❄️ Low: Rare advanced algorithms.
📊 Spend ~60% on high, 30% on medium, 10% on low.
Adopt a Time-Bound Plan
📅 Month 1: Core data structures & algorithms.
🏃 Month 2: Systematic practice + mocks.
🛠 Month 3: Weak areas + timed practice.
⏳ Short on time? Compress, but don’t skip fundamentals.
💡 Here's your challenge: ✍️ Write down your available prep time and list topics in priority order. Start with your #1 high-frequency topic tomorrow.
📌 Next in this Series: How to choose your interview programming language strategically.
❤2
Series: Smarter Coding Interview Prep
Choosing the Right Programming Language for Interviews (2/3)
Picking a language isn’t just preference, it’s strategy. The wrong choice can slow you down, cost you points, and make debugging harder.
Use a Language You’re Already Fluent In
✅ Don’t switch to “what’s popular.”
🧠 In stress, you can’t waste energy recalling syntax.
⚡️ Master shortcuts in your own language.
Check Company Language Restrictions
🏢 Google: C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, Go.
🛒 Amazon: Python, Java, C++ dominate.
🚀 Startups: Often Python or JavaScript.
🔍 Always check guidelines first.
Factor in Built-in Libraries & Shortcuts
⏩ Should allow quick DS implementation.
📚 Use built-ins to save time.
🐍 Example: Python’s collections.Counter vs verbose C++.
Prepare “Snippet Templates”
🔄 BFS/DFS
🔍 Binary Search
🧹 Sorting & Custom Comparators
🔑 Hash Map & Set usage
✂️ String manipulation tricks
💡 Here's your challenge: Pick your language today, solve 20 problems in it this week, and build your personal snippet sheet.
📌 Next in this Series: A step-by-step daily practice routine to prevent burnout and ensure improvement.
Choosing the Right Programming Language for Interviews (2/3)
Picking a language isn’t just preference, it’s strategy. The wrong choice can slow you down, cost you points, and make debugging harder.
Use a Language You’re Already Fluent In
✅ Don’t switch to “what’s popular.”
🧠 In stress, you can’t waste energy recalling syntax.
⚡️ Master shortcuts in your own language.
Check Company Language Restrictions
🏢 Google: C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, Go.
🛒 Amazon: Python, Java, C++ dominate.
🚀 Startups: Often Python or JavaScript.
🔍 Always check guidelines first.
Factor in Built-in Libraries & Shortcuts
⏩ Should allow quick DS implementation.
📚 Use built-ins to save time.
🐍 Example: Python’s collections.Counter vs verbose C++.
Prepare “Snippet Templates”
🔄 BFS/DFS
🔍 Binary Search
🧹 Sorting & Custom Comparators
🔑 Hash Map & Set usage
✂️ String manipulation tricks
💡 Here's your challenge: Pick your language today, solve 20 problems in it this week, and build your personal snippet sheet.
📌 Next in this Series: A step-by-step daily practice routine to prevent burnout and ensure improvement.
👍1
Series: Smarter Coding Interview Prep
Your Daily Interview Practice Routine (3/3)
Consistency beats cramming. Here’s a proven 90-minute routine:
20 Minutes – Theory & Concept Review
📚 Pick 1 topic.
🔍 Review concept, complexity, edge cases.
🎥 Use a short video or summary.
📝 Keep a “concept notebook.”
50 Minutes – Problem Solving
🕵️♂️ 10 min: Plan.
💻 25 min: Implement.
⚙️ 10 min: Optimize.
✅ 5 min: Test cases.
🧠 Simulate interview thinking process.
20 Minutes – Post-Mortem Review
🔍 Compare with optimal solution.
🐢 Note slow points.
📌 Tag new patterns.
Bonus: Weekly Layer
🎯 1 mock interview.
🔄 Redo problems you got wrong.
Practice this daily and you’ll focus your learning, remember concepts longer, and spot patterns faster in real interviews.
✅ This series is now complete!
That wraps up our Smarter Coding Interview Prep series. A new topic and series are coming soon.
💬 Drop your ideas in the comments, your suggestion might be next!
Your Daily Interview Practice Routine (3/3)
Consistency beats cramming. Here’s a proven 90-minute routine:
20 Minutes – Theory & Concept Review
📚 Pick 1 topic.
🔍 Review concept, complexity, edge cases.
🎥 Use a short video or summary.
📝 Keep a “concept notebook.”
50 Minutes – Problem Solving
🕵️♂️ 10 min: Plan.
💻 25 min: Implement.
⚙️ 10 min: Optimize.
✅ 5 min: Test cases.
🧠 Simulate interview thinking process.
20 Minutes – Post-Mortem Review
🔍 Compare with optimal solution.
🐢 Note slow points.
📌 Tag new patterns.
Bonus: Weekly Layer
🎯 1 mock interview.
🔄 Redo problems you got wrong.
Practice this daily and you’ll focus your learning, remember concepts longer, and spot patterns faster in real interviews.
✅ This series is now complete!
That wraps up our Smarter Coding Interview Prep series. A new topic and series are coming soon.
💬 Drop your ideas in the comments, your suggestion might be next!
❤2