I am planning to start prepping for interviews with FANG companies. I gave it a shot before but was declined after onsite at Google. I am just wondering what would be more helpful to get through the interviews: grinding Leetcode and becoming a God DS questions or working on a personal project and learning how to truly develop software and have a nice portfolio for interviewers and HR to look at? As of now my DS skills are good but not amazing and my portfolio is sadly dry. I graduated from college last June with CE degree.
Leetcode
But your resume will have nothing to show for
Don’t matteerr
Leetcode.
Leetcode is worth your time much more than a personal project
If your programming skills aren’t good enough (competitive programming or at least leetcode ) you can’t get into FANG
It's so fucked up because personal project are a way closer fit to being a good programmer and your day to day job. Unfortunately leetcode is what is being asked during Interviews. Completely stupid but it's the way it is and as such you should work on leetcode
Someone at the top of topcoder or google code jam is way better than a subjective personal project.
Hmmm nope. you are comparing two different things. Someone at the top of anything is way better than a normal programmer. Someone at the top of "successful multi millions line of code" projects are way better programmer than leetcoders or codejammers
“Find an Irish man and rub him well.” That’s racist.
All of the above maximizes you chances, assuming you aren’t reducing your leetcode time to do others.
As of 2019, you’ll make much more money doing Leetcode, plus you’ll get a FAANG/unicorn on your resume which will serve you a lifetime. People with 5 YOE are making 400k, that’s just ridiculous. Now if you get bored at your FAANG job in a couple years or so, by all means do side projects but keep it very very secret.
Lol @ personal projects
Ha I feel like I just asked this. Curious what the answers will be