Is leetcode/ctci/epi a sustainable strategy for career growth?

Yelp
artmouse11

Go to company page Yelp

artmouse11
Sep 25, 2018 35 Comments

Suppose I dedicate all my time to preparing for whiteboard-style interviews. I do the bare minimum at work to not get fired. I learn the industry buzzwords but I don’t invest in understanding the fundamentals behind the technology. Meanwhile, I become amazing at coding interviews.

By passing interviews, getting competing offers, and switching companies every few years, is it possible to reach a high level/TC even if I’m a mediocre (or bad) engineer professionally?

I’m curious because this actually seems like a viable strategy in the early career stage, but I’m curious if eventually people will call your bs

#career #interviews

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 35 Comments
  • LinkedIn / Eng
    gTBK55

    Go to company page LinkedIn Eng

    gTBK55
    This is not only doable I would actually recommend it lol.

    As someone who did a bunch of things but sucks at leetcode...

    NO ONE GIVES A FUCK ABOUT HOW WELL I DID THINGS.

    just can you solved this shit I copy and pasted from leetcode off of the your head in under 40 mintues.

    If not another sucker will.
    Sep 25, 2018 1
  • Expedia
    Wixbnek

    Go to company page Expedia

    Wixbnek
    It's sickening to those of us who deliver real value, but I don't see why you couldn't pull that off.
    Sep 25, 2018 2
    • Yelp
      artmouse11

      Go to company page Yelp

      artmouse11
      OP
      It can also be disillusioning to realize that tech is not a meritocracy and that most of what we create doesn’t really make the world a better place. In the face of that truth, why not optimize for playing the interview game and taking as much as possible from these companies
      Sep 25, 2018
    • Expedia
      Wixbnek

      Go to company page Expedia

      Wixbnek
      Sadly I concede that reality, but loathingly as I'm personally self-taught, so learning the "fundamentals" when I have done fine without them is painful.
      Sep 25, 2018
  • Apple
    God son

    Go to company page Apple

    God son
    You are right. It won’t carry beyond certain stage. But please keep doing that till you hit that stage of life.
    Sep 25, 2018 0
  • Google
    Gangnam st

    Go to company page Google

    Gangnam st
    I know someone who does that. He is now l4 at Google (compensated almost like l6), will soon switch to Facebook e5 (compensated like e6+) with 15 years of experience. It's up to you if that is what you want.
    Sep 25, 2018 3
  • Facebook / Eng
    riqtf

    Go to company page Facebook Eng

    PRE
    Amazon
    riqtf
    very doable

    just make sure you have one decent project at each company/job you can talk about

    also don’t neglect system design. but that shit is very study-able too
    Sep 25, 2018 1