Which companies should I apply to?
I am a hardware engineer with self taught coding and solved around 200 leetcode. I recently interviewed at a G,A,A and got rejected at all three.(1 year period) Which companies do you think I should apply where I can get an interview and clear it. I want a starting position as a software engineer. I am more of a generalist C++/python coder than a typical software engineer. It will also help if anybody is willing to refer me. Need your help. Thanks
I used to be HW. Moved to embedded SW for 2 years which helped me get my mind adapted to coding all day. That was at Qualcomm, not a FANG, easier to get into, better WLB which helped me keep practicing my (leet)coding skills. Then moved to Apple as a SWE (however I do miss being an embedded engineer since I still got to be close to HW)
My advice is to start with the startups and midsize companies that you wouldn’t really want to work for, and get some interview practice and confidence. Then shoot for the other FAANGs and Tier 2s. And keep in mind offers don’t expire in Silicon Valley :)
Being located in a non Bay area has hampered my chances😫😫
Do you think that you also could you have concentrated more on the basics? Like basics of algorithms, basics of Data structures and then study the advanced topics before moving to leetcode? Did you feel that it might have helped?
I did actually. I spent a month on geek4geek and then went on to leetcode. It does definitely help.
YOE? Did fail on LeetCode problems or system design?
YOE is irrelevant as I'm switching sides. But 2 in hardware if that matters. I felt it is really difficult to get 6 straight perfect questions. I would get 4/6 correct and miss one to get a reject. The procedure is brutal. Also could be system design. I felt I did okay but there is no real comparing performance.