CODETREK

My Coding Journey

Third Year Second Semester ARC

• Learned Python, DBMS, DSA basics for InfyTQ (Infosys Exam)
• Used HackerRank, Codewars, Hackerearth (Has difficult problems for beginner)
• Used to refer youtube channels and books :
  • Learned python from here
  • Telusko
  • Python Functions
  • My favourite book Python One Liners
• With help of above resources cleared InfyTQ Round 1

key takeaways - Go through solutions of other people you will definitely learn a lot of new approaches

• Participated in HackWithInfy (which offers DSE and PP roles 5LPA and 9LPA resp) 3 questions each round
• Cleared Round 1 HackwithInfy (Easy, Medium-Hard, Hard)
• Cleared Round 2 HackwithInfy (Medium, Medium-Hard, Hard)
• Cleared Round 2 InfyTQ

Fourth Year First Semester ARC

• Preparing for Infosys Interview
• Studied OS, CN, DBMS + SQL (a lot) + DSA (a lot) + Some fundamentals of CPP, Java, JS and Projects
• About Interview :
  • Moderate Difficulty Interview:
  • Behavourial Questions, A lot of project related questions
  • Some real life usecase and problem solving + DSA + DBMS Questions
  • Got Offer for Infytq 3.6 lpa and HackwithInfy 5 lpa - December 2020

Fourth Year Second Semester ARC

Did Some Java and Javascript Didn't do much programming after that just random stuff enjoyed as I already had offer (shouldnt have done that)

POST Graduation ARC

• Joined Infosys in September 2022
• Done with Training ( Just after 3-4 weeks I got allocated to good project early so no further training or bench for me)
• I also gave applied from Amazon job portal but was not able to understand question - 31st October 2021
• I was allocated Big Data Stream which I chose during my Training (Really Loved the Project I was allocated)
• I also gave an Interview for Accenture 4.5 LPA Role (Randomly applied because I was bored)
  • Average Interview - Project based Questions, HR Questions (Got Offer for 6.5 LPA role)
  • Didnt Accept Offer of 6.5 LPA with Accenture because Infosys was paying 6.25 LPA later

The GRIND ARC

• Started doing DSA in November
• Resources used
  • Leetcode
  • Coding Decoded Youtube Channel
  • Take U Forward
  • Algorithms Made Easy
  • Programming Live With Larry
  • Especially for DP Aditya Verma, DP Problems

The DAY ONE ARC

• In March I applied to Amazon from Job Portal for Role of SDE 1 (No Referal)
• Link for OA was mailed.
• After opening OA I gave practice question and after feeling confident with platform I started the Assessment.
  • Two Sections in OA = DSA + Behavioural Questions
• Round 1 - Two Medium Questions (prefix sum and bucket sort variation)
  • Cleared OA Got Call for an Interview
• Round 2 - Two easy warmup basic programming questions (math and recursion)
  • Discussion on BT and Iterative Traversal and Two Pointer Hard Problem
• Round 3 - Two Interviewers
  • Few Managerial Questions
  • Medium-Hard Spaced Binary Search Variation
  • Stack Medium Question
• Round 4 - Rescheduled
• Round 4 (HR + Bar Raiser)
  • Few Managerial Questions
  • Stack Medium Question
  • Linkedlist + Math Medium-Hard Question

Offer Letter came after a month in July - I Accepted obviously and joined on 31st October 2022

Key takeaways and learnings from my mistake

• Remember you just need to solve one question a day that's it that's the secret.
• Nothing more Nothing less. This statergy avoids depression, burnout and maintains consistency and helps to get whatever you studied absorbed.
• I loved programming so I used to hit 16 hours daily doing it - office work included
• Rather than solving three questions try to solve one question with three approaches (this thing exponentially improved problem solving skills)
• Read others code a lot.
• If a beginner better to go with Java (I choose python - realized not good in long run switching to Java)
• Better to go through GFG and Codeforces once in a while.
• Focus a lot on development for long run (70-80 % development and 30-20 % DSA) is good combination ) (one of the things I didnt realize)
• Stay consistent (no longer break than a week its fine to take a day off I think you must take a day off in month to avoid burnout)
• Dont forget to do system design, 20-30 % of the time Bar Raisers are system design rounds
• Every thing takes time DSA certainly does hang on to it for 1 or 2 years
• Quality >>>> Quantity
• Focus on Medium Leetcode Questions

How to make good Projects

The Project is said to be good when you

• or others can use it in their day to day life.
• can show it solves any real life problem no matter how big or small it is
• can explain its complexity and make interviewer interested in project
• build it end to end from architecture/design to deployment and can explain in depth about it
• have fun building it and get lots of learnings
• work with Teams or other people showing soft skills

How to get good at problem solving (DSA and Development)

strategy + consistency / discipline + experience

• When you are starting with problem solving be it DSA or Development, choosing right resource is first step. (strategy)

  • Explore various resources on the topic you want to learn, there are lot of free resources spend some time checking them out (experimenting)
  • Choose correct / understandable way of learning from those resources, look for completeness of resources (half knowledge is dangerous)
  • Once you find the perfect resource start learning and dont jump on other resource or else you just create a loop.
  • Use standard / trusted resources, dont join any courses just because of fomo (make your decisions on facts and situations)

• When you try to learn these are the thing that can happen to you. (consistency / discipline)

  • Overwhelmed / not able to keep up
    • Simple answer : Just dont be overwhelmed, believe in yourself. Developing your problem solving skills takes time and it gets easier, just keep going.
    • See more resources for the point discussed, do some research on topic you did not understand, try to close the gap of unknown.
  • Learned and forgot it
    • The problem here is not enough practice and revision. Practice all learnings of week on weekends.
    • Try to teach other people / friends, that way you wont forget easily
  • Not able to see any improvements
    • The process has exponential learning curve, You wont see any progress and suddenly you will solve all the problem in contest
    • Be consistent.

• When you get your groove, feel little confident (experience)

  • Increase difficulty
  • Increase your pace
  • Teach others
  • Practice more
  • Dive Deep

Dont get the wrong idea of being consistent missing one or two days in week is okay. Just dont give up in between that's my definition of being consistent.

How to ask for referral ?

Referral Template :

Subject: Referral for <Position> at <Company> <Location> <Job ID>

Hello Sir/Mam

I am <Requester>, <blah blah> year student from <College Name>.
I am interested in applying for <Position> at <Company> <Location> <Job ID>.
<Something positive and Why you should be referred but keep it super short>

Here is my Portfolio and Resume Drive Link
Portfolio : 
Resume : <Requester>_Resume.pdf

Thank you for your time, Please update the status to me regarding the request.

While applying via referral take care of following things:

• You havent applied to same job id with multiple profiles (email-ids).
• You havent applied to the Job Id and not have a draft application as well for the position.
• No one already referred you for same Job Id.
• Someone else has referred you then its better to ask that same person again if applying again.
• Ask them to provide endorsed referral.
• If someone does not want to refer respect their choice and ask for feedback/reason.

Resume Templates

• Jiganesh's Resume Template Easy to build, less ATS Friendly

• Your can easily make your resume ATS friendly with latex code generator

Jiggy Quotes

• ONE QUESTION A DAY KEEPS UNEMPLOYMENT AWAY

• THE ONE WHO COMPLAINS IS NOT CAPABLE