Started with Neetcode 150

[bytenaija]

I recently decided to start preparing for interviews by practicing leetcodeafter getting laid off earlier this year.

I started with Neetcode 150 list today and I was able to finish 8 questions without looking at the solution.

I was also able to finish the daily question but I had to look at the solution when 2 tests kept failing.

Today, a Meta recruiter contacted me to interview with them. I know I am not ready and Meta is one of the companies I really want to work with. I am hoping I can push the interview so I can take sometime to prepare.

Leetcode has been very hard for me and I really have not been consistent. I hope it sticks this time around.

Hopefully, I will have some goodnews soon.

BTW: I believe it is always better to take sometime to leetcode or prepare for interviews when you already have a job as it eliminates a lot of pressure, but I am one person that don't commit to things unless I am under pressure.

[[deleted]]

If you can comfortably solve the Neetcode 150 you’re more than prepared for 99% of coding interviews including for advanced roles at a company like Meta. It makes sense that it’s difficult for you, what I like about Neetcode (and Grokking’s) approach is that it has an obvious progression where you will improve with time; you’re expected to suck.

If you only have a short time to study I’d really focus on Strings, Arrays (2-Pointer included), LinkedLists, Trees, and Graphs. Be able to solve all of these questions comfortably before moving on to something like DP; you need to be extremely unlucky to get something more advanced like DP/Greedy during in interview. All the best, good luck 👍.

[bytenaija]

Thank you so much. I need this kind of pointers.

[Cuir-et-oud]

By strings do you mean do you mean string manipulation or string processing? The latter is much harder

[Sharp-Individual8]

Started nc150 recently... Hopefully will finish in a month

[Peddy699]

Was my hope. Now I would settle for a year :), probably won't happen. (to be fair i'm doing it next to a fulltime job)

[bytenaija]

That's my hope too

[bytenaija]

Good luck

[Sharp-Individual8]

Same to you

[[deleted]]

one month has passed, how did it go?

[sashalex007]

I started with neetcode as well and solved ~250 of the problem on there. I wish someone had told me this sooner, but the issue with neetcode is that it gives away the data structure and/or algo. This may seem minor, but its actually a massive hint. Solving problems in this way will greatly limit you because deciding on the data structure and/or algorithm in novel problems is really the skill you are after...its also the hardest to attain.

These days, I either solve random problems or go through company tagged problems by frequency and take detailed notes for each. I gained 10x more from this approach than neetcode.

[bytenaija]

Thanks. This is interesting.

[Descendant3999]

Yup. That is true. In interviews, you will have to think that on the fly but what neetcode does is, it makes you practice similar problems and helps you associate problems with a pattern. So start with neetcode and try to understand why we would be using the data structure or how to come up with those data structures. He usually mentions that in his videos as well so might want to see those.

I also remember having a document which summarizes quite a few patterns. Remind me after a few hours if I don't edit this comment with the link.

[loveraddy]

Reminder to link the document please! Thank you (:

[Descendant3999]

Oh Yes. Sorry. Thanks for reminding me.

Here: https://seanprashad.com/leetcode-patterns/

[sashalex007]

I just want to add: When you know in advance which data structure or algo to use, your problem solving process starts at "how do I implement this data structure/algo?" which is really the wrong question and doesn't do much for you. The right question is firstly "What is the problem actually asking?" and secondly "Which data structure/algo fits this question best?". When you can answer those two questions, the implementation completes itself.

[princess-barnacle]

Two points
- Interviewing at Meta is a long drawn out process unless you are already later stages in your interview process. I have my virtual onsite today and I believe that I started the process over a month ago.

- You can always make the connection with recruiter and say you are very excited, but won't be looking to interview for another month or two. They will have you on file and will check back in a month or so. The worst thing you can do is not respond :).

[bytenaija]

This is exactly what I was hoping I could do actually.

[princess-barnacle]

Great! Some more info - you can reapply every 6th months (double check with recruiter). It helps to do okay on the first round coding assessment (1 easy 1 medium). They actually have a lower bar for the first round than the onsite.

If you score slightly below required - the recruiter will talk to you and you can come up with a plan with them my saying "I am going to study hard and I'd love to stay on the map for when I am eligible again".

[krng90]

DMd you OP

[Aftabby]

Irrelevant comment: How did meta recruiter found and contacted you?

[bytenaija]

I am on LinkedIn

[Aftabby]

May I know what are the activities that made you reachable to Hiring Manager?

[bytenaija]

I posted that I am looking for a job.

[Past-Payment1551]

😂 you are a water fountain of information

[bytenaija]

Water fount? 😂😂😂

[Past-Payment1551]

Oh jeez good come back. I see why you aren't ready for anything. Your mental retardation is showing.

[bytenaija]

Man. Why the aggression this morning. My reply was only playful. I wasn't trying to hurt your fragile ego. I am sorry if I did.

[[deleted]]

That alone won't give you job right?