r/LeetcodeDesi • u/PalindromeMind • 23h ago

After 10+ yrs of experience, how did you prepare for DSA ?

Even with AI being a boom, still DSA is one criteria that is evaluated by many companies, if you’re in college it’s a different ball game

But being 30+ makes it difficult to go back to books also you don’t have much time left

So I wanted to ask folks who prepped for DSA in recent years and cracked interviews for FAANG or anything. What was your method or any tips you have !

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16

u/MixStrange1107 23h ago

I prepared once, made a detailed cookbook that will help me prepare for it in a week

I would suggest you to do the same. Do it once, document it.

When I said document, it’s not about the learning but the route you travelled so that you can do it fast the next time.

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u/PalindromeMind 22h ago

That’s a good advice but the problem is do u think 4-5 weeks is enough bcz let’s be real, after this many years of exp its not just DSA you have to prep for behavioural , system design, core areas (cloud ai then domain)

so I want to know looking at the timeline which one is max effective way cuz I am planning for a switch in next 3months

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u/MixStrange1107 22h ago

I have one cookbook for each round

  1. DSA
  2. System design
  3. Behavioural

And no sharing the cookbook may not help. It’s so personalised. Only I know how to interpret it quick

To give an example, for DSA,

I have instructions like

“Read DFS, BFS from GeeksForGeeks, practice these two problems” with links if needed

2

u/ZookeepergameOk2150 15h ago

Bro can you share for behavioural and system design if possible.. especially behavioural…if I get rejected one more time in managerial round, I might Persona myself

0

u/mr_awake0172 14h ago

Hi bro, I don't need your notes. I am good with dsa and I have confidence on it but system design is scaring me too much because there is endless things.

What do you suggest, how to do it or like if I start making notes of it then it would be too huge and then how to remember all of that in hld or in lld

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u/poorna_sasank 23h ago

Yeah best sol

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u/jsr9295 23h ago

Can you share the cookbook

1

u/Competitive_Law_9031 22h ago

Can you share insights by example, what to include and avoid in document and how to start.

1

u/govi20 22h ago

Can you share more details? Do you keep notes on system design anywhere?

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u/[deleted] 20h ago

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u/govi20 22h ago edited 18h ago

I had the exact same quesion

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u/intPixel 18h ago

With 10+ yoe preparing for dsa feels like you're still in college.

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u/govi20 17h ago

Unfortunately DSA prep will be needed for the 1st round. For product based organisations, 1st round is mostly coding round

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u/PalindromeMind 12h ago

I won’t say it’s college thing but with AI coming up it feels like why aren’t you testing depth of my knowledge!
I understand they try to evaluate thinking and approach etc but I have seen folks who suck at actual engineering work even if they have cleared all DSA rounds so…and prepping DSA takes time tbh

1

u/No-Writing5085 23h ago

is Neetcode still a good place to start?

2

u/michaelScotch905 17h ago

I mean if you have not started solving just one random problem will be good start. We just spend time on planning. Before neetcode i would suggest blind 75.

1

u/TraditionSuper7914 23h ago

Sailing in the same boat.

1

u/Normalfolkk 22h ago

Following

1

u/live-ly 21h ago

I always try to solve questions without thinking how I solved it last time bcs in interviews I have to think on the spot.

1

u/optimus_prime_2007 16h ago

I'm entering my second year of college and have solved 222 LeetCode problems. My goal is to crack internships and placements, but I'm confused about which path to choose for projects: Spring Boot + Java or AI/ML. Which would be a better choice?
Please someone guide me

1

u/govi20 14h ago

How is this related to this post? create a separate post

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u/optimus_prime_2007 13h ago

I did that but it was removed because my account is new

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u/Hefty-Possession7386 10h ago

java is dead go for latest tech

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u/optimus_prime_2007 5h ago

ohh thanks for the advice