How I Used LeetCode & Cracked 5+ Job Offers | Full Strategy | Atlassian, Juspay, BNY Mellon

Summary

In this video, Harshit Trehan, a Software Engineer at Atlassian, shares a comprehensive guide on how to use Leetcode effectively for coding interview preparation. He highlights the platform’s extensive problem sets, community support, and structured learning paths, emphasizing the importance of mastering data structures and algorithms. Harshit provides a step-by-step roadmap for solving problems on Leetcode, from selecting the right data structure to reviewing difficult problems. He also discusses common mistakes to avoid, the importance of consistency, and how to make the most out of Leetcode's resources, ensuring success in cracking interviews at top product-based companies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Leetcode is a highly effective platform for coding interview preparation, offering a vast array of problems and test cases that ensure correctness.
• 😀 Leetcode’s extensive problem sets and community support make it a great resource for both coding students and professionals.
• 😀 Structured learning paths like 'Leetcode 75 questions' and 'Leetcode 150 top interview questions' help focus preparation on key topics.
• 😀 It is important to understand the basics of data structures (arrays, strings, stacks, queues, etc.) before diving into problem-solving on Leetcode.
• 😀 The best approach to Leetcode is to solve 30 problems per topic, with a balance of easy, medium, and hard problems, focusing most on medium-level problems.
• 😀 Reading problem statements multiple times and analyzing test cases are crucial for fully understanding and solving problems effectively.
• 😀 If stuck, use hints or the discussions tab on Leetcode to explore solutions shared by others, and try to understand the most optimized approach.
• 😀 Marking challenging problems with a star and revisiting them after a few days helps solidify your understanding and improve problem-solving skills.
• 😀 Participate in weekly Leetcode contests to simulate real interview conditions and improve coding speed under time pressure.
• 😀 The number of problems solved is less important than understanding key concepts and solving problems effectively in a structured manner.
• 😀 Leetcode premium is not necessary for accessing company-specific questions, as these are available for free in many public repositories.

Q & A

Why is Leetcode considered the best platform for coding interviews?

Leetcode is considered the best platform due to its extensive set of problems and test cases, which ensure that solutions are thoroughly tested. It is also favored for its community support, where users can share solutions and insights, and its structured learning paths that guide users through specific topics and help prepare them effectively for interviews.

How many problems should you solve in each data structure to prepare effectively on Leetcode?

It is recommended to solve around 30 problems for each data structure, broken down into 5-10 easy problems, 15-20 medium problems, and 3-5 hard problems. This ensures a balanced preparation, with a focus on medium-level problems, which are commonly asked in interviews.

What should you do if you get stuck while solving a problem on Leetcode?

If you get stuck, first check the test cases to better understand the problem. If you still can’t figure it out, review related topics or use the hints provided by Leetcode. If necessary, explore the Discussions tab for various solutions and understand the approach before attempting the problem yourself.

How can you track your progress and identify areas for improvement on Leetcode?

Leetcode allows you to star questions that you struggled with. You can create a revision list with these questions and revisit them after a few days. If you’re able to solve them the second time, you can remove them from the list. This helps identify areas where you need more practice and reinforces your learning.

Is it necessary to take Leetcode Premium to succeed in coding interviews?

No, taking Leetcode Premium is not absolutely necessary. While Premium gives access to company-specific questions, there are many free repositories available with similar content. The free version still offers plenty of valuable resources to practice and prepare for coding interviews.

How many questions do you need to solve to target a company like Fang?

The number of questions you solve is not as important as the quality and approach to solving them. It’s not necessary to solve thousands of problems. The key is to focus on solving 250-300 problems, including the right mix of easy, medium, and hard problems, and practicing with specific interview-level resources like contests and top interview questions.

What is the benefit of practicing with Leetcode contests?

Practicing with Leetcode contests helps you simulate real coding interview conditions. You get four problems to solve within 1.5 hours, which improves both your problem-solving speed and ability to work under time pressure. It also boosts your familiarity with handling problems in a timed environment.

What is the best approach if you're unable to solve all the questions in a Leetcode contest?

If you can't solve all the problems in a contest, review the unsolved questions afterward. Understanding why you got stuck and learning from the solutions will help improve your skills. With enough practice and consistent effort, you’ll gradually get better at solving problems within the time limit.

What are the core data structures and algorithms you should be familiar with for coding interviews?

You should be familiar with 10 core data structures: arrays, strings, stacks, queues, hashmaps, recursion, backtracking, trees, graphs, and dynamic programming (DP). Mastering the basics of these structures is essential for solving common interview questions.

How can you enhance your learning experience on Leetcode?

To enhance your learning experience, it’s crucial to follow a structured approach. Start by mastering the basics of each data structure. Then, practice problems in a logical order, beginning with easier questions and progressing to medium and hard ones. Make use of Leetcode’s learning paths and community resources to guide your preparation effectively.