5 Years of Coding - Everything I've Learned
My 5-Year Journey to Big Tech
Introduction to the Journey
- The speaker reflects on their journey from writing a "Hello, World!" program five years ago to working at Google, emphasizing that they had no Computer Science background.
- They aim to share pivotal moments in their career, including tips for acing programming interviews, building a strong resume, and facing failures.
Transition from Mechanical Engineering to Software Engineering
- Graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois led to only one interview after extensive job searching, resulting in rejection.
- Realizing the competitive job market's challenges prompted the decision to learn programming through an Algorithms course on Coursera and self-study resources like GeeksforGeeks.
Building Skills and Experience
- Alongside learning programming, the speaker focused on creating a standout resume by completing machine learning projects using Python while preparing for coding interviews via Leetcode.
- Despite hard work over the summer, they secured a position at a Fintech company but felt it lacked skills necessary for big tech roles.
Grinding Towards Success
- A disciplined routine was established: early office hours followed by gym workouts and late-night coding sessions lasting until 1 AM for an entire year.
- This dedication resulted in acquiring new technologies such as React, Redux for front-end development, and NodeJS/Express for back-end development.
Overcoming Rejections and Landing Opportunities
- After applying persistently despite receiving 527 rejection emails due to lack of relevant experience from previous jobs, they finally landed a role at Amazon.
- Working at Amazon provided valuable experience in software engineering and machine learning alongside mentorship from skilled engineers.
Final Steps Leading to Google
- After two years at Amazon and further preparation for interviews:
- The speaker received five job offers within two months of interviewing again.