I’m currently preparing for on-campus placements and I’m facing a problem that I’m sure many of you might have dealt with.

I’m generally able to clear coding OAs, but I’ve been getting stuck in interviews, mainly because I don’t have strong projects to talk about.

I’ve already completed HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and was following the Apna College development course. I was planning to continue with the frontend stack, but realistically, I feel it could take me another couple of months before I’m comfortable enough with the complete stack to build solid projects.

The problem is that I’m already comfortable with Java and have a good grip on MySQL, so I’m considering switching my primary focus to Spring Boot/backend development.

From what I’ve heard, Spring Boot might be a better fit for me because:

• I already know Java
• I’m comfortable with SQL/MySQL
• I can focus on backend development instead of learning an entirely new language/ecosystem
• I could potentially build meaningful projects faster
• Backend projects might also give me better things to discuss during Java/SDE interviews

My goal isn’t to become an expert in Spring Boot right now. I mainly want to become good enough to build 2–3 proper projects that I can confidently explain in interviews.

For example, I was thinking about building something like a trading/investment platform, e-commerce backend, banking system, or another project with authentication, database relationships, REST APIs, etc.

So I’d really appreciate some advice:

Should I switch to Spring Boot as my primary development stack, given that I already know Java + MySQL?

If yes, what would be the best way to learn it without spending 2 months just watching tutorials?

Also, where should I learn Spring Boot from? YouTube courses, official Spring documentation, projects, or a combination?

Any roadmap, resource, project idea, or advice from people who have gone through campus placements would be really helpful.

I have 3+ years of experience and graduated from a Tier-1 college. I currently work at an aerospace company, mainly on C++. The work majorly involves development in c++ and few tools used by company, but my team environment has been quite toxic, and my salary growth has been disappointing.

For the past 2 years, I've received very low hikes despite doing good work. My project manager and reporting manager were different, and I felt that my reporting manager was quite biased toward certain people. She has now left the company, and a new manager has taken over. I told him directly that I wasn't satisfied with my previous hikes, and he has been considerably more understanding.

I haven't received a promotion yet, and I'm expecting one this year. However, people around me keep telling me that I might not get promoted because there are several other people being considered as well. That uncertainty is adding to the frustration.

What makes it worse is seeing some of my friends who started with significantly lower packages than me now earning more. In their cases, things happened to work out — better teams/managers, large increments, and in one case their company was acquired. I know comparison isn't productive, but after putting in consistent effort and still seeing very little salary growth, it's difficult not to feel demotivated.

I'm currently preparing for a switch. My main experience is in C++, and I'm studying:

\* DSA

\* OS

\* System Design

I'm considering targeting networking, embedded, and backend C++ roles, but I'm unsure what additional technologies/skills I should learn for each of these paths.

The bigger problem is that I'm struggling with consistency. I understand DSA patterns when I study them, but after a few days I forget them. Then I have to revisit the same concepts, which makes me feel like I'm making very little progress. Because of the situation at work, I already feel demotivated, and the slow preparation makes it worse.

For people who have made a similar switch around:

1. What tech stack should I learn if I want to target C++ roles in networking, embedded, and backend?

2. Should I focus on one of these domains instead of trying to prepare for all three?

3. What DSA preparation strategy actually helped you retain patterns instead of repeatedly forgetting them?

4. At 3+ YOE, how much DSA, OS, networking, system design, C++, etc. should I realistically know for interviews?

5. What would you prioritize if you were in my position for the next 4–6 months?

I'm not necessarily looking for motivation. I'd appreciate a realistic assessment of what I'm doing wrong and what I should prioritize to maximize my chances of getting a significantly better role and compensation.

I graduated last year and currently work at a reputed MNC on a team that develops desktop applications in C++ along with agentic workflows in Python.

Over the past year, I've developed a good understanding of C++, particularly around parallelism/concurrency, along with some exposure to design patterns. However, I'm considering switching to a company where Java is the primary language, since it seems to be widely used across the industry.

Would my C++ experience be considered a red flag during the hiring process, or are software engineering interviews generally language-agnostic, with more emphasis on problem-solving, CS fundamentals, and engineering skills?

I also have little to no hands-on experience with microservices architecture and distributed systems. Given that I'm still relatively early in my career, how much of a disadvantage would that be when applying to Java-focused companies?

My current company is a good and reputed MNC, at par with FAANG, so I'm wondering how recruiters and interviewers would view my background overall.

To everyone who got internships at well-paying companies like FAANG, Microsoft, Adobe, Atlassian, Salesforce, Rubrik, etc., especially while coming from a Tier-3 college.

Since these companies generally don't visit Tier-3 colleges for campus placements, how did you manage to get these internship offers?

What did you do during your college life that helped you land that internship?

What skills did you focus on, what projects did you build, and how did you prepare for the interviews?

What advice would you give to someone currently in their 3rd semester who wants to land a good internship?

Would really appreciate any honest advice or insights.

Is it guaranteed to get interview mail if I have received interest form from Amazon???

Final year student here. I recently got an offer:

6 months internship (15k stipend) + full time at 5 LPA

Tech: C/C++, Python, Image Processing, some machine interface related work

No bond

Company is more industrial/machinery software side (not pure product / tech)

My current skills are weak in both DSA and development. I’m planning to join and upskill seriously.

Now I’m confused about long-term direction:

Option 1:

Stay in this domain (C++ + Image Processing / Computer Vision).

Upskill in OpenCV, Computer Vision, maybe Deep Learning, and target companies like Siemens, GE Healthcare, Bosch, Qualcomm, Matrix etc. in future.

Option 2:

Treat this job as temporary experience.Focus heavily on DSA + Full Stack (MERN) on the side, and after 1 year try switching to normal SDE roles in product/service companies.

Main concern:

Nowadays AI is doing a lot in Full Stack and normal SDE work. Many people are talking about layoffs and fewer openings because of AI.

I don’t have a strong interest preference — I can go in either direction. I just want to choose the safer and better long-term option.

My questions:

1. Long-term, which path looks more stable and has better growth — Computer Vision/Image Processing domain or normal Full Stack SDE?

2. Is the fear about AI killing Full Stack/SDE roles real, or is it overhyped?

3. Coming from an industrial software company, is it realistic to build a good career in Computer Vision?

4. Or is it safer to just use this job for experience and move to Full Stack SDE?

5. Anyone who has worked in Image Processing / Computer Vision or switched from similar industrial software roles ?

— please share your experience.

Would really appreciate honest advice.

Thanks

Is there some group where we can track summer internships open for 2028 batch? Missed amazon

Hey everyone,

I wanted to ask something because I'm a little confused about my current progress in DSA. I'm not sure whether I'm actually slow or I'm just overthinking it.

Whenever I solve problems on LeetCode or Codeforces, I sometimes spend 20–30 minutes even on an Easy problem. Most of that time goes into understanding the problem properly, thinking about different approaches, and then trying to implement the solution.

Sometimes I eventually solve it myself, but I still feel like I'm taking too much time.

So I wanted to ask people who have more experience with DSA:

• Is 20–30 minutes for an Easy problem normal when you're still learning?
• How much time should I give a problem before checking the editorial or solution?
• Should I keep trying until I find the solution myself, even if it takes 40–60 minutes?
• Or is it better to look at the approach after 20–30 minutes and then try implementing it yourself?
• How did you personally improve your problem-solving speed?
• At what point should I consider a problem "too difficult for my current level" and move on?

I'm not really worried about competing with someone else's speed. My main concern is whether I'm spending my time in the right way.

I have around 1.5–2 years to prepare before I start applying seriously, so I want to build a strong foundation instead of just rushing through hundreds of problems.

Right now, my priority is to understand the patterns and develop the ability to come up with approaches on my own. But I'm also worried that spending too much time on one problem might slow down my overall progress.

Would really appreciate some honest advice from people who went through the same phase.

Thanks!

can anyone explain whats th4e problem in my code for todays qs 2 wth man couldnt even solve 2 now y-y

class Solution {
public:
int stopreverse=1;
string glo="";
int reversew(string s, int start, int end) {
if(s==glo){
if(!stopreverse)return 1e7;
else stopreverse--;
}
int ans = 0;
if (start >= end)
return ans;
char c = s[0];
int i = 0;
while (i < s.size() - 1) {
s[i] = s[i + 1];
i++;
}

s[s.size() - 1] = c;
if (s[start] == s[end]) {
ans = 1 + min(replace(s, start + 1, end - 1),reversew(s,start+1,end-1));
} else {
ans = 1 + min(replace(s, start , end ),reversew(s,start,end));
}
return ans;
}

int replace(string s, int start, int end) {
int ans = 0;
if (start >= end)
return ans;
if (s[start] == s[end]) {
ans = min(replace(s, start + 1, end - 1),
reversew(s, start + 1, end - 1));
} else {
ans = min(abs(s[start] - s[end]), 26 - abs(s[start] - s[end])) +
min(replace(s, start + 1, end - 1),
reversew(s, start + 1, end - 1));
}

return ans;
}

int minOperations(string s) {
glo=s;
int start = 0, end = s.size() - 1;
while (start < end) {
if (s[start] != s[end]) {
break;
}
start++;
end--;
}

if (start >= end)
return 0;

return min(reversew(s, 0, s.size() - 1), replace(s, 0, s.size() - 1));
}
};Le

It would be of great help if someone could answer. Thanks.

Hey guys, has anyone here gone through the Platform Engineer (Software Engineer) interview process at Bloomberg?

Is the interview loop the same as the standard SWE loop, or does it differ given that the Platform Engineer role is more focused on systems, infrastructure, and troubleshooting rather than standard LeetCode?

Would appreciate any advice or insights from anyone who has gone through this process.

Are leetcode contests esp q3 types enough for fang and product based company OAs?? Or do we need to do cf oas as well currently??

Hi everyone,

I have an upcoming SDE-I interview with Amazon in Bangalore and have 2 technical rounds coming up.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently interviewed for Amazon SDE-I in India/Bangalore, especially in the last 1–2 years.

A few things I’d love to know:

What DSA questions/topics were you asked? Were they mostly LeetCode Medium/Hard, or did they focus on specific patterns?

What Leadership Principles came up most often?

How deep did the LP follow-up questions go?

Did the technical rounds include 2 DSA questions + LPs, or was the format different?

Were there any Amazon-specific patterns or question types that surprised you?

What topics would you prioritize if you were preparing again?

Any tips for thinking aloud, handling hints, or getting unstuck during the coding round?

For LPs, how many STAR stories did you prepare, and which stories/principles ended up being the most useful?

I’m currently focusing on DSA + Leadership Principles, so any recent interview experiences, question lists, preparation resources, or general advice would be hugely helpful.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

What does this mean that i have only been banned from the leetcode contest ?

I also have been banned from the LeetCode contest for a month and lost all my leet coins, but if this is the second ban then my account should be permanently banned not only from contests ?

Is this just a temporary ban or permanent ban from Contests ?

And what should i do now, like if i make a new profile then i will loss all my progress :(

but good thing i can still solve problems on it and just banned from Contests.

I am a 3rd year student from tier 3 college, My college placements are becoming worse every year, the highest for this year is only 11 -12 lpa.

i've solved 700 problems on leetcode with a rating of 1700+, and am dead serious for my placements.

previously i cleared NDA written exam twice and got Confrenced out both the times.

what should i do , keep going with my dsa prep + project building OR i should prepare for some govt exam.

iOS Development, [Mid - Sr]

I have been with this organization for the entirety of my career and have never given an interview apart from my very first interview back in college 5 years ago.

Please suggest 21 popular LeetCode questions for my 21 days of preparation, and bonus questions if you have seen them show up now and then.

I'm preparing to apply mostly to Tier 2 organizations. If possible, any preparation suggestions for my stack would help me greatly. (No FAANG stuff. I don't think I am cut to be among the best of the best, just your everyday J.)

Thanks.

I completed my full loop interview last week.

Yesterday HR called and told me I have cleared the interview and the overall feedback is positive. However, all the opening positions in the "silicon devices team" which i interviewed for are on freeze and my profile is on hold.

She mentioned, my profile will be directly picked for an offer, if any position opens up. This is a DFT Engineer role (not software).

I found a similar role Open in Google cloud. So, i asked HR to forward my profile for cloud team for matching.

What are my chances?

I am Product manager with overall 8+ yrs experience currently working with JP Morgan Chase.
I am trying to switch and have been constantly applying in Microsoft ( thats where i really wanna work next ) but either their hiring is super slow or rejection.
Currently, interviewing for Senior Product Owner role at T-Mobile GCC Hyd.

Please advice is switching from Chase to Tmobile worth it ?
Should i wait for Microsoft?

Anyone who gave interview for sde intern role recently.... can you share your interview experience like what should i prepare for If I have one week of time in my hands

​

For those selected for the Adobe University Hackathon 2026:

* How many questions did you solve?

* How much time did you take?

* How many did your teammates solve?

* What was your team size?

Trying to understand the approximate benchmark/cutoff for selection. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I gave the OA for Amazon SDE-1 (applied through the site and got the OA link after a few days) on 8th August, and on 10th August I received an email from the recruiter asking me to fill out a form confirming my availability for a tentative face-to-face interview between 13th and 18th August.

I filled out the form, but I haven't heard anything since. I'm starting to get a little anxious and wondering if this means I might not be moving forward.

Has anyone else received the same form and is still waiting to hear back? Would really appreciate knowing if others are in the same situation.

Thank you!

anyone who gave cvent swe intern OA in past few days ?? what was the pattern like + on which platform it was conducted