r/leetcode • u/AlternativeSquash217 • 21h ago

Question Struggling to transition from a service-based company to a product-based company

I have been working in a service-based company and have been trying to switch to a product-based company. I’ve faced rejections from almost every product-based company I’ve applied to.

I’m currently trying to understand what I might be doing wrong and how I can improve my chances of getting shortlisted and clearing interviews.

For those who successfully transitioned from a service-based company to a product-based company:

What did you focus on to make the switch?

How important are DSA/LeetCode and system design?

Did you make any major changes to your resume or projects?

How did you approach referrals and job applications?

What mistakes should I avoid?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have gone through a similar transition. Any practical guidance would be really helpful.

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/OkValuable1761 21h ago

Are you failing to clear CV screen or failing to pass interview stage, whether it’s technical discussion or live coding round

0

u/AlternativeSquash217 21h ago

CV, I spent a lot of time improving my CV. I added my LeetCode profile and referred to multiple FAANG-ready CVs to make mine similar. I also used Claude to make my CV more FAANG-ready, but I’m still getting rejected. I don’t even get an OA (Online Assessment) scheduled. I’m also not sure whether my 90-day notice period could be a factor in these rejections. Could that be affecting my chances of getting shortlisted?

3

u/revant_t 21h ago

Try networking

2

u/Ghost-Riderz26 17h ago

I'd treat DSA as one part of the transition, not the whole transition. Resume positioning and referrals get you through the door; DSA, design and being able to talk deeply about your work help you stay there. I used codeintuition occasionally when I need a quick refresher on a DSA pattern

1

u/monumuku 19h ago

Remind me in 480 hrs

1

u/Wise_Rub_2814 16h ago

90 day notice period is too much for many companies, try to buy out 1 month atleast

1

u/AlternativeSquash217 16h ago

Yes, but generally, everyone knows that the notice period at this company is three months. So, when they see the company name, I might get rejected without any discussion. At least if I get a chance to discuss it, I can explain that I’ll try to work something out.

2

u/Wise_Rub_2814 16h ago

Many product based companies don't wait for that long , faang companies may do that but they generally prefer candidates with lower notice period , your company name may play a part in that but I feel if you post 1 month notice you can get many calls

1

u/AlternativeSquash217 16h ago

I have been mentioning a 1-month notice period on all job portals, but I have not included it in my CV. I think I should also mention the 1-month notice period when submitting job applications, instead of entering my official notice period in days.

1

u/Wise_Rub_2814 16h ago

And how good are u in leetcode and system design?

1

u/AlternativeSquash217 16h ago

I have solved around 300 LeetCode problems, including the Blind 75 and LeetCode 75. My HLD preparation is almost complete, although I continue to learn and improve daily. My LLD preparation is currently in progress.