This post is mostly for those who are working professionals and didn't like coding hence struggling to switch companies or roles.

If you like Sprints/T20s, then you might not able to read this post. You need to be fan of tests to read this post (Long post).

Y - 2018, I was in final year cramming array questions from geksogeks for upcoming companies. I never loved programming but getting placed was the priority. Luckily I got placed in company(service-based) with whopping package of 4L. (Yes - I was happy with that, 30k per month).

July 2018, joined company and during random assignment of projects got manual testing role(QA project). I was told by everyone with multiple comments that your career is done (unlucky this time). I requested multiple times to change my project but things didn't change.

After 4 months, I finally gave up and accepted my role as Quality Engineer. First skill I learnt in company was Table Tennis. I decided to move to MBA/Govt Exams and started preparation accordingly. Got decent percentile in CAT 2018 without preparation/coaching.

Dec 2018, I realised that I learnt TT in 5-6 months. Why can't I try coding for 6 months and give one last try. I made a decision to give myself last chance to code. I prepared myself for next 3 months - resources were CLRS and Krumanhi books. Practiced on geksogeks and inerviwb*t.

April 2019, I was high on frustration due to the quality of work (comparing two text files if changes are expected or a bug). Resigned without any offer in hand. I was lucky to get multiple offers ranging from 4L to 10L during my notice period. I could just add TT and linux in my resume.

June 2019, fast forward - joined new company (product based) as RD Engineer, offering just shy of 9L and having good brand value in semi-conductor domain. I got my dream hike and grateful to everyone who helped. Now I am developer in product-based company. That was the target ofcourse.

Dec 2019, I completed 6 months - didn't write single line of code till that time. I was analysing bugs, debugging code but didn't get any requirement for new development. I tried to look at my senior's tasks - they were kinda similar to me. I got the idea that we all are having designation of dev but doing maintenance and support work. Unlucky again.

Mar 2020, Pandemic came, we were all under lockdown. I got stuck in the city I used to work. I got to know about LeetCode. Signed up and really liked the platform. I started my practice from LinkedList and ask my senior for Amazon referral for SDE-1. Got interviewed , feedback was you were very close, just could not cross the line - giving you only 3 months cooldown instead of 6 months.

June 2020, Returned to my hometown, made a plan to learn coding more than fundamentals. Got some good peers from Telegram. Tried to learn new concept in algorithms and data structures. Got good hike and promotion (12L) but still did not write a single line of code. Giving interviews side by side but no-one was willing to pay hikes due to multiple reasons: pandemic situation + past experience is not releavant (not worked on frameworks/services/database).

Sept 2020, I was standing with 2.5Y of experience with no code on dev side and willing to switch. Either I could have continued with the same company (good pay but no work quality and moderate work pressure) or I could have accepted any offer with minimal hike. I choose the latter, accepted an offer with company with 14L, hope to learn actual development.

Nov 2020, Joined new company - first time I actually saw database and how we actually interact with it. I was glad to accept this offer. I learnt lot of stuffs and actually wrote some small code snippets and was very happy after that. I read docker concepts and multiple technical concepts which I never imagined.

March 2021, Decided to start with Leetcode regularly without any pressure of interviews and same for System Design. Tried to solved at least 1-2 problems on working day and more on weekends. A small learning daily was the main motive.

Sept 2021, I resigned from the organisation. Reason - High job market , got good hike.
I got offers with fixed salary - 34L+ and 40L+. Ofcourse I was lucky again.
My manager was furious - he has the right to be, but I can't deny an offer worth this much.

Few Points:

1. Never missed LC contest since March 2021. Best Rating - 1977 and best global ranking - 224.
2. Took my preparation lightly and assumed this journey has marathon of years, not a sprint.
3. Lucky and unlucky are just two sides of coin, you keep doing your work.
4. Earlier days I could only solve 1 question in LC contest, now I am knight badge holder (1900+ rating).
5. Learnt System Design concepts on my own.

Dhoni said - "No matter you are winning a match or losing - always follow the correct processes." Irrespective of whatever the result will be, trust the process.

My shortcomings:

1. I switched a lot - won't recommend same untill there is no other way.
2. I was very relaxed during my final year and first year of my career, pandemic did turn the life around.
3. I didn't contribute to github much - will recommend so to everyone.
4. I have not learnt much dev on my own but everyone should learn.

Learnings:

• Habits are awesome. They are hardest to build upon early on. They seem meaningless early on, especially with no goal in sight. They make you look boring to others!
  But once they begin to work, and they will, they can change your orbit.
• The beauty of habits is that it doesn’t matter where you start. It matters whether you start. Do not set goals or targets in life. Set habits.
• Don't run behind number of questions on LeetCode. Try to learn concept first. If you know the concept, question will be fun for you.
• Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
• Don't be too harsh on yourself during your preparation- I shed extra 10kgs during preparation, never missed a single cricket match of Indian cricket Team.

It's never too late to hit few sixes in life !!

PS - Never joined Sc.l.r Ac.dmy.
PPS - All folks along whom I prepared (Telegram buddies) also got placed in very good companies : Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia, Arcesium, IndiaGold, Paytm, Walmart.

If you are willing to ask any questions then feel free to ask, just don't ask roadmaps. You can ping me over Telegram if you feel problem asking publicly. (Link in Leetcode profile).