Now that I have completed a couple of interviews and have a better idea of the job market. I have a better gauge of my strengths and weakness against market needs and opportunities.
Observations
- Leetcode is everywhere. I was surprised to see Leetcode medium plus in an online assessment for a Sr. UI Engineer.
- Learn to identify patterns and the algorithms to solve these types of questions. Memorization won’t get you anywhere and there is no substitute for practice.
- HackerRank test taking is a skill in and of itself. Prepping for the test format is a must. It is crazy how fast time flies once the timer begins to countdown. Prioritizing what can be completed vs getting stuck on one question and running out of time.
- Be honest with yourself and the recruiter when they reach out about an opportunity. Are you truly a good fit or is it FoMo.
- This could be an opportunity to upskill on the AI/ML front.
- Prepping for the non technical aspects are just if not more important to get your foot in the door. Review your prior experience, prioritize the last 5 years and make sure you can speak to that time in the STAR format.
Strategy
Frontend:
I will be fortifying existing skillsets around Front-end Engineering, ReactJS and React Native. I will be working my way through Frontend Expert‘s material and interview prep modules. (~ 2-3 hrs / day).
Leetcode/Algorithms
I will be building up my Algorithm knowledge and experience via educative.io‘s Sr. JavaScript Engineer path. Along with solving at least 1 Leetcode question a day while I grasp the fundamentals. (~ 2 hrs/day for 9 weeks).
AI/Machine Learning Engineer Upskilling
I will be working towards Google’s Professional Machine Learning Engineer Certification. In order to be ready for the exam I am working through Courser’s prep course. The goal is to be ready for the exam by end of month. I highly recommend the prep course for anyone considering the certification. (~2 hrs/day through end of July)
Miscellaneous Job prep activities
On any given day I will be spending ~ 1 hr/day applying for jobs, documenting and preparing for interviews as they pop up. We’ll just have to see how things play out, though I am a firm believer of the following quote:
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca