I haven't had to do "leetcode" at any job interview other than Amazon or Facebook, but I don't want to work there anyways. It isn't actually the standard that people on HN pretend it is, AFAICT.
Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
31–40 of 45 posts
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#32If the job application requires leetcode, just do it. The worst thing that could happen is you learn something. I’ve been in the industry since the 1980s. I don’t see AI as any kind of threat. We expected a lot of the waves of technology would reduce the need for programmers but I now view it like Jevon’s paradox: AI will expand IT uses not reduce the number of programmers. My colleagues all lived through various par…
+1 suck it up and do the leetcode. I kept failing until i studied. Never had to do it again at the job.
FWIW you do not have to do leetcode to get a job. I’m a staff level SWE and I’ve had no problems finding non-leetcode companies, both through my own network and through browsing job listings.
I have literally never done a leetcode “whiteboard code this random problem that has nothing to do with our actual work” interview, in 25+ years in the industry.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 suck it up and do the leetcode. I kept failing until i studied. Never had to do it again at the job.
FWIW you do not have to do leetcode to get a job. I’m a staff level SWE and I’ve had no problems finding non-leetcode companies, both through my own network and through browsing job listings. I have literally never done a leetcode “whiteboard code this random problem that has nothing to do with our actual work” interview, in 25+ years in the industry.
Do you make FAANG-tier money though?
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#34Bro, you got laid off — I actually quit my job.
They kept pushing extra work with zero upside, so I made a call: If I’m going to grind harder, it might as well be for myself, not someone else.
That’s how my indie hacking journey started — and honestly, you can start too.
Right now is the best time to build your own AI SaaS. If you’re into content creation but feel stuck, don’t overthink it — use AI to move faster. It’s not cheating, it’s leverage.
I’ve just started myself. https://youtu.be/BOqNr6a3N_0?si=ntsT22hJGGsbXIqQ
One real talk thing though: This path isn’t easy. Building is the fun part — but marketing + sales matter more than code. Focus there, or the product won’t matter.
If you’re serious, start now. Timing won’t get better.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
FWIW you do not have to do leetcode to get a job. I’m a staff level SWE and I’ve had no problems finding non-leetcode companies, both through my own network and through browsing job listings. I have literally never done a leetcode “whiteboard code this random problem that has nothing to do with our actual work” interview, in 25+ years in the industry.
Do you make FAANG-tier money though?
It’s not hard to make equivalent (or higher) base, but you just lose out on the stock
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you make FAANG-tier money though?
It’s not hard to make equivalent (or higher) base, but you just lose out on the stock
> just
Or you can just learn a handful of puzzle patterns in exchange for more job opportunities that would have the potential for higher overall pay. Seems like a fair trade to me.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree with you, somewhat. But now you have taken the trouble to complain that you had to look up “most populous country on earth” and yet contributed nothing to the discussion.
In fact, I have probably saved some readers the trouble of also opening a new tab and looking for this added context, by providing it directly within this thread.
Really? Isn’t it common knowledge among educated people? Like the biggest country.
I think OP wrote their country like this as a figure of speech and to state that they are one of many.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
FWIW you do not have to do leetcode to get a job. I’m a staff level SWE and I’ve had no problems finding non-leetcode companies, both through my own network and through browsing job listings. I have literally never done a leetcode “whiteboard code this random problem that has nothing to do with our actual work” interview, in 25+ years in the industry.
Do you make FAANG-tier money though?
No, I don't, assuming you're looking at total comp including stock.
I also don't have crazy hours, stack ranking, mandatory RTO, 6 different levels of OKRs, and all the other bullshit that comes along with a FAANG job.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s not hard to make equivalent (or higher) base, but you just lose out on the stock
> just Or you can just learn a handful of puzzle patterns in exchange for more job opportunities that would have the potential for higher overall pay. Seems like a fair trade to me.
This is a good way to frame it. I have no issue with people who choose to do this, but I choose not to.
Re: Ask HN: Pivot from SWE to What?
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
> just Or you can just learn a handful of puzzle patterns in exchange for more job opportunities that would have the potential for higher overall pay. Seems like a fair trade to me.
This is a good way to frame it. I have no issue with people who choose to do this, but I choose not to.
It just feels obstinate to me. Most people will jump through all sort of bureaucratic/performative hoops when they're in a job to keep it or angle for promotions/minor raises, but this one that has a much higher average RoI turns them off. If you put your foot down on that sort of thing too then fair enough I suppose.