How can I prepare for coding interview in 2 months?

Preparing for a coding interview in two months is a realistic goal, especially if you can dedicate consistent time and effort to your preparation. Here’s a comprehensive plan to help you maximize your two months and approach your coding interviews with confidence:

Week 1-2: Foundation and Assessment

• Assess Your Current Level: Begin by assessing your current skill level. Identify your strengths and weaknesses in data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving.
• Basic Concepts Review: Brush up on fundamental concepts in your chosen programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C++). Ensure you understand variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and basic data types.

Week 3-4: Core Data Structures and Algorithms

• Data Structures: Deep dive into arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables, trees, and graphs. Understand how they work, how to implement them, and common operations associated with each.
• Algorithms: Focus on sorting (quick sort, merge sort), searching (binary search), recursion, and basic dynamic programming. Start solving simple problems on platforms like LeetCode, DesignGurus.io, or HackerRank.

Week 5-6: Advanced Topics and Problem Solving

• Advanced Algorithms: Learn more complex algorithms such as backtracking, breadth-first search (BFS), depth-first search (DFS), and more advanced dynamic programming problems.
• Problem Solving: Increase the intensity of problem-solving practice. Aim to solve problems from different categories each day. Start timing yourself to get used to solving problems under time constraints.

Week 7: Mock Interviews and Focus Areas

• Mock Interviews: Start participating in mock interviews. Use platforms like Pramp or Interviewing.io, or schedule sessions with peers or mentors.
• Identify Weak Spots: As you practice, identify areas where you’re still weak or slow. Spend additional time strengthening these areas.
• System Design Basics: If you’re applying for a role that might involve system design questions, start familiarizing yourself with basic system design principles.

Week 8: Review and Refine

• Consolidation: Spend the final week reviewing all the topics you’ve studied. Revisit problems that were challenging and try to solve them again.
• Optimize Your Solutions: Practice optimizing your solutions for better time and space complexity.
• Final Mock Interviews: Engage in more mock interviews to refine your interview skills and get used to the pressure of real interview settings.

Daily and Weekly Routines

• Daily Coding: Solve at least 2-3 problems every day. Mix easy, medium, and hard problems to build breadth and depth in problem-solving.
• Weekly Reviews: At the end of each week, review what you’ve learned. Identify any gaps in knowledge and adjust your study plan accordingly.
• Stay Healthy: Ensure you’re also taking care of your health — getting enough sleep, eating well, and managing stress. Good physical health supports mental sharpness.

Additional Tips

• Discuss and Explain: Practice explaining your code as if in an interview. This can be with a peer, mentor, or even to yourself out loud.
• Use Version Control: Consider using Git to save different solutions to coding problems. This can help you track progress and review previous work.
• Cultural Fit and Behavioral Questions: Don’t forget to prepare for the behavioral part of the interview. Be ready to discuss your previous projects, teamwork, and situations where you faced challenges.

Conclusion

Two months is a substantial amount of time to prepare effectively for a coding interview if you use it wisely. Consistency is key — make sure to code every day, review regularly, and adjust your learning plan as needed based on your progress and the types of questions you find challenging. Good luck!