Hi Class, 👋
As we step into Year 3, your Internship Part 2 officially begins on Monday, 13th January 2025, and runs until Friday, 30th May 2025. 🌟 I wish you all the very best as you enjoy this last holiday weekend before the next exciting chapter of your journey! 🎉
To help prepare you for life after graduation, I’ll be providing extra self-study materials for those who want to explore more advanced skills. Participation is completely optional, so no worries if you’re not interested. 😊
🔍 1st Exploration (Jan–Mar 2025): Leet Coding and Competitive Programming
[1] What is LeetCode and Competitive Coding? 🤔
LeetCode is a platform offering a vast collection of coding challenges designed to prepare candidates for coding interviews, also known as code interviews.
These challenges are often associated with hiring in Big Tech, Big Banks, Big Pharma, and Big Consultancies, which use them to test candidates on algorithmic and problem-solving skills in a time-constrained and highly competitive environment. 🕒
Originally exclusive to top-tier companies, this practice is now becoming popular among smaller companies too. 🏢
There are several platforms like LeetCode, and we’ll pick one to try as a class! 🎯
[2] Why is this important? 💡
At ITE, we emphasize practical, hands-on skills, but platforms like LeetCode require you to master theoretical concepts, such as algorithms and data structures. 📚 These are essential for understanding and solving the problems effectively.
Additionally, coding interviews are timed, meaning you’ll need to think quickly and perform under pressure. 🔥 This format may feel challenging, but it’s an excellent way to build problem-solving confidence. 💪
[3] The Reality Behind Competitive Coding 🌟
While coding challenges are great for identifying high-performing candidates, they don’t always reflect real-world problem-solving skills. In actual work scenarios, challenges are often ambiguous and require creativity and collaboration—qualities that aren’t fully captured in a timed test. 🤝
These coding tests are designed to select “trophy recruits” 🏆 for prestigious roles, but succeeding in them doesn’t guarantee success in real-world jobs. However, they can still be a valuable tool for building confidence and preparing for future opportunities. 🚀
In universities, students often spend 6+ months preparing to rank up and secure positions at top firms. Starting now can give you a head start! 🎓
[4] Ready to Explore? 🌱
If you’re interested, start by signing up for a free developer’s account on platforms like
👉 HackerRank: https://www.hackerrank.com/
To support you, I’ll dedicate Saturday mornings to solving a few LeetCode questions and sharing tutorials. 🎥 Feel free to PM me with questions during that time. If enough of you join, we can even create a subgroup or Discord to discuss solutions for tougher problems! 💬✨
Let’s tackle this challenge together and grow your coding confidence! 💻💪