[lmiller1990]

Are you only aiming for big, FAANG like companies?

Many small(er) companies will not bother with things like algorithm questions. Most companies I have interviewed at will have a coding assignment, usually timeboxed to 3-4 hours, where you build something relevant (eg I applied for a fullstack position; I had to build a todo-like app with a back and front-end). These are all small orgs, usually between 10-30 people. They have less resources and less applicants.

You may want to consider the companies you are applying to; any big orgs with crazy comp will have endless amounts of applicants, and a good way to filter them down without actually spending any time/resources is things like leetcode.

If you are dead-set on a big, FAANG like company, you will probably need to start grinding out leetcode (as you have seen , they love it). Either expand your search criteria, or start grinding coding problems.