[p1esk]

Are you saying you went through the leetcode/hackerrank daily preparation routine for a couple of months, but you are still getting nervous during interviews? If so, why do you think that is? Are you comfortable solving those programming puzzles outside of the interviews? Have you timed yourself? Have you done mock interviews with a friend?

[throwawayc2020]

I've been interviewing non-stop for a few months. For a few months prior to interviewing I watched computer science lectures online, read CTCI, and had a premium Leetcode subscription with a good amount of practice.

I haven't done mock interviews with a friend, but I did pay for a few mock technical interviews.

I much prefer technical assessments that are related to the day-to day. In either case, I'm much more comfortable working alone than I am with someone watching in an interview. I've only ever worked alone and in these interviews I have a hard time concentrating.

I'm not someone who can talk out loud and code at the same time. When I'm coming up with a solution I think about a potential solution, recognize why it won't work, and then go on to the next idea. I feel like this happens rapidly in my head, but if I were to "talk out loud" I would just be constantly saying why things won't work and it would take so much longer to get to the final idea.

It's kind of like how if you were to loop through 100K items in the console. If you don't output anything to the screen it's really quick, but when you start printing the number it takes longer to run.

But really, I just feel like leetcode style interviews don't touch the surface of my working experience and capabilities at all, and only focus on a very narrow thing.

I realize this is where the industry is right now, so I'm looking for roles that aren't a "programmer" but still benefit from my programming experience.

[p1esk]

I just feel like leetcode style interviews don't touch the surface of my working experience and capabilities

When you play a game, and encounter a particularly difficult level, do you also feel like you don't have the skills needed to pass this level and therefore you should just give up? Treat the interview process as a game. Everyone plays the same game, and some people are better at it than others, but it's just that, a game. Try to have fun with it. After all, you became a programmer because you enjoy solving technical puzzles, right? Maybe having to solve a puzzle with a timer, and with someone watching you is making you uncomfortable, but it still involves doing what you love and what you're good at. If you can't change the world, change your attitude.

By dismissing companies hidden behind this interview practice you eliminate the majority of good SE jobs. You potentially trade a bad interview experience for a bad job. Is this a good trade?