New Grad / Internship Software Engineer Prep
The on-ramp for new-grad and internship loops. Builds the data-structures-and-algorithms floor that every entry-level coding round tests, climbs from easy to a first wave of medium problems, fills in the core CS fundamentals (OS, networking, databases) that show up in the conversation, walks through a first system-design problem, and closes with the behavioral fundamentals new grads stumble on.
Foundations: Algorithms and Data Structures
Every new-grad loop opens with coding. Build the vocabulary first - arrays, hash maps, two pointers, recursion, BFS/DFS - so the problems feel like patterns, not puzzles.
Coding: Easy ladder
Start here and get fluent. These are the warm-up problems that the easy round draws from - aim to solve each in under 15 minutes without looking anything up.
- 01CodeTwo SumCoding · Easy
- 02CodeValid ParenthesesCoding · Easy
- 03CodeReverse StringCoding · Easy
- 04CodeBinary SearchCoding · Easy
- 05CodeContains DuplicateCoding · Easy
- 06CodeMerge Two Sorted ListsCoding · Easy
- 07CodeBest Time to Buy and Sell StockCoding · Easy
- 08CodeValid AnagramCoding · Easy
- 09CodeReverse Linked ListCoding · Easy
- 10CodeMaximum Depth of Binary TreeCoding · Easy
- 11CodeClimbing StairsCoding · Easy
Coding: First mediums
Once the easy set is automatic, step into mediums. These cover the patterns - sliding window, two pointers, BFS on a grid, basic DP - that separate a callback from a rejection.
Core CS fundamentals
New-grad interviewers probe the fundamentals you learned in school. Refresh the high-frequency areas so you can answer the 'how does X actually work' follow-ups.
Your first system design
Most new-grad loops do not include a full system-design round, but a senior interviewer may open the door. Walk through one approachable design end to end so the vocabulary is not brand new.
Behavioral fundamentals
New grads lose offers on behavioral as often as on coding. Have crisp stories for the universal themes, even if they come from internships, school projects, or clubs.
Browse other learning paths
Three role-targeted paths are live: Backend, SRE / DevOps, and ML Engineer. More are on the way - if you have a role you want covered, let us know.
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