RSP Experience Overview

RSP is a study programmed aimed at improving coding and software engineering skills with the aim of helping students to land internships and jobs in the top firms.

Whilst software engineering isn’t my goal in life, I still took this program because it teaches valuable skills about time management, self-improvement, work aimed social media and interviewing.

Week 1

• Time Spent: 15-20 hours (Taking time off work starting the 28th to increase availability for next week)
• ADM Progress: Reached Chapter 1, Page 30
  • Focused on foundational concepts in Algorithm Design Manual (ADM).
• Notes:
  • Created detailed notes to reinforce learning from ADM, available in RSP-Notes repository.
• Coding:
  • Linked List Implementation: Developed a linked list in C++ to solidify understanding of data structures.
  • Binary Tree: Began working on binary tree implementation in C++.
  • Code available in RSP-ADS repository.
• LeetCode:
  • Completed 4 easy problems on LeetCode to get familiar with problem-solving techniques and prepare for upcoming challenges.

Week 2

• Time Spent: 35 hours
• ADM Progress: Completed Chapters 1-8
  • Covered a significant portion of ADM, delving deeper into more complex algorithms and data structures.
• Coding:
  • Limited coding due to being away from home, focusing primarily on theoretical understanding.

Week 3

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• ADM Progress: Completed Chapter 10
  • Continued building on the knowledge from previous chapters, with an emphasis on tree data structures and their algorithms.
• Coding:
  • Binary Tree Implementation: Successfully implemented a binary tree in C++, focusing on traversal methods and basic operations.
• Resume:
  • Created an initial draft for the resume, tailoring it towards software development and algorithmic problem-solving.

Week 4

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• ADM Progress: Completed Chapters 10-12
  • Explored more advanced topics such as graph theory, which laid the groundwork for implementing search algorithms.
• Coding:
  • BFS & DFS: Attempted to implement Breadth-First Search (BFS) and Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithms, gaining a practical understanding of graph traversal.
• Resume:
  • Had the resume reviewed by an ex-recruitment agent for feedback and improvement.
• LeetCode:
  • Completed the first medium-level problem (Problem #2) involving linked lists, building confidence in tackling more challenging problems.

Week 5

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• ADM Progress: Completed Chapter 13
  • Reached a critical point in ADM, covering more complex algorithmic techniques and optimizations.
• CTCI Progress: Finished up to Page 86 of Cracking the Coding Interview (CTCI)
  • Reinforced knowledge of common coding interview questions and techniques.
• Coding:
  • Updated the linked list implementation with enhancements and additional functionalities.
• Interview Preparation:
  • Conducted a general review of interview techniques and problem-solving strategies to prepare for upcoming interviews.

Week 6

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• LeetCode Progress:
  • Completed 5 easy, 5 medium, and 1 hard problem.
  • Focused on solving a variety of problems to build versatility and adapt to different problem-solving scenarios.
• Mocks:
  • Engaged in a mock interview, though it was interrupted midway and rescheduled for the following day.

Week 7

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• LeetCode Progress:
  • Completed 4 easy, 5 medium, and 1 hard problem.
  • Continued to build momentum by solving problems across different difficulty levels, enhancing problem-solving speed and accuracy.
• Mocks:
  • Completed 2 mock interviews, receiving valuable feedback to refine interview performance.
• Projects:
  • Updated an old project, focusing on improving its structure and functionality to make it resume-ready.

Week 8

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• LeetCode Progress:
  • Completed 4 easy, 5 medium, and 1 hard problem.
  • Maintained a balanced approach to problem-solving, tackling problems that challenge different aspects of algorithmic thinking.
• Mocks:
  • Conducted mock interviews with Zach Anderson, Khanh Nguyen, and Cuinn Kemp. These interviews were much more serious and knocked me down a peg.
• Projects:
  • Though there was no significant update to projects this week, you received necessary code that will allow further progress next week.

Week 9

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• LeetCode Progress:
  • Completed 2 easy, 7 medium, and 1 hard problem.
  • Focused more on medium-level problems to bridge the gap between easy and hard difficulties, enhancing overall problem-solving capability.
• Mocks:
  • Completed 2 mock interviews, continuing to refine interview strategies and communication skills.
• Resume:
  • Cleaned up and polished the resume, making it more tailored to software development roles.
• Project Planning:
  • Discussed project plans and strategies for future development, ensuring alignment with career goals.

Week 10

• Time Spent: 30 hours
• LeetCode Progress:
  • Completed 4 medium and 4 hard problems.
  • Emphasized tackling hard problems to promote to intermediate before the deadline.
• Mocks
  • Completed 2 mock interviews, with a continued focus on improving answers to technical questions and problem-solving under pressure.
• Projects:
  • Worked on ongoing projects, incorporating feedback and new ideas to enhance their value.
• Resume & LinkedIn:
  • Finalized the resume and added final touches to your LinkedIn profile, ensuring both are aligned with your professional image and goals.