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Cathy Lai
Cathy Lai

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Technical Interviews - it's not a pass/ fail

💡 Monetization Strategies for Interview Prep

1. Content Creation (High-Value Asset)

Turn your study notes, solutions, and explanations into public content. This builds your personal brand and can generate passive income or lead to future opportunities.

Strategy How to Execute Potential Monetization
Blogging/Articles Write detailed articles on complex xxx topics you studied (e.g., state management deep-dives, custom hooks, performance optimization). Publish on platforms like Medium, dev.to, or your own blog. Ad revenue, affiliate marketing (recommending courses/books), or creating an eBook of your best articles later.
Video Tutorials Create short, clear video explanations of common interview coding problems or architectural patterns. Use platforms like YouTube or TikTok. YouTube AdSense, sponsored content (once you build an audience), or driving traffic to your paid materials.
Open-Source Contributions If you build a small tool or utility while studying (e.g., a custom testing framework setup), open-source it on GitHub. Getting noticed by companies (leading to better job offers), or accepting small sponsorships/donations (GitHub Sponsors).

2. Building a Product/Portfolio (Direct Income)

Apply what you learn by building a small, functional app that can generate income or serve as a strong portfolio piece that gets you hired faster/at a higher salary.

  • Create a Micro-SaaS App: Build a tiny, simple utility app (e.g., a habit tracker, a simple calculator, a custom widget) and launch it on the App Store/Google Play.
    • Monetization: Charge a small one-time fee, implement in-app ads (e.g., Google AdMob), or use a simple subscription.
  • Build a Template/Starter Kit: Package your robust and well-configured boilerplate (with testing, linting, navigation, and state management pre-configured) and sell it on marketplaces like Gumroad or a personal site. Many developers pay for a high-quality starter kit to save days of setup.
  • Create a High-Impact Portfolio App: Instead of a generic CRUD app, build an app that solves a real-world problem and deploy it. Even if it doesn't make money directly, a standout portfolio piece is the highest ROI preparation as it secures better jobs.

3. Teaching & Mentoring (Immediate Income)

Leverage your newly polished knowledge to help others who are a few steps behind you.

  • Offer Private Tutoring: Once you master a topic, post on local forums or platforms like Upwork/Fiverr offering 1-on-1 tutoring sessions specifically focused on " xxx Interview Prep."
  • Create a Mini-Course: Instead of a massive course, create a highly focused, short video course on a niche topic (e.g., "Mastering the Reanimated 3 API for Interviews" or "Deep Dive into xxx "). Sell it affordably on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.

🎯 Shifting Your Mindset

The key to succeeding with this approach is redefining what "success" means for this interview cycle:

Old Definition (Final) New Definition (Leverage)
Pass/Fail: Did I get this specific job? Asset Creation: Did I create 5 articles, 2 video tutorials, and a strong portfolio app while preparing?
Time Spent: Time lost if I don't get the job. Time Invested: Time invested in personal brand, passive income, and future job security.
Emotion: Stress, anxiety, and a feeling of finality. Emotion: Focus, productivity, and a feeling of building something lasting.

By focusing on creating a documented, high-quality output every time you study a topic, you guarantee that even if the interview doesn't work out, you are now a published expert with monetizable assets. You win either way!

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