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Paulet Wairagu
Paulet Wairagu

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Tech Interviews: The Hustle Behind Tech Interview Prep

Honestly, prepping for tech interviews is no joke. I’m here grinding through LeetCode, HackerRank, and building my own small projects, and let me tell you—it’s not the stuff people post on TikTok or YouTube. The shiny "I got the job" videos never show you the late nights, the frustrations, or the moments you question everything.

This prep is slow and steady, and it’s exhausting. Some days, a single problem can take hours. Other times, I’m Googling stuff I thought I already knew, just to keep moving. It’s not even just coding; there’s also system design, behavioral questions, and building projects that showcase your skills. It’s like juggling 10 things at once.

The crazy thing is, all this work really helps (I tell myself). You don’t notice it immediately, but over time, you get faster at thinking through problems and more confident in your skills. You also pick up new tricks, learn how to explain your thought process, and discover how to build stuff you’re proud of. That’s what keeps me going, even when it feels like I’m stuck.

At the end of the day, this grind isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary. If you’re also in this phase, just know it’s okay to feel tired, overwhelmed, or frustrated. It’s part of the process. Let’s keep pushing—our hard work will pay off.

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