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Hello Deves, let me be brutally honest with you.
After 6 months of regularly grinding LeetCode problems, I thought I was ready for coding interviews, and why not? I read blogs, write blogs, and have a decent number of years of experience.
I was dead wrong.
Because when I walked into my first FAANG interview in years, and they asked me:
"Find all anagrams of a string in another string"
I panicked.
Sure, I had solved 100+ LeetCode problems. I knew basic algorithms. I could implement bubble sort in my sleep. Wrote an application that is running on production, and I even had ideas about two-pointers pattern and knew a few others.
But I had no idea this was a sliding-window pattern problem. I didn't recognize that it was similar to dozens of other problems I'd already solved.
I started with a brute force approach.
I mentioned nested loops.
Then spent 35 minutes trying to optimize something that should have taken 15 minutes max.
I didn't crack the interview.
That's when I realized something crucial: solving random problems isn't the same as understanding algorithmic patterns.
I was memorizing solutions instead of learning to recognize when to apply specific techniques.
I needed a systematic approach to pattern recognition, not just more practice problems.
That's when I discovered AlgoMonster, and it completely transformed how I approached coding interview preparation.
Here's how this platform took me from randomly grinding problems to systematically recognizing patterns, and ultimately cracking multiple interviews at both FAANG and other Big Tech companies.
1. First, I realized random problem-solving wasn't Working
Most people (including me) approach DSA preparation all wrong:
- Solve problems randomly on LeetCode
- Look up solutions when stuck
- Move to the next problem
- Hope to see similar problems in interviews
This used to work, and I have cracked multiple interviews inthe past by following just this method, but it doesn't work anymore.
Things have evolved, and now more and more companies are using platforms like HackerRank, Codility, CodingGame, and CoderPad to test candidates' algorithmic and DSA skills, where you need to solve real questions online with test cases, which not just test for input but also for performance.
But here's what I learned the hard way: coding interviews test pattern recognition, not memorization.
The same 15--20 patterns appear in 80% of coding interview problems:
- Two pointers
- Sliding window
- Fast and slow pointers
- Binary search variations
- Tree traversal patterns
- Dynamic programming templates
- Backtracking frameworks
Random grinding wasn't teaching me these patterns.
I was solving each problem in isolation instead of understanding the underlying algorithmic thinking.
That's exactly what AlgoMonster fixed for me.
2. I Discovered the Power of Pattern-Based Learning
When I first logged into AlgoMonster, their approach was completely different from every other platform I'd tried.
Instead of throwing random problems at me, they organized everything around patterns:
a) Pattern Identification First
Before solving any problem, AlgoMonstertaught me to ask:
- What type of data structure does this involve?
- What's the constraint or optimization goal?
- Does this match a known algorithmic pattern?
b) Template-Based Solutions
Each pattern came with a clear template:
Two Pointers Pattern Template:
left, right = 0, len(array) - 1\
while left < right:\
if condition_met:\
# process result\
left += 1\
right -= 1\
elif need_to_expand_search:\
left += 1\
else:\
right -= 1
Sliding Window Pattern Template:
left = 0\
for right in range(len(array)):\
# expand window\
add array[right] to window
while window_invalid:\
# contract window\
remove array[left] from window\
left += 1
process current window
c) Systematic Problem Progression
Instead of random difficulty jumps, problems were ordered to build pattern recognition gradually:
- Basic pattern problems --- learn the template
- Slight variations --- adapt the template
- Combined patterns --- use multiple techniques
- Advanced applications --- complex real-world scenarios
This systematic approach made everything click.
I wasn't just solving problems --- I was building a mental framework for algorithmic thinking.
They have also shared a nice chart of all top coding Patterns from FAANG interview so that you put your effort where you expect maximum gain in a short amount of time.
3. I Learned Through Their Unique Three-Step Method
AlgoMonster's problem-solving interface was unlike anything I'd seen before.
Every problem followed the same three-step process:
Step 1: Pattern Recognition
Before writing any code, I had to identify:
- Which algorithmic pattern applies
- Why is this pattern appropriate
- What the high-level approach should be
Example: "Find the longest substring without repeating characters"
My pattern analysis:
- This is a sliding window problem
- We need to expand the window while characters are unique
- Contract when we find duplicates
- Track the maximum window size
Here is what it looks like on AlgoMonster website:
Once you choose the correct pattern, you can see whether your choice is correct or not and why that particular pattern is the correct choice.
For example, when you choose the "Sliding Window" pattern to solve the "Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters", you can see that it validates your choice with reasoning
"Correct! The Sliding Window pattern is ideal for this problem. It allows us to efficiently check substrings without recomputing every possible combination, keeping track of the current substring in one pass through the string."
Once you find the pattern, they also share a code template which you can use to solve any problem that is based on this pattern, for example, the"sliding-window" pattern in our case:
You can even choose the pattern in any programming language of your choice. This really helped me because while I am a Java developer and I prefer Java, I can also see how it's done in Python.
Step 2: Implementation
Only after identifying the pattern and learning about the template could I start coding.
The platform provided:
- Language-specific templates
- Inline hints when I got stuck
- Real-time syntax checking
- Test cases to validate my solution
This is a really great feature to practice coding problems online because you can type code online without installing any IDE or tools on your machine.
You don't need to worry about test cases as they provide comprehensive test cases to test your solution for all edge cases as well as for performance.
They even allow an interface to test your solution for a custom input, which is great for debugging purposes.
Here is what it looks like in Algomonster platform:
Step 3: Complexity Analysis
After solving the problem, we are not done. I had to analyze:
- Time complexity and why
- Space complexity and why
- Potential optimizations
- Edge cases to consider
This three-step process trained my brain to think like an interviewer evaluates candidates.
Pattern recognition → Clean implementation → Complexity analysis
They also share a list of the top 50 coding questions that are often asked on interviews, along with Blind 75 and other lists similar to ByteByteGo 101, which you can use for practice.
In fact, practicing these questions is completely free on the AlgoMonster website. All you need to do is create a free account and start practicing.
📢 Get AlgoMonster 50% OFF here → https://algomonster.io
4. I Mastered Company-Specific Question Patterns
Another huge advantage of AlgoMonster was their extensive company-specific question bank.
What I discovered about different companies:
Google Patterns:
- Heavy focus on tree and graph algorithms
- Complex string manipulation problems
- Mathematical optimization challenges
- Multi-step logical reasoning
Amazon Patterns:
- Array and string manipulation
- Two pointers and sliding window
- Basic dynamic programming
- Simple tree traversals
Meta Patterns:
- Graph-based social network problems
- Real-time data processing scenarios
- Optimization under constraints
- System design coding challenges
Microsoft Patterns:
- Classic computer science problems
- String and array fundamentals
- Recursive problem solving
- Clean, readable code emphasis
Instead of preparing generically, I could focus on patterns specific to my target companies.
This targeted approach saved me months of unfocused practice.
By the way, the company-specific question bank is only available inside paid subscription, which I highly recommend to get yo,u and they are offering a whopping 50% discount now, which makes the Algomonster subscription even more valuable and worth it
📢 Get AlgoMonster 50% OFF here → https://algomonster.io
5. I Practiced With Their SpeedRun Feature
AlgoMonster's Speedrun feature is designed to help you go through as many questions as quickly as possible. It is the third step of the 3-step system.
Instead of writing code for each problem, you will be given a multiple choice related to the techniques and templates used to solve the problem.
This cuts down the time to go through many problems significantly.
Why Speedrun?
- **Train your intuition.\ **In a real interview, you will be spending at least half the time identifying the algorithm to solve the question and explaining your approach to the interviewer.
- **Reinforces your learning.\ **Going through a few more problems after learning the patterns and templates reinforces what you've learned. Seeing many problems helps train your "intuition" when faced with a new problem.
- Increase your luck.\ There are only so many problems out there. The more you see, the greater the chance you may encounter a problem at a real interview. You never know!
- Most importantly, it saves you time! You can go through many more problems in a shorter amount of time.
6. I Built Confidence Through Systematic Progress Tracking
AlgoMonster's progress tracking was incredibly motivating.
What they tracked:
- Patterns mastered vs. patterns remaining
- Problems solved by difficulty and the company
- Average solving time by pattern type
- Success rate on first attempts
- Improvement trends over time
My 4-month progress:
- Month 1: Basic patterns (Two Pointers, Sliding Window, Binary Search)
- Month 2: Tree and Graph algorithms
- Month 3: Dynamic Programming and advanced patterns
- Month 4: Company-specific problem sets and mock interviews
Seeing measurable improvement kept me motivated during difficult periods.
Instead of feeling lost in an endless sea of problems, I had clear milestones and achievement markers.
To start with, I highly recommend solving problems in their Monster 50 questions and track your progress there.
7. I Applied Pattern Recognition in Real Interviews
The real test came during actual coding interviews.
How pattern-based thinking transformed my performance:
Before AlgoMonster:
Interviewer: "Find all anagrams of a string in another string" My brain: "Uh... nested loops? HashMap maybe? Let me think..."
After AlgoMonster:
Interviewer: "Find all anagrams of a string in another string." My brain: "This is sliding window + character frequency tracking. I need to maintain a window of the anagram length and compare character counts."
Interview at one of the Big Investment Banks
- Problem: "Design a data structure for autocomplete."
- My approach: Immediately recognized as Trie + DFS pattern
- Result: Solved in 20 minutes with optimal complexity
- Feedback: "Excellent pattern recognition and clean implementation."
Interview at a Product-Based Company on the AI space
- Problem: "Find shortest path in binary matrix."
- My approach: BFS pattern with coordinate tracking
- Result: Solved with multiple optimizations discussed
- Feedback: "Strong algorithmic thinking and systematic approach."
8. I Started Teaching Others Using Pattern-Based Approach
The ultimate test of understanding is teaching others.
How I helped colleagues using AlgoMonster's methodology:
For Junior Developers:
- Taught them to identify patterns before coding
- Showed them how to build mental templates
- Emphasized the importance of complexity analysis
For Interview Preparation Groups:
- Led mock interview sessions using pattern recognition
- Created study guides organized by algorithmic patterns
- Shared company-specific pattern insights
Every teaching session reinforced my own pattern recognition skills.
When someone asked "How do I solve this binary search problem?" I could explain:
- Why it's a binary search pattern
- What the template looks like
- How to adapt it for different constraints
- What are the complexity implications
My Results After 4 Months with AlgoMonster
Interview Performance:
- Coding interviews passed: 12 out of 14
- Offers received: from both banks and a product-based company
- Average problem-solving time: Reduced by 60%
- First-attempt success rate: Improved from 30% to 85%
Specific Improvements:
- Could identify patterns within 2--3 minutes
- Solved medium problems in 15--20 minutes consistently
- Handled follow-up optimization questions confidently
- Wrote cleaner, more readable interview code
- Analyzed time/space complexity accurately every time
Career Impact:
- Interview confidence: Complete transformation from anxiety to excitement
- Technical leadership: Now lead algorithm discussions in team meetings
The Investment That Transformed My Career
While Algomonster is not cheap, especially if you compare it to coding interview courses on Udemy, it's still not very expensive, unlike those coding interview bootcamps.
It's very much affordable, and when you compare the salary hike and opportunities you get, it's a no-brainer.
AlgoMonster is currently offering 50% off their annual and lifetime plans.
What you get:
- Complete pattern-based curriculum covering all major algorithmic patterns
- 100+ problems organized by patterns and companies
- Interactive coding environment with real-time feedback
- Company-specific question banks for targeted preparation
- Progress tracking and performance analytics
- Mock interview simulation tools
- Lifetime access option for continuous learning
ROI Analysis:
- My salary increase: $180,000+
- Time saved vs random grinding: 6+ months
- Interview success rate improvement: From 30% to 85%+
- Confidence boost: Immeasurable
If you think it makes sense, here is the link toget an AlgoMonster PRO lifetime membership for $459, that's what I have because I know its long time investment and totally worth it.
Lifetime plans are great because they provide the best value, and you will be using these platforms for the rest of your career.
Why AlgoMonster Worked When LeetCode Grinding Failed?
If you ask me, LeetCode teaches you to solve individual problems.
AlgoMonster teaches you to think algorithmically.
Traditional Approach (LeetCode grinding):
- Random problem selection
- Solution memorization
- No systematic pattern learning
- Isolated problem-solving
- Overwhelming volume without direction
AlgoMonster's Pattern-Based Approach:
- Systematic pattern identification
- Template-based problem solving
- Gradual complexity building
- Connected algorithmic thinking
- Focused, efficient learning path
The difference is like learning vocabulary words randomly vs. learning grammar patterns that apply to thousands of sentences.
My Recommendation
If you're serious about coding interviews, especially at top tech companies, random LeetCode grinding is inefficient and overwhelming.
You need:
- Systematic pattern recognition training
- Template-based problem-solving approaches
- Company-specific preparation strategies
- Realistic interview simulation practice
- Measurable progress tracking
AlgoMonsterprovides all of this in one comprehensive platform.
Is it worth the investment?
If you're targeting even one coding interview at a major tech company, absolutely yes.
The salary difference between passing and failing that interview is typically $100,000-$200,000+.
With their current 50% discount, there's never been a better time to invest in systematic algorithmic thinking.
If you're a long-term learner, mentor, or planning to revisit interviews every 1--2 years, the Pro Lifetime at $459 is 100% worth it --- especially with the included coaching.
You can also learn more about AlgoMonster plan here
Start Your Pattern-Based DSA Journey Today
Stop grinding random problems hoping to get lucky.
Start learning algorithmic patterns that apply to thousands of problems.
One pattern at a time. One template at a time. One successful interview at a time.
The difference between random preparation and systematic pattern learning is the difference between hoping for the best and confidently expecting success.
All the best for your interview.
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