> Does someone with my experience really have to grind leetcode and memorize algorithms to prove his capability? If you're going into a coding job, expect that

> Does someone with my experience really have to grind leetcode and memorize algorithms to prove his capability? If you're going into a coding job, expect that people will test your ability to do code (relevant to the job, or leetcode/algos if a generalized thing). Also self taught, and also laid off - I had to take short term disability initially and then took a layoff for severance, and now I'm on my 401k to survive. My situation is that I've had to deal with a lot of skill regression and memory loss, so its been a really difficult grind to get back to where I was. Honest advice - if you want a code job, and CAN do it, just grind the leetcode - 10 hours a week for like 6 weeks should be sufficient to cover most cases. You can get in at even really big companies if you're good at it. Advice for applying places in 2024 with a multi-yeargap (from someone who's seen what doesn't work, not someone who's made it work): * Tailor EVERY resume, probably way more than you're doing right now. Fitting directly into the job description matters way more than general skill and will get you through to the next interview level. * Quality over quantity * Then quantity, you'll probably have to apply 200 places with the above to get 5-10 interviews. It sucks. 2 flags generally means you're out - no college is usually fine, but gap + no college means only some folks who are looking for diamonds in the rough will look at you. Bonus things I've been told that help: * Make up a consultancy, remove the gap. Talk about stuff you've built * Built a folio website, github, or some other things to show that you're sharp and can build things right now. Doesn't have to be relevent, just recent.