made_to_comment's blog

By made_to_comment, history, 4 years ago, In English

Hello cf community !

I started doing competitive programming because it was necessary for me for survival , I didn't had any other skills. I wanted this skill so that I can earn money after mastering this skill.

But after some months I am feeling like I am under pressure due to many personal reasons. Pressure to make as skill as good as possible. But I think that taking pressure and doing this effect performance. And I am worried that is it the right mindset to succeed ?

Please anyone in this cf community can tell his story if also had pressure and now he is doing well ? I want to listen to those stories as I think that will help me a lot to know many people are handling these types or pressures.

Sorry for my bad English this was my first blog :)\

  • Vote: I like it
  • -30
  • Vote: I do not like it

| Write comment?
»
4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -18 Vote: I do not like it

Does competitive programming get you placed?

  • »
    »
    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +48 Vote: I do not like it

    Yes

    • »
      »
      »
      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -29 Vote: I do not like it

      Consider an orange coder with only a basic knowledge of web development (no any attractive projects) and zero knowledge of data sciences. Would he get placed?

      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +50 Vote: I do not like it

        Yes absolutely !

        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          4 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

          Can a green coder like me get placed :(

          • »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            4 years ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it -15 Vote: I do not like it

            Yes sure :)

            Even I am placed in a pdt based company (startup) which pays way more than any MNC (FAANG) to a fresher.

            CP is not needed for placements :p

            • »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              4 years ago, # ^ |
                Vote: I like it +7 Vote: I do not like it

              Thanks bro this brings a new ray of hope for me. Although i dont worry much about placements, just becoming expert is my target now. Hopefully I become one.

      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

        I don't know much about other countries, but right here in India it happens like that, they just need coders, later they can train according to them !

      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 years ago, # ^ |
        Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

        I know some people , who got placed in Google just based on their C.P. performance in Machine Learning field . They just know what is ML (probably just intro ) and without any project too. They are usually taken into research field , which pays way more.

        Learning ML, Web Dev ,is probably for weak coders like me who usually get paid less just to work like copy paste machines .

        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          4 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it -7 Vote: I do not like it

          Then I think that "some people" you know must be the most lucky ones on this planet bro !

          • »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            4 years ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

            Bro, one of them is my friend , he is a Orange coder .He achieved orange in just 13 months .

        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          4 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

          I really doubt that serious research in ML is easier.

»
4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

Having pressure while giving contests is normal. Give a lot of contests then you somewhat get used to the pressure. This "somewhat getting used to the pressure" helps when you attempt company questions. Most company ask easy questions in comparison (=div2 a,b). Sometimes C and if you are very unlucky then probably you'll be asked a question which has a difficulty similar to D(Google, directi). Also you need to somewhat start appreciating the solutions to solve some of the problems. Some of the solutions are mind blowing. This appreciation should give you more motivation then everything else should become easy.
Also to address this point of yours — " I wanted this skill so that I can earn money after mastering this skill". Focus on adhoc, graphs, combinatorics and dp and you should be good. Most companies do not ask any geometry problems so you can skip this topic completely.

Try to mimic a red coder's practise strategy if you are lost. JohStraat reached red(old red = 2200 rating) in one year, but as far as I remember he had a strong math background. But if you just solve problems which he has solved(properly, give a fight of atleast a couple of hours for each problem) you should atleast reach high blue which is enough to land a job in a good company. The initial grind is hard but it should become easier.

Also one more thing, don't loiter around looking for how to become better. To become good at anything you need to practise. Do a lot of problems give a couple of virtual contests in a week and you should be fine. Most people who are regular competitive programmers do not need to do company specific problems. You may probably want to know how to code a pointer(binary tree, Linked list) or something like that but apart from that nothing else is required from ds/algo perspective.

If you are still searching for motivation after giving a solid attempt then you should probably search for something else to do. I know a lot of people who did not do competitive programming and are still well placed. Also eat well and keep exercising to keep your spirits and mood high. This helps alot.

  • »
    »
    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

    I was carried away brother but after going though your message, I am back now. Thanks for you response bro,it matters a lot :) You have cleared all my doubts !

»
4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -8 Vote: I do not like it

If someone doing CP just to get a job, then chances of the becoming great at it is very slim. If you want to get great in CP, then do it for the fun of it, after all it's like any other sport. If you're forcing yourself into this, and if you're taking unnecessary pressure, then it won't get you far.

»
4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

just give more press to pressure it will fuck u up