Facing a DSA challenge and don't know how to navigate the path forward to solve the problem❓ 

Don't know where to start OR overcome the hurdles to arrive at an optimal solution ❓ 

Here are my tried-and-true strategies 👇

 1️⃣ 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: Break down the problem into smaller components. Ensure you are able to understand the requirements, constraints, and expected output. A clear understanding is the foundation for effective problem-solving.

2️⃣ 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: Create examples to understand the problem better. This helps you see patterns and may trigger insights into potential algorithms or data structures to use.

3️⃣ 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬: Relate the current problem to ones you've solved before or encountered in your studies. Recognizing similarities can guide you toward proven solutions.

4️⃣ 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: Based on the problem requirements, think about which data structures could efficiently address the problem. This decision significantly impacts the efficiency of your solution.

5️⃣ 𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝: Have a mental toolkit of common algorithms. When analyzing a problem, consider which algorithmic approach might be suitable. This could be sorting, searching, dynamic programming, etc.

6️⃣ 𝐏𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞: Before diving into coding, write a high-level pseudocode. This helps structure your thoughts and provides a roadmap for implementing the solution.

7️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Regular practice is crucial. However, Don't focus on quantity. Focus more on solving a variety of problems to expose yourself to different scenarios. The more you practice with this strategy, the more naturally DSA solutions will come to mind.

8️⃣ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬: Engage in discussions with peers or online communities. Explaining your thought process or hearing different perspectives can broaden your understanding and improve your problem-solving skills.Developing this skill is a gradual process. Patience and consistent effort are key. 🚀 

#dsachallenge #dsa #dsacoding #problemsolvingskills #problemsolving #codingjourney #interviewpreparation&nbsp;

Tried and true step by step strategies to overcome hurdles when solving any DSA challenge

Step by Step Guide to Overcome hurdles when solving any DSA challenge

Senior Member of Technical Staff

Software Engineer 2

Software Engineer

Software Developer

What leads to lack of motivation is a sense/fear of failure. I will use stories in my sessions that helps them find their similar issues within the story and then they can find motivation and see what's important. My objective is to make them see 'failure' as 'a part of learning'. And 'not trying' as 'a path of no opportunities'. If you fail in something, you always Learn something. I will encourage persistence and highlight benefits of their work to boost their confidence.

I will set clear expectations, do regular check-ins, encourage self-reflection, offer constructive feedback and encourage ownership.

Building trust with the mentee is important as they tend to share important stuffs that are happening within and I can work around those better by listening actively. I will create safe place, encourage self care, provide resources, and be available.

I will divide bigger goals into smaller doable tasks and make sure to put it into mentee's calendar, so that they can do it with ease while working on their full time role. I will help them prioritise their tasks efficiently and avoid multi-tasking to effectively manage their time.

I will first help them establish clarity on their goals so they know exactly why and what they are working towards. Then, I will encourage them to set realistic and achievable goals within their certain timelines. Then I will help them divide their goal term goals into short term tasks which they need to complete within some timeline so they can utilise their time efficiently without burning out.

I will identify their strengths and encourage them to work more on their strengths. I will establish long term goals that aligns with their personal goals and happiness, which I will then divide into short term tasks and set it up in their calendar. The short term tasks will help them achieve everything smaller everyday. The tasks will be provided with exact details like what they are going to be working on. The roadmap will be provided on weekly/monthly basis.

I will share all important resources in order. For example, for DSA preparation, I will share the basic DS theory and practice questions categorized by different patterns to learn and ordered by level of difficulty. Then will share advanced DS theory and exercises in similar fashion. The resources are provided such that the mentee doesnt have to waste time and jump outside of those resources and the only content that i provide will be sufficient for them.

Weekly catchups on what smaller tasks were achieved and what was not achieved. Discuss improvements and adjust any backlogs from previous week to current week. If no or less backlogs, will provide new roadmap for the week.

1 hour mock interview will be provided based (as per mentees preference) on the topics that mentees have prepared. Majority Topics covered would be DSA, System design, OOP, CS fundamentals and behavioral rounds.

I will help them understand the STAR method to structure the answers perfectly.

Confidence is the key. I can help in building confidence when it comes to communicating effectively, irrespective of language barrier.

I will help mentees develop different methods of communication – written or verbal and encounter-based scenarios that require effective communication. Examples could include expressing good or bad news clearly and accurately, dealing with confrontation, or presenting to colleagues/team members.

I will help you in avoiding application mistakes and make sure the application method is effective to get a call.

I can personally provide provide strong referrals within my org as well as my network.

Sakshi Harjani

I can help you understand the resume writing skills and how to make it stand out among pool of candidates.

I can recommend good projects based on your tech stack and provide resources for the same



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