Almost Zero Campus Placements to Amazon SDE-1

Hi, I’m Mohd Aasim Qureshi, a Computer Science and Engineering graduate with around 2 years of experience in software engineering. I’m currently working as an SDE-1 at Amazon. Before joining Amazon, I worked as an SDE-1 at two startups.

I graduated from a Tier-3 college where placement opportunities were almost nonexistent. My journey taught me that your college background doesn't have to define your career. With the right preparation, consistency, and willingness to learn, you can keep moving towards your goals.

Building My DSA Foundation with Striver's Sheets

During my interview preparation, I primarily focused on the Striver SDE Sheet. The structured roadmap helped me build a strong foundation in Data Structures and Algorithms instead of jumping between random problems.

I also regularly watched Striver's YouTube videos to understand different approaches, learn how to optimize solutions, and strengthen my problem-solving concepts. TakeUForward (TUF) had been a valuable learning resource since my college days, helping me with DSA, competitive programming, and interview preparation.

My Secret to Effective Revision

I solved every problem from the Striver SDE Sheet. But solving problems wasn't the only part of my preparation. I also maintained a personal revision document where I recorded the code and key ideas behind different approaches.

This document became my go-to resource for revision. It helped me recall important patterns quickly, reinforce concepts, and stay prepared for interviews without having to start from scratch every time.

What I Learned Along the Way

My biggest learning was that understanding patterns matters more than memorizing solutions. Instead of solving hundreds of random questions, it's better to follow a structured roadmap and understand why a particular approach works.

Whenever I got stuck, I referred to Striver's YouTube videos to explore different approaches and clear my concepts. I also made revision a regular part of my preparation rather than leaving everything until the last moment.

My Advice to Aspiring Engineers

Stay consistent and trust the process. You don't need to compare your progress with someone else's or rush through your preparation.

• Follow a structured roadmap, Striver SDE Sheet.

• Focus on understanding problem-solving patterns instead of memorizing code.

• Maintain your own revision notes and revisit them regularly.

• Learn from every interview experience and identify areas where you can improve.

• Be patient with yourself. Placement preparation is a marathon, not a sprint.

From Setbacks to Amazon

My journey was built on consistency, discipline, and continuous learning. There were challenges along the way, but staying persistent and trusting the process helped me grow as a software engineer.

Today, I'm working as an SDE-1 at Amazon, and I'm grateful for every setback and learning experience that helped shape this achievement.

If you're preparing for placements from a college with limited opportunities, keep working on your skills and give yourself time to improve. Your starting point matters less than the effort you put in consistently.