After countless applications, rejections, late nights, and moments of self-doubt, finally seeing the words “Selected” feels almost unreal. This journey has taught me that progress is often invisible until one day everything starts making sense.

Hi everyone, I'm Goutam Sharma, and I'm incredibly grateful to share a new milestone in my journey: I’ve been selected for an SDE Intern opportunity at GlitrAI.

The Journey

The journey wasn't easy.

There were many applications that didn't work out, resumes that were rejected, interviews that didn't go as expected, and moments when I genuinely questioned whether I was progressing in the right direction.

Instead of letting those setbacks stop me, I started focusing on improving one skill at a time.

I spent countless hours strengthening my DSA, Machine Learning fundamentals, software engineering skills, and project experience. I also worked on real-world AI/ML projects and research, which helped me become more comfortable solving unfamiliar problems and explaining my technical decisions.

One of the most interesting parts of the GlitrAI interview was that it wasn't centered around traditional DSA. The interview focused more on debugging TypeScript-based code, understanding software engineering concepts, and practical Machine Learning fundamentals.

The experience reminded me that preparation isn't only about solving hundreds of problems. It's also about being able to understand code, debug systematically, think logically, and explain why your solution works.

What Kept Me Going

• DSA & Problem Solving: Consistent practice helped me develop structured thinking and become more comfortable with unfamiliar problems.
• AI/ML Projects & Research: Working on real-world ML, OCR, Computer Vision, and multimodal AI projects helped me connect theoretical concepts with practical engineering.
• Learning from Rejections: Every rejection became feedback. Instead of treating it as the end, I used it to identify what I needed to improve.
• Consistency: Some days brought progress, while others brought nothing but setbacks. Continuing anyway made the biggest difference.

A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️

A huge thank you to my family, mentors, professors, friends, and everyone who supported me throughout this journey.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed my resume, shared opportunities, answered my questions, encouraged me after rejections, or simply reminded me to keep going.

And to everyone currently applying for internships and jobs: I know how difficult the process can feel.

My advice to you: Don't measure your journey by how many times you get rejected. Measure it by how much you improve between two attempts. Keep learning, keep building, keep applying, and give yourself enough time to grow.

This is not the destination. It's another beginning. 🚀

#Placement #Internship #SDE #SoftwareEngineering #MachineLearning #AI #CareerJourney #StudentDeveloper #GlitrAI #Learning #Consistency

Hi, I'm Shashank, a recent graduate from St. Martin's Engineering College, Hyderabad.

I joined TUF+ through the early bird offer while I was still in college, and it became an important part of my learning journey.

DSA Started Feeling Different

TUF+ helped me strengthen my DSA fundamentals, but the bigger change was in how I looked at DSA.

I stopped learning it just to crack interviews and started treating it as a problem solving skill. That shift helped me approach both coding problems and real development challenges with more confidence.

Daily Practice Became the Plan

My preparation was simple:

• Strengthened my basics.

• Solved problems every day.

• Made my own notes.

• Focused on understanding concepts.

• Avoided chasing shortcuts.

There was no complicated strategy, just consistent effort and patience.

DSA Became a Long Term Skill

My advice to juniors is not to treat DSA as something you learn only because placements require it.

Think of it as a lifelong skill that improves the way you think and solve problems.

• Learn → Practise → Understand → Apply

With consistent practice, problem solving gradually becomes part of the way you approach challenges.

The Opportunity Wasn't Handed to Me

My placement journey was completely self driven.

• Explored opportunities independently.

• Applied to startups on my own.

• Prepared independently for interviews.

• Cleared multiple interview rounds.

• Started as an intern and eventually transitioned to a full time role.

There was no direct involvement from my college in securing the opportunity. I found it, prepared for it, and earned it through the interview process.

The Path I Built Myself

The journey started with learning DSA in college and eventually led to something much bigger. I joined Aeza as an intern and today work there full time as a Founding Engineer.

The biggest lesson from the journey is simple: consistent learning can create opportunities, even when you have to find them yourself.

Hi, I'm Kirti Vardhan, currently working as an AI Engineer at Agilemania.

I discovered takeUforward through YouTube, much like many other learners. What started as a simple resource became an important part of my DSA preparation and gave me a strong foundation in problem solving.

Patterns Mattered More Than Problem Counts

I didn't make the number of problems solved my main goal.

Instead, I focused on:

• Recognising patterns.

• Understanding how patterns could be modified.

• Revising previously learned concepts regularly.

• Building strong fundamentals.

Basics Before Speed

My advice to juniors is to build strong foundations before chasing everything else.

Stay updated with new technologies and what's happening in the industry, but don't let that come at the cost of your fundamentals. A strong foundation gives you the confidence to tackle problems you haven't seen before.

The OAs Weren't Getting Easier

During my placement journey, company OAs were becoming increasingly difficult, especially with AI tools changing the way assessments are designed.

I didn't focus on finding shortcuts. My priority was understanding the concepts and being able to solve problems independently. That made it easier to handle questions even when they weren't exactly what I had practised.

The Next Question Could Be Anything

Interviews are a mix of skill and luck.

Sometimes you get questions you've prepared for. Other times, something completely unexpected can come your way. That's why preparation isn't only about knowing more questions. It's also about developing critical thinking and the ability to work through unfamiliar problems.

You can't predict every question, but you can prepare yourself to think when the question is unexpected.

Pattern Recognition Outlasted the Preparation

My journey taught me that solving more problems isn't always the goal.

• Strong fundamentals → Pattern recognition → Pattern modification → Regular revision → Critical thinking

These skills helped me navigate a challenging placement process and continue to help me today as an AI Engineer at Agilemania.

Hi, I'm Jiya Saraf, a Computer Science graduate specialising in AI & ML, currently working as a Salesforce Developer at MTX.

Problem solving has always been one of my strongest interests, but knowing what to study and where to begin wasn't always clear.

The Shift Was Structure

Before joining takeUforward's Pinnacle Program, my preparation often felt scattered.

The structured roadmap gave me:

• A clear order to follow.

• Quality lectures for difficult concepts.

• Curated problems for consistent practice.

• A system that made preparation easier to track.

For the first time, I knew what to study next instead of constantly deciding what to study.

Three Months, Fully Committed

For nearly three months, I prepared wholeheartedly.

Morning | 2 to 3 hours

• Learning concepts.

• Understanding new topics.

• Building fundamentals.

Evening | 3 to 4 hours

• Solving DSA problems.

• Revising previous topics.

• Analysing mistakes.

• Practising different problem patterns.

Along with DSA, I also prepared Aptitude, Operating Systems, and DBMS using TUF's resources.

Discipline Did What Motivation Couldn't

The biggest lesson from my preparation was simple:

Motivation can come and go. Consistency has to stay.

I didn't need to study for 12 hours every day.

What mattered was:

• Showing up every day.

• Following the roadmap.

• Revising regularly.

• Learning from mistakes.

• Staying patient with difficult topics.

Structured plan + Daily effort + Regular revision = Steady progress

The Tough Days Built Me

Not every problem was easy, and not every day felt productive. There were moments when certain topics felt challenging. 

But instead of giving up, I kept practising and followed the roadmap. Over time, the same topics started becoming easier, and that gradual improvement built my confidence for interviews.

The Role Demanded More

TUF didn't just help strengthen my DSA.

It also helped me prepare for:

• Aptitude

• Operating Systems

• DBMS

• Coding rounds

• Technical interviews

Having everything structured in one place made my overall placement preparation much more focused.

The Advice That Matters

Don't keep jumping between resources. Pick a structured path, give it enough time, and stay consistent. You don't need perfect preparation every day.

You just need to keep showing up and improving.

Preparation Became Progress

Looking back, the journey was built through persistence, daily practice, and continuous improvement. The result wasn't created in one day. It came from three months of showing up, following the plan, and trusting the process.

Today, I'm working as a Salesforce Developer at MTX, and I'm grateful that takeUforward was such an important part of that journey.

Hello everyone, I am Shreyas Deore, I came to the US in 2024 to pursue my master's degree, with very little understanding of how to prepare for FAANG level DSA interviews.

The job market was challenging, and I quickly realised that I needed a structured way to prepare.

The First Real Step Was TUF

Based on recommendations from my batchmates, I started following takeUforward's A2Z DSA Sheet.

It helped me:

• Build strong DSA fundamentals.

• Understand problem solving patterns.

• Develop confidence with unfamiliar problems.

• Follow a structured preparation path.

Once I had built my foundation, I moved to the SDE Sheet for focused revision and interview preparation.

Consistency Became Non Negotiable

The journey was rigorous, especially while navigating a tough job market.

Instead of constantly changing my strategy, I focused on:

• Regular DSA practice.

• Revising previously solved problems.

• Understanding concepts instead of memorising solutions.

• Recognising patterns across different problems.

• Following a structured approach.

• The goal wasn't to prepare overnight.

• It was to keep improving every day.

The Market Tested My Patience

There were moments when the process felt overwhelming. But consistency gave me something I could control.

Practice → Revision → Pattern Recognition → Confidence

With every iteration, problems that once felt unfamiliar became easier to approach.

The Takeaway From My Journey

Don't measure your preparation only by the number of problems solved.

Focus on:

• Concepts → Understand why the approach works.

• Patterns → Learn to recognise them in new problems.

• Consistency → Keep practising even when progress feels slow.

• Revision → Revisit problems until the approach becomes natural.

• Patience → Trust the process.

From US Student to Rakuten Engineer

The journey was challenging, but the structured preparation and consistent practice helped me stay on track.

Today, I'm working as an AI Engineer at Rakuten.

Master's in the US → DSA Fundamentals → Structured Revision → Interview Preparation → Rakuten

Hi, I'm Shanmukha Pranav Kuruvella, a 2027 graduate from a Tier 3 college in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

In July 2026, I secured a TCS Prime role through the on campus NQT exam.

The Habit Behind the Result

The biggest advantage takeUforward gave me was structure.

Instead of trying to solve everything at once, I focused on:

• Solving at least one problem properly every day.

• Understanding the complete approach.

• Recognising patterns that could be applied to other problems.

• Following one structured resource consistently.

I completed nearly 92% of Striver's A2Z DSA Course, which helped me understand the different patterns that can appear across data structures.

I Let Each Topic Take Its Time

My preparation happened in iterations.

First Pass:

• Understand the basics of each data structure and learn to identify the topic.

• Second Pass:

• Move towards medium and hard problems.

• Next:

• Explore different approaches and understand the variations within each topic.

• Practice:

• Solve similar problems independently and apply the patterns I had learned.

This helped me focus on understanding rather than simply completing the sheet.

Familiar Patterns Made the Difference

My TCS placement process had four rounds.

OA Round

The online assessment included:

• Aptitude

• DSA

The DSA section had a Greedy problem and a Tree problem, both of which were variations of patterns I had already practised through the sheet.

Interview Rounds

The OA was followed by three interview rounds:

• TR | MR | HR

• The Technical Round covered:

• Projects

• SQL queries

• Computer Science fundamentals

Alongside DSA, I also worked on projects and maintained my academics, achieving a 9.05 CGPA through the 6th semester.

DSA Was a Long Game

One thing I want juniors to know is that DSA doesn't become easy overnight.

For me, it took around a year of consistent effort to become comfortable with DSA while also working on projects and maintaining my CGPA.

My advice is simple:

• Stay consistent.

• Stick to one reliable resource.

• Give yourself enough time.

• Focus on understanding patterns.

• Don't get distracted by too many resources.

The Outcome Was Bigger

After a year of consistent preparation, I secured a TCS Prime role through campus placement in July 2026. The journey taught me that you don't need to master everything overnight.

You just need to keep learning, keep practising, and stay consistent long enough to see the difference.

Hi, I'm Sanketh Kumar, a Computer Science graduate passionate about Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI.

I enjoy solving coding problems and building practical ML applications. In 2024, my preparation helped me secure a Data Science role at Electronic Arts (EA) through campus placements.

I Knew Where to Put My Effort

takeUforward became one of the most important resources during my placement preparation.

Striver's A2Z DSA Course and problem sheets gave me a clear path to follow, while the teaching style made difficult concepts easier to understand.

It helped me:

• Build strong DSA fundamentals.

• Develop better problem solving skills.

• Stay consistent with practice.

• Prepare more confidently for coding interviews.

I Had More Ground to Cover

I knew a Data Science role required more than just coding.

My preparation included:

• Consistent DSA practice through TUF.

• Revision of core CS subjects.

• Strengthening Machine Learning fundamentals.

• Improving my Data Science concepts.

• Building meaningful projects.

• Preparing to explain my projects and experiences confidently.

I focused on becoming interview ready from multiple angles.

I Didn't Let Rejections Go to Waste

My journey included both on campus and off campus opportunities, along with a few rejections.

Instead of letting them discourage me, I used each experience to identify what I needed to improve. The goal wasn't to get everything right immediately.

It was to keep getting better with every attempt.

Less Noise, More Progress

My Advice would remain very simple:

• Don't keep switching between resources.

• Follow one strong roadmap.

• Practise consistently.

• Build quality projects.

• Learn from every interview.

• Don't let rejections stop you.

• Consistency matters more than constantly searching for something new.

The Work Finally Spoke for Itself

After staying consistent with DSA and continuing to strengthen my technical skills, the preparation finally translated into an opportunity.

In 2024, I secured a Data Science role at Electronic Arts (EA) through campus placements.

The Flow

DSA → Core CS → ML & Data Science → Projects → Consistency → Electronic Arts

Hi, I'm Hemant Malav, currently pursuing my M.Tech in Computer Engineering (2025–2027) at NIT Kurukshetra.

But my journey didn't start with strong programming skills. There was a time when I couldn't even write basic C programs.

I Wasn't Ready for the Road Ahead

During my first semester, I barely passed programming because of my theory marks.

At that point, I never imagined I'd eventually be preparing for and cracking interviews at a top product company. The turning point came when I started following Striver and the takeUforward DSA Sheet.

I Stopped Looking for the Next Shortcut

I've followed Striver for years, and the biggest change in my preparation was learning to trust one structured path.

Instead of:

• Jumping between different resources.

• Chasing random questions.

• Trying to solve hundreds of problems without understanding them.

I focused on:

• Completing the TUF Sheet topic by topic.

• Revising it multiple times.

• Understanding patterns.

• Learning the logic behind solutions.

• Staying consistent throughout the journey.

What I Practised Came Back to Me

During my internship placement, I had two technical rounds and one managerial round. And something surprised me.

Almost every DSA question I encountered was covered in the TUF Sheet. That wasn't just about having seen the questions before.

The repeated revision and focus on patterns helped me recognise the approaches when it mattered.

C Was the Struggle. AMD Was the Goal.

The biggest lesson from my journey is simple:

Your starting point doesn't have to define your destination.

I went from barely passing basic programming to cracking a product company interview for a Co op/Intern role at AMD. If I could make that jump, anyone can improve with the right approach.

Keep Working, Keep Growing

My advice to anyone preparing is:

• Stay consistent.

• Follow a structured path.

• Revise repeatedly.

• Focus on patterns instead of memorising.

• Don't keep switching resources.

• Trust the process.

You may not see the results immediately.

Keep going. The results will follow.

A Rough Start That Led to AMD

Struggling With C → TUF DSA Sheet → Consistent Revision → Product Company Interview → AMD Co op/Intern

Hi, I'm Mudit Vijay, a Java Backend Developer with 1.5 years of experience working with Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, SQL, and Microservices

Alongside my job, I continued preparing for product based company interviews because I wanted to challenge myself and become a better engineer.

I Found a System I Could Trust

takeUforward became a constant part of my preparation.

Whenever I got stuck on a DSA problem, I knew I could find an explanation that focused on why a solution works, not just what the solution was.

Even after exhausting workdays, Striver's explanations helped me sit down and try again.

Over time:

• Difficult topics started feeling more achievable.

• Consistency became a habit.

• My confidence in DSA grew.

• I became more comfortable with problem solving.

Depth Over Numbers

I didn't measure preparation by how many problems I could finish.

I focused on:

• Building strong DSA fundamentals.

• Revising previously solved problems.

• Analysing my mistakes.

• Understanding patterns instead of memorising solutions.

• Strengthening Java and Spring Boot.

• Revising DBMS, OS, Computer Networks, and backend development.

The biggest factor was simply staying consistent, even on busy workdays.

Preparation Had to Fit Around Work

My journey wasn't perfect.

There were:

• Moments of self doubt.

• Rejections.

• Difficult problems.

• Exhausting days after work.

• Times when balancing a job and preparation felt overwhelming.

But I kept showing up.

One more problem. One more concept. One more attempt.

Slowly, those small efforts started adding up.

Results Came With Time

Don't compare your progress with someone else's.

Placement preparation is a marathon, not a sprint.

• Be patient with difficult problems.

• Revise regularly.

• Don't get discouraged when something takes hours.

• Learn from every mistake.

• Keep showing up.

A problem that feels impossible today can become a pattern you recognise instantly tomorrow.

Growth Came With Every Challenge

Looking back, every late night and every failed attempt taught me something valuable. 

takeUforward wasn't just part of my interview preparation. It helped me become more confident with problem solving and pushed me to become a better software engineer.

Today, I'm working as a Software Engineer at Satvika Technologies.

The Effort Found Its Destination

Working Full Time → Consistent DSA → Strong Fundamentals → Persistence → Sarvika Technologies

Hi, I'm Manojkumar, a Computer Science graduate passionate about problem solving and backend development. I enjoy learning new technologies and continuously improving my skills.

The Missing Piece Was Structure

takeUforward gave me a structured roadmap that made my preparation more organised and consistent.

The curated problems helped me:

• Strengthen my DSA fundamentals.

• Follow a clear learning path.

• Practise consistently.

• Build confidence in problem solving.

I Focused Before Moving On

I kept my preparation simple and focused.

My approach was:

• Learn one topic at a time.

• Practise problems daily.

• Revise regularly.

• Analyse mistakes and learn from them.

• Keep improving gradually.

Rather than rushing through problems, I focused on understanding the concepts behind them.

I Found Lessons in What Went Wrong

My journey had its ups and downs. There were difficult problems, challenging interviews, and moments when progress felt slow. But after every interview, I tried to understand what went wrong and improve.

Every setback became another opportunity to learn.

I Trusted My Effort

Stay consistent.

• Don't let difficult problems discourage you.

• Don't let rejections define your journey.

• Focus on understanding concepts.

• Keep practising and revising.

• Give yourself time to improve.

You don't need to see immediate results. You just need to keep moving forward.

Everything Finally Came Together

Staying patient, learning from every experience, and trusting the process eventually helped me achieve my goal.

Today, I'm a Graduate Engineer at Tata Technologies.

Consistency Paid Off

Structured DSA → Daily Practice → Learning From Mistakes → Consistency → Tata Technologies

Hi, I'm Sayan Biswas, from a Tier 3 college, currently working as a Systems Engineer (Grade C1) at Tata Consultancy Services.

My placement journey wasn't about having the best starting point. It was about having the right preparation and staying consistent.

I Found My Way Through DSA

A major part of my preparation was guided by takeUforward.

I followed TUF almost every day for DSA, which helped me:

• Build strong core DSA fundamentals.

• Understand problem solving patterns.

• Practise consistently.

• Improve how I approached coding problems.

• Explain my solutions more confidently during interviews.

The Brute Force → Better → Optimal approach especially changed how I solved and presented problems.

I Stuck to What Worked

I didn't try to make preparation complicated.

My approach was:

• Practise DSA daily.

• Revise regularly.

• Understand concepts instead of memorising solutions.

• Stay consistent with the roadmap.

• Focus on explaining my thought process clearly.

Over time, this consistency made problem solving feel more natural.

Then the Rejections Started Turning Into Offers

During my placement journey, I cracked multiple job offers.

Coming from a Tier 3 college, having access to structured preparation and quality resources gave me the confidence to compete with students from different backgrounds.

Eventually, that preparation helped me secure my role at Tata Consultancy Services.

I Let My Progress Speak for Itself

My biggest advice to juniors is simple:

Trust the process. Stay disciplined. Don't compare your journey with someone else's. Every problem you solve makes you a better problem solver. Your college may influence where you start, but consistent preparation can change how far you go.

TCS Wasn't Limited by My College

• Tier 3 College → Consistent DSA Practice → Multiple Offers → TCS

I'm truly grateful to Striver and the entire TUF team for being such an important part of my placement journey.

Hi, I'm Naman Goyal, currently working as an SDE II at Amazon.

I come from a Tier 3 college, where campus offers rarely crossed 7 LPA. I started my career at TCS, working on routine development tasks, but I knew I wanted to push myself further.

I Knew Where I Was Falling Short

I started following takeUforward consistently, using Striver's content to build my DSA fundamentals from the ground up.

My preparation focused on:

• Building strong DSA fundamentals.

• Progressing from basic to advanced concepts.

• Practising problems consistently.

• Understanding optimal approaches.

• Preparing with the goal of targeting top tech opportunities.

The journey wasn't always easy. I had plenty of doubts about whether I was actually ready.

I Needed That One Person to Believe in Me

During a live stream, Striver reviewed my profile and told me:

"Naman, you will make it." That simple statement gave me a huge confidence boost.

For someone who was already questioning whether he could make it to a top tech company, hearing that from someone I trusted made a real difference.

Then Came Amazon

Fast forward to the interview, and I found myself interviewing for Amazon.

Even during the Bar Raiser round, I felt confident in my preparation. At one point, the interviewer asked a question I had already solved before. I was honest and disclosed it. Instead of stopping there, the interviewer switched to a challenging DP + Trees problem. And that's where the preparation mattered.

I was able to solve it using the optimal approach.

The Confidence Came From Preparation

Looking back, the biggest change wasn't just learning more problems.

It was knowing that I had prepared enough to handle something unfamiliar.

• Strong fundamentals gave me confidence.

• Consistent practice improved my problem solving.

• Understanding approaches helped me tackle new problems.

• The right guidance kept me moving forward.

From Tier 3 College to Amazon

Tier 3 College → TCS → Consistent DSA Preparation → Amazon → SDE II

A huge thank you to Raj Bhaiya(Striver) for being such an incredible mentor and for believing in me when I wasn't completely sure of myself.

Sometimes, one person's belief can give you the confidence to keep going.

Hi, I’m Rahul Malhotra, an MCA graduate from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), GGSIPU, currently working as an Application Support Engineer.

Coming from a typical Tier 3 college, I knew opportunities for high paying product based roles were limited. I wasn't an exceptional student either.

I was just an average student who decided to keep improving every day.

I Turned Scattered Effort Into a Routine

I started using takeUforward early in my preparation and was one of the early learners to purchase the TUF+ Pinnacle plan when it launched.

It became an important part of my interview preparation.

I consistently:

• Followed the DSA roadmap.

• Solved DSA problems regularly.

• Revised OOP, DBMS, and OS.

• Focused on understanding concepts instead of memorising solutions.

• Used mistakes as opportunities to improve.

The structured roadmap helped me stay disciplined and prepare with confidence.

I Didn't Try to Do Everything

My strategy wasn't complicated. Stay consistent.

Every day, I focused on improving something:

• Practised DSA.

• Revised CS fundamentals.

• Analysed mistakes.

• Revisited difficult concepts.

• Kept moving forward even when I got stuck.

I didn't try to become perfect overnight. I just kept getting better.

My College Didn't Have the Final Say

I didn't start my career as a Software Development Engineer, but my preparation eventually helped me secure 11.33 LPA, one of the highest packages offered at my college.

Compared with opportunities available at top tier colleges, that number may not seem extraordinary.

But for me, it represented something much bigger. It proved that your college doesn't have to define your future. Your starting point can influence your opportunities, but it doesn't have to determine where you end up.

I Refused to Stay Limited

My biggest advice to juniors is simple:

• Don't let your college define your potential.

• Build strong fundamentals.

• Stay consistent.

• Learn from your mistakes.

• Don't compare your beginning with someone else's journey.

• Trust the process.

• Your first job is only the beginning.

Every day you invest in learning can take you one step closer to where you want to be.

The Result I Didn't Expect

Tier 3 College → Consistent DSA & CS Preparation → TUF+ → 11.33 LPA → Career Growth

Hi, I’m Jeet Sarkar, a Computer Science undergraduate at New Horizon College of Engineering, Bengaluru, passionate about problem solving, AI systems, and building products with real world impact.

Currently, I’m working as a Core AI Engineer Intern at Valantech Solutions, building AI powered solutions for Suljhaoo, a Retail OS for Indian MSMEs.

I Found the Missing Piece Early

I started following Striver Bhaiya in my second semester and became one of the early TUF+ subscribers after its launch.

Over time, takeUforward became an important part of my preparation:

• Followed Striver’s structured DSA sheets.

• Built consistency through regular practice.

• Strengthened my problem solving fundamentals.

• Prepared with more confidence for interviews.

I’ve seen takeUforward grow from a DSA learning resource into a complete placement preparation ecosystem.

I Didn't Put All My Focus on DSA

My preparation went beyond problem solving.

• Practised DSA consistently.

• Strengthened fundamentals through TUF+.

• Explored web development.

• Participated in hackathons.

• Learned AI through courses and practical projects.

• Applied what I learned by building my own projects.

I focused on building both problem solving ability and practical skills.

I Didn't Wait for an Opportunity to Find Me

My placement journey came with several rejections.

Then I came across Valantech Solutions and noticed security and architecture issues in their AI chatbot, including exposed API keys and inefficient token usage.

Instead of simply pointing them out, I:

• Identified the underlying issues.

• Proposed a scalable AI architecture.

• Focused on improving security, cost, and performance.

• Took the initiative to present my approach.

That initiative impressed the team and eventually led to an internship opportunity.

DSA Gave Me a Mindset, Not Just Skills

My biggest advice to juniors is simple:

Master problem solving first. AI tools can help you generate code, but your ability to think, design systems, understand problems, and create unique solutions is what makes you valuable.

Keep learning, keep building, and don't depend blindly on tools.

I'm Just Getting Started

Today, I’m working as a Core AI Engineer, building AI models and agentic systems for Suljhaoo and helping small businesses become more efficient through AI.

takeUforward has been a major part of this journey. It taught me not just DSA, but the confidence to keep learning, keep building, and keep trying. One day, I hope to create the same kind of impact that Striver Bhaiya has created for millions of students.

When DSA Met AI

• TUF+ → DSA & Problem Solving → Building Projects → Valantech Solutions → Core AI Engineer

Hi, I'm Prashant, a Computer Science graduate with a strong interest in problem solving and backend development.

My career journey has taken me through Amdocs, Altimetrik, GlobalLogic, Hitachi, and now Yahoo, where I have around 6 years of experience.

I Was Tired of Starting Over

A big part of my preparation was guided by takeUforward.

The structured roadmap and DSA Sheet helped me avoid constantly wondering, "What should I study next?"

Instead, I focused on:

• Mastering one topic at a time.

• Solving problems consistently.

• Revising regularly.

• Participating in coding contests.

• Practising mock interviews.

• Improving both speed and confidence.

Having a clear structure helped me spend less time searching for resources and more time actually learning.

Things Didn't Always Go My Way

My placement journey wasn't a straight path.

There were plenty of moments when I:

• Got stuck on difficult DSA problems.

• Made mistakes during contests.

• Faced rejections.

• Questioned whether my preparation was enough.

• But one thing never changed.

• I kept showing up.

Over time, those small efforts started building something bigger, not just stronger coding skills, but also discipline and confidence.

I Came for Coding, Learned Much More

Looking back, my journey taught me that preparation isn't only about solving more problems.

It taught me:

• Discipline to keep working consistently.

• Patience when progress felt slow.

• Resilience after setbacks.

• Confidence to keep trying unfamiliar problems.

These lessons have stayed with me throughout my career.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

If I could give one piece of advice to juniors, it would be this:

Don't compare your Chapter 1 with someone else's Chapter 20. Stay consistent, understand the logic behind every problem instead of memorising solutions, and trust the process. There will be days when progress feels invisible.

Keep going anyway. Small daily efforts eventually add up.

Six Years, Many Chapters

My journey has taken me through

• Amdocs → Altimetrik → GlobalLogic → Hitachi → Yahoo. Each chapter taught me something different, and the journey is still continuing.

I'm grateful to takeUforward for being a reliable companion throughout my preparation, and I'm excited for what comes next.

Hi, I'm Viraj Nalbalwar, a final year B.Tech Computer Engineering student at COEP Technological University.

I Thought More Questions Would Make Me Better

My placement journey was built on consistency rather than speed.

The TUF+ DSA Sheet gave me the structure I needed. Instead of randomly solving problems, I followed the roadmap topic by topic and focused on understanding the intuition behind each solution.

My approach was simple:

• Follow the roadmap consistently.

• Understand the intuition behind every problem.

• Revise previously solved questions regularly.

• Focus on understanding rather than simply completing the sheet.

I Knew DSA Alone Wouldn't Be Enough

Alongside DSA, I also focused on building practical experience through:

• Projects

• Internships

• Real world development work

Problem solving practice

This combination helped me strengthen both my technical fundamentals and practical skills.

Slowly, The Results Started Coming

The consistent effort eventually helped me secure a Software Engineering Internship at Mastercard, which later converted into a Pre Placement Offer.

Looking back, I believe the combination of structured preparation and practical experience made the biggest difference.

I Slowed Down, and My Preparation Got Better

My biggest takeaway is simple:

• Don't rush to finish. Focus on understanding.

• Follow one structured roadmap.

• Understand the reasoning behind solutions.

• Revise regularly.

• Build projects alongside DSA.

• Stay consistent even when progress feels slow.

Over time, the small efforts start adding up.

The Work Behind Mastercard

• TUF+ DSA Sheet → Consistent Practice → Projects & Internships → Mastercard Internship → Pre Placement Offer

A big thank you to Striver and the entire TUF team for creating a structured platform that made my preparation much more organised and focused.

Hi, I'm Abhishek Verma, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science & Engineering from Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun.

I'm interested in DSA, Full Stack Development, and Machine Learning, and work with languages including C++, Java, Python, and SQL.

I've also worked on projects across full stack development and machine learning, including a property listing application, Parkinson's Disease Detection, Handwritten Digit Recognition, and an AI powered interview preparation platform.

I Found a Better Way to Learn DSA

takeUforward played a major role in strengthening my DSA preparation. The structured problem lists, topic wise questions, and company specific sheets helped me practise systematically instead of solving problems randomly.

Regular practice improved my problem solving approach and gave me more confidence during coding rounds and technical interviews.

I Kept the Effort Steady

My preparation was simple:

• Solved 2 to 3 DSA problems every day.

• Revised previously solved problems every week.

• Used a timer during revision to improve speed and accuracy.

• Prepared OS, DBMS, and Computer Networks on weekends.

• Continued working on development projects alongside DSA.

This helped me maintain a balance between problem solving, core CS fundamentals, and practical development.

Every No Made Me Better

My placement journey came with plenty of challenges.

I appeared for multiple on campus and off campus interviews and faced several rejections. Instead of giving up, I treated every rejection as feedback. I looked at where I was falling short, worked on those areas, and kept preparing.

Each interview taught me something new.

The Results Started Coming

Eventually, my consistent preparation helped me secure on campus offers from Infosys and Cognizant.

They may not have been my dream companies, but I see them as strong opportunities to begin my career, learn from experienced professionals, and continue working towards my long term goals.

I Didn't Rush the Process

My biggest advice to juniors is simple:

Stay consistent. Solve problems regularly, revise what you've already learned, build meaningful projects, and don't let rejections discourage you. You won't see the difference immediately, but consistent effort compounds over time.

• Learn → Practise → Revise → Improve

Trust the process and keep moving forward.

From No's to My First Yes

• DSA Practice → Core CS → Projects → Interviews → Infosys & Cognizant

Hi, I'm Md Akram Khan, currently working as a Software Engineer at iCIMS, with 4+ years of experience in Full Stack Development.

I started my career at HighRadius, where I worked extensively with React.js and built enterprise applications. Later, I moved to iCIMS, where I work with React, Java, Spring Boot, and performance optimization.

I Stopped Solving Without a Plan

takeUforward played an important role in my interview preparation.

The structured DSA roadmap and pattern based approach helped me strengthen my problem solving skills and stay consistent.

Instead of jumping between random questions, I followed a clear roadmap, revised regularly, and focused on understanding the concepts behind each problem.

I Didn't Break the Routine

My preparation strategy was simple: stay consistent.

• Practised DSA regularly.

• Focused on understanding problem solving patterns.

• Revised important concepts frequently.

• Continued improving my development skills through real world projects.

• Revised core CS fundamentals before interviews.

• Prepared to confidently explain every project and experience on my resume.

I didn't treat interview preparation as something separate from my career. I kept learning alongside my full time work.

No Interview Was Wasted

The journey wasn't always easy. There were interviews that didn't work out, but I learned something from each one. Instead of letting rejections slow me down, I used them to identify where I needed to improve.

My biggest takeaway is that consistency matters more than intensity.

I Kept Moving Forward While Working

I started my career at HighRadius, where I built a strong foundation as a software engineer. While working full time, I continued preparing for interviews using takeUforward. The consistent effort eventually helped me secure a Software Engineer role at iCIMS.

The transition wasn't instant, but staying disciplined and continuously improving made the difference.

Rejections Didn't Define Me

My advice to anyone preparing for placements or a job switch is simple:

Stay consistent. Understand patterns instead of memorising solutions. Build strong projects. Keep improving. And don't get discouraged by rejections.

Every interview gives you an opportunity to learn something new.

From Building Experience to iCIMS

• HighRadius → Full Stack Development → DSA & Interview Preparation → Consistent Learning → iCIMS

Thank you to takeUforward for creating a platform that has helped so many developers build confidence and move forward in their careers.

Hi, I'm Rohan, currently working as a Data Scientist at Impact Analytics, Bengaluru.

I started learning DSA during my second year of college. Initially I watched a few YouTube videos.

But it quickly became confusing. There were so many problems, and I didn't have a clear idea of what to learn, what to practise, or what to do next.

That's When I Started Improving

One of my college seniors introduced me to Striver's Sheet. I first explored the sheet and then started following the videos alongside it.

The structured learning pattern made a noticeable difference. Topics started connecting with each other, and problems that initially felt difficult gradually became easier to approach.

I also used takeUforward for parts of my DBMS preparation.

I Stopped Rushing the Process

DSA is an exhaustive process.

Whenever you encounter a new problem, you have to spend time brainstorming and figuring out the approach. In the beginning, that process can feel frustrating. But the more problems you work through, the more naturally you start recognising patterns and approaching new questions.

• Learn → Think → Get Stuck → Take a Hint → Solve → Move On

You don't have to solve everything completely on your own.

If you're stuck, take a hint, understand the approach, solve the problem, and keep moving. With enough practice, the thinking process itself starts becoming easier.

What Felt Hard Became Familiar

My biggest takeaway from the journey is that structure makes a huge difference.

Starting with random problems can make DSA feel overwhelming. Having a clear roadmap gives you the direction to keep learning and improving.

The beginning may feel difficult, but stay consistent and keep dealing with new problems. The more you practise thinking, the easier problem solving becomes.

From Small Steps To A Bigger Picture

• Coding → Striver's Sheet → Structured DSA Practice → DBMS → Data Scientist at Impact Analytics

Hi, I'm Rupam Pal, a 2023 graduate, currently working as a Software Development Engineer 2 at Euromonitor International.

I started my journey there as an intern, received a PPO, and later joined as a full time SDE 1. Looking back, one of the biggest reasons I reached here was my DSA journey with Striver. His content completely changed how I approached problem solving and interview preparation.

I Found DSA When I Needed It Most

Around 2021, I realised my college didn't have campus placements. Then COVID happened, and like many others, I wasn't exactly focused on studying.

Things changed during my 3rd year when I discovered DSA and understood how important it was for software placements. While searching for resources, I came across Striver's content and started following his DSA playlists topic by topic.

That was the beginning of my journey.

The Goal Wasn't Just to Solve

What made Striver's teaching different was the way every problem was approached through Brute Force, Better, and Optimal solutions.

It wasn't just about finding an answer. It taught me how to think about a problem and improve my approach.  For nearly a year, I consistently worked through DSA, covering Trees, Graphs, Dynamic Programming, Tries, and other major topics.

The playlists became my roadmap, so I never had to wonder what to study next.

I Kept Going, Day After Day

My preparation was simple:

• Watched 3 to 4 Striver videos every day, topic by topic.

• Understood the concept before attempting problems.

• Practised problems after every lecture.

• Maintained handwritten notes and solution notebooks.

• Spent around 2 hours every morning revising what I had previously studied.

• Participated in competitive programming to improve problem solving speed.

• Focused on mastering one topic before moving to the next.

I never tried to rush through the roadmap.

• Understand → Practise → Revise → Repeat

That consistency over one year made the biggest difference.

College Ended Without an Offer

My placement journey wasn't easy.

By the end of my 4th year, none of my classmates had received a job offer either. After graduation, while everyone went back home, I decided to stay in Bangalore and continue pursuing my goal. I reached out to recruiters, applied wherever I could, and attended multiple interviews. After clearing four interview rounds, I finally received an Internship + PPO offer from Euromonitor International.

After completing three months as an intern, I received my full time offer as an SDE 1.

What I Gained Went Beyond DSA

Looking back, I genuinely believe Striver played a major role in my journey.

The playlists helped me build my DSA foundation, complete the #100DaysOfCode challenge, and even gave me the opportunity to meet Arsh Goyal, which remains a memorable part of my journey.

Today, after around 2.5 years in the industry, I'm preparing for another exciting chapter in my career.

DSA Stopped Feeling Scary

Trust the process and keep grinding. Don't let DSA intimidate you in the beginning. Focus on building strong fundamentals instead of immediately chasing difficult problems.

Follow one roadmap, understand each topic properly, revise regularly, and solve problems consistently. Most importantly, don't compare your journey with someone else's.

Fall in love with solving problems. The offers will eventually follow.

From No Offer to SDE 2

• No Campus Placements → DSA With Striver → Consistent Practice → Euromonitor Internship → PPO → SDE 1 → SDE 2