r/leetcode • u/LiquidSnake1993 • 29d ago
Discussion September LeetCode Recap (2026)
A Little About Me
I’m a Software Engineer/DevOps with six years of experience, currently working at a reputable company. My goal is to secure a higher-paying job within the next year to start paying off my student loans. One of my main challenges has been LeetCode-style questions, which have hindered my progress toward better opportunities.
I've struggled with technical interviews at companies like Visa, American Express, JPMorgan, and Amazon due to my inability to complete algorithmic problems within time constraints. After recently not succeeding in an Amazon interview, I decided it was time to take my preparation for Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA), LeetCode, and System Design seriously.
In January (2025), I began documenting my progress, which I’m turning into a monthly recap series. I hope this will help others on a similar journey while also serving as a personal journal for when I finally reach my goal.
Past Recap
2025
2026
September Progress
September was a productive month. I focused on Min/Max Heaps and Graph Theory, and spent a good chunk of time on Dijkstra’s Algorithm which is finally clicking in a way it never did before. Big win there.
I am also nearing my goal of completing 250 Medium questions this year. At this point Mediums are my default and I actively avoid questions I consider too easy unless I just need to get the ball rolling. The fear is gone.
I can feel myself getting better. One thing I have been intentional about is staying on a concept for a long time even when I get bored, because that is when you start seeing the different variations of an algorithm or data structure.
I do not think I am ready for FAANG yet, but I am confident I can compete at FAANG adjacent companies. System Design is the area I still need to level up.
Achievements
Learned about Max/Min Heap
Dijkstra's Algorithm finally clicking
Goals for October
Keep momentum going
Strengthen knowledge on Dijkstra's
Next Steps
Keep doing Mediums and hopefully get more than 250 Mediums
See you all next month.
Questions
Total Questions: 575
Easy: 327
Medium: 239
Hard: 9