I've been working as a DevOps engineer for about 5 years now, and I feel like I'm actually worse at live coding than I was when I first started out. Is this something that others experience too? When I interview, I mention that I'm not fond of coding all day, but they still make me go through live coding tests where I'm expected to be proficient without any references. It's making me think I need to grind through coding problems just to find a new job. Am I alone in feeling this way?
4 Answers
You're not alone in this. Live coding tests can really feel like a joke. Honestly, I'm just not built for them. My approach during interviews is to break down the problem verbally and explain my thought process rather than desperately trying to write perfect code in a limited time. It helps ease the pressure, and many interviewers recognize that you're not going to be coding all day as a DevOps engineer.
Exactly! Just need to demonstrate understanding.
Interviewers typically just need a quick way to assess skills, and the LeetCode-style questions became the go-to method. They can’t dive deep into every candidate's background, so they rely on these tests to filter out those who may not really know what they're talking about. Unfortunately, this sometimes means missing out on genuinely good candidates. It’s frustrating, especially since the competitive field seems to reward those who can ace these questions rather than those who fit the job role better.
Feeling out of sync with coding after years of doing more infrastructure work is completely normal. When you first start coding, you're grinding through algorithms and data structures all the time, so those muscles are warm. After years of working with Terraform or Kubernetes, you're solving different kinds of problems, and it makes sense that you won't be as sharp with live coding. It's more about recent practice than actual coding skill related to your job.
It's totally normal to feel like you're struggling with live coding. I've got 30 years of experience under my belt, and I still find live coding challenging. I prefer to stay away from those LeetCode-style problems, too! It really doesn't reflect your skills in a real-world setting.
I get that! It seems like those of us newer in the field don't have the luxury to refuse coding tests like that. But it’s good to know someone with experience feels the same way!
Thank you! It's nice to share this struggle.
That's a great strategy! I think talking through your logic shows your understanding more than just writing code.