I have got a lot of these so I will start with my favorite one. Usually all the failure stories end with a success story; mine is yet to be written. Or maybe, I am writing one along the way and not realizing it.

Anyway, getting to the point, I was heartbroken after my HR informed me that I was rejected after a coding interview because I typed "===" instead of a "==" while initializing a value.

Or maybe that is what I wanted myself to think. My program was really modular so when the interviewer said I think you've made a mistake; my focus was on the actual logic - the functions which actually got the work done and not the part where I initialized the variables. The HR was very transparent which was really helpful. But, now when I think about it, I did manage to solve the problem. I did manage to cover all corner cases. My code successfully passed all 29/29 cases. I was even vocal, but my approach and I didn't start coding till the interviewer and I had agreed that my approach was a solid one. Why was I rejected? I mean it clearly was due to sticky fingers. Who doesn't get nervous during a technical interview?

After contemplating, I realized I developed the logic of my approach on pen and paper before starting to code. This was a telephonic interview, there was no way the interviewer could see what I wrote even if I articulated it correctly and we discussed the pros and cons of the approach. I also must have made some other mistakes and not even realized it! Thinking from the point of view of a manager, if I am hiring someone for my team, I would expect them to be squeaky clean. If that is the standard that I set for myself, that is what I'd expect from the team and the quality of service we deliver.

I think its very easy to point fingers and blame someone or something for your mistakes. The day you overcome this attitude, you'll actually start to grow, and you'll realize there is so much to improve and learn.

This interview experience has really made my admiration for the company and the team, along with my love for problem solving and engineering grow exponentially by O(nⁿ) to be precise ;)

I saw The Social Network and that movie does something to you. I feel it brings out the inventor in you (or atleast you feel invincible to invent something). I realised that despite the fact that there is a pandemic out there, there are people being laid off, there are no more openings in the companies, I have to keep on going. Being on time, honest, and hardworking doesn't cost a penny but the payoff is a treasure chest.

I began today by working on this website. Adding a personal section to it. I realise a lot of people have the same skillset that I do, they can code in the same technologies as I can but what separates me from them is my story, what I bring to the table apart from the geeky stuff. I decided to channel that positivity on this website.

With almost everything being shut down, I realise this is what every student or working professional ever wanted, rather craved for: TIME. We have always complained not having enough time to do something. Well guess what? Now we do. The question is what are we gonna do about it? Today I learnt Tensorflow. The conepts are so intriguing and fascinating, I kept on studying them for hours till my Mac finally gave up, Recharge me, I am going to die.

I hope I am able to write blog more frequently and get better at them.