The Perpetually Prepared Programmer
8 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Get the research-backed framework to permanently master programming interviews with 95% less effort.
The Perpetually Prepared Programmer
8 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Get the research-backed framework to permanently master programming interviews with 95% less effort.
Course overview
Overwhelmed by Software Engineering Interviews?
Most engineers wait until they are unhappy at their current job before preparing for interviews. But if you use the 80/20 rule and spaced repetition you will spend less time practicing and be ready for any opportunity, giving you leverage to negotiate (even at your current job).
This course is for you if...
01
You want to quit your job, but months-long interview preparation burns you out, so you end up losing steam and staying where you are.
02
You dream of retiring early, but quietly settle for 5% raises when you could be getting 30% or more somewhere else.
03
It's hard to feel secure due to recent unprecedented lay-offs, so you want to hedge your bets and prepare for any scenario.
04
You're a skilled engineer, but feel trapped doing busywork at a job where you aren't learning, and keep getting passed over for promotion.
Key outcomes
Use the 80/20 rule to identify a core set of Algorithm and System Design problems, reducing the time you need to spend preparing and improving your ROI.
Build a spaced repetition flash-card deck that feeds you questions in the optimal order so that you permanently internalize them with 95% less time, staying interview-ready for all future job searches.
Attract more offers, increasing your leverage during negotiation (even during review cycles at your current job - get that raise or promotion).
Develop a habit to overcome procrastination and burnout by using a system to always know what to do next (without having to think).
Grow with a community of like-minded career optimizers who share ideas and hold each other accountable.
Get 1:1 help and shape the course to cover what you need most.
The Perpetually Prepared Programmer
See what people are saying
Edgar Chávez
Nick Scheiblauer
Hide Shidara
Charles Atton
Nitin Passa
Haejin Jo
Stay in the loop
Not ready to enroll just yet? Sign up to get the LeetCode Anki deck used in this course, and be invited to free workshops:
Meet your instructor
Alex Bowe
Senior Software Engineer at Cruise | Advanced Algorithms PhD | Algorithms Teacher at RMIT and Hyper Island | Lifelong Learner
Over my past 5 years as a senior software engineer I have interviewed hundreds of engineers. The difference between a prepared candidate and an unprepared candidate is night and day, (and the best candidates get the most offers, allowing them to effectively negotiate).
When I finished my PhD in advanced algorithms in Tokyo, I knew that I didn't want to work just anywhere. I also wanted to catch up financially as quickly as possible.
I spent 6 months grinding LeetCode and doing hundreds of mock and real interviews. I got an amazing job, but I was left feeling burnt out.
Then I realized that if I use spaced repetition (a technique I learned from studying Japanese) I could get better results with less hassle. And better yet, it was fun.
I've taught algorithms at RMIT university in Melbourne, Hyper Island in Stockholm, and on my website (alexbowe.com). Now I'm building this course to teach you how to build this habit too.
If you're a software engineer who wants to find a new job or optimize your pay while reducing the amount of preparation you have to do, this course is for you.
Stay in the loop
Not ready to enroll just yet? Sign up to get the LeetCode Anki deck used in this course, and be invited to free workshops:
Course syllabus
01
Reduce LeetCode to the 20% of problems asked 80% of the time, then internalize their patterns in 90% less time using Spaced Repetition
02
Explain System Design fundamentals in a document that automatically feeds back into your Spaced Repetition deck
- Design a system to systematize System Design practice by writing notes in Obsidian, automatically generating flash cards in your Anki deck.
- Review those concepts at the same time as you practice LeetCode, reducing context switch overhead and allowing you to pick-up and put-down your practice at a moment's notice.
03
Bonus Curated Material for Behavioral Interviews and Negotiation
- Behavioral interviews are important too! Let's get on top of the most common behavioral questions so you're never lost for words.
- When you're always interview-ready you'll naturally have more offers. When you have more offers you'll have leverage to negotiate - even at your current job. Become an expert negotiator with these resources.
Course schedule
2 - 4 hours of contact time + projects
Wednesday, January 18th
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Workshop 1: Intro, 80/20 rule for LeetCode, Anki & Add-ons
- Introduction to the course: The Perpetually Prepared Mindset.
- Analyze LeetCode to identify the build a data-driven spaced repetition deck to rapidly internalize interview problem patterns.
Monday, January 23rd
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
- Create a smart document that automatically sync notes to your spaced repetition deck.
- Systematize your System Design preparation.
Co-working and Q&A sessions
2x 45 mins (more as needed)
- Stay focused and accountable by working with your classmates.
- Bring any questions for me to go over.
Projects, Readings, Videos
1 - 4 hours
- Projects that help you interact with each other and share ideas, as well as make your setup your own.
1:1 Consultations
30 mins as needed
- Schedule 1:1 time with me to go over anything that you need (even if it isn't in the syllabus).
Put interview preparation on auto-pilot
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Track your progress, project your finish date, and always know what to study next.
Stay in the loop
Not ready to enroll just yet? Sign up to get the LeetCode Anki deck used in this course, and be invited to free workshops:
Learning is better in groups!
Accountability
This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects. This active style of learning will keep you accountable, unlike passive courses.
Network Effects
Surround yourself with like-minded people who want to grow alongside you. Bounce ideas, share leads, and learn from each other.
Feedback Loops
Since this is instructor-driven, you are able to shape the course! For example, this course won't cover algorithm basics, but if the need arises I will happily go over them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay in the loop
Not ready to enroll just yet? Sign up to get the LeetCode Anki deck used in this course, and be invited to free workshops: