I used to work out at the same gym as Clément in high school and the dude was an absolute beast. He was there every night and stuck to a grueling 5x5 program. The man just has a winning mindset - trust the process!
It is surprisingly overlooked the fact that he has a Mathematics background. Not because he had to use advanced calculus to perform well in the coding interview, but just by the problem-solving strategies that subconsciously are developed while taking any STEM-related career. Besides that, nice video.
100% agree with this, those general transferable skills are really important, especially at the start. Even at the intermediate and advance stages a person with some math background will always have that extra level of understanding of the concepts than someone whose was never exposed or have that in knowledge somewhere in the background.
I disagree. I don’t think that anyone needs to go to school in X-Y-Z class(es) to develop problem solving strategies that can mainly be obtained simply by thinking through the method of “first principles.” Not trying to sound rude just chiming in!
@Tommy It depends where in the field you want to work. Do you want to be a programmer of a rocket launch facility or do you want to make (web) apps. But if you want to do at least some "real" programming, you better have some good mathematics skills or at least have the sense of logic to perform well in mathematics (it sure as hell helps). The guys that are bad in mathematics are usually a lot slower in solving difficult problems (based on my past work experiences), most of those guys program by trial and error instead of working out the logic first. Their code is often a mess of spaghetti as well.
He went to UPenn (Ivy league) and got a degree in math. Most people would get flat out rejected. That being said, the interviews are not easy, and require a decent amount of learning and practice.
He had the skill of mathematical thinking before starting the bootcamp, but I'm pretty sure they don't teach you how to reverse a linked list or make a rest API (or any other important CS concept) in Math undergrad. Also, he worked to get that degree too.
I have a degree in physics, a year of experience as a software engineer, did interviews for practice with a friend who works at and interviews for google, got a strong recommendation from them, and had spent a lot of time fine tuning my resume, and I got flat out rejected. (No interview, no phone screen). It’s a lot harder to break in than he suggests.
@@Duderichy same here but Neurobiology. He definitely got lucky which is something that he mentions. Also just because you got rejected once, doesn't mean that's gonna be the case forever. Hopefully in a year or two, they like your resume a lot more. There is a pretty big part that's not in our control but you want to make sure that whenever that ball rolls around to you, that you are as ready and prepared as you can be at that time. That's all you can control so you might as well do it, no?
I didn’t give up, and ended up somewhere great, but, I also met someone who went to a top university, did a bootcamp, had some projects, did 500 leetcode sent 700 applications and got _one_ interview. They passed and work at a highly rated place. Between me and him I’m pretty against saying anyone can break in if you just do a few things. Even with a good background it can be hard to break in.
@@Duderichy I'm glad to hear it. It's definitely very very hard to break into tech, let alone get your first job at Google. His situation is definitely unique and the exception to the rule, which is why I understand your point. However, I think most people can break into tech if by "break-in" you mean just getting a job as a swe. Yes it will be difficult and challenging, but I don't think impossible. It will also help if you are willing to move or already live in a city with a ton of jobs (NYC in his case).
Luck and timing does make a difference, but I do think it also takes a level of persistence, most people I met at google did not get in their first or even second try
"People insist on calling it luck." -Mike McDermott Honestly, the trick is to put yourself into so many uncomfortable situations that you eventually get lucky due to statistical probability.
That is difference between the definition of luck and serendipity. Try hard for long enough and luck is bound to hit you or in other words you will eventually become serendipitous.
I thought a lot about this in the past couple of days because there are lots of people here saying this is just a result of hard work. I think those people haven't done anything remotely similar in their lives. Also, I don't think they have studied anything else of comparable complexity. So for anyone out there that is feeling bad that they are nowhere near capable of this, I would say this. Doing something like this is similar to picking up a guitar and in 6 months joining a band that plays stadiums. Its exceedingly rare that a person could pull that off. The reason I like the music analogy is there are always prodigies in music. Kids as young as three or four that from the moment they touch their instruments, they are just as polished as professionals. These kids have perfect pitch (most people don't) and photographic memories. Kids that can hear a song ONCE and play it back, sometimes years later. This guy is one of those people, only he is a programmer. That doesn't mean the average person can't become a professional musician. On the contrary, lots and lots of professional musicians will tell you they spent YEARS being awful, then mediocre, at their craft. But after spending thousands of hours at their instrument, they eventually rose to professional levels. Not everyone is a prodigy, but most of us can learn enough, through practice, to become working programmers. Think about it. And don't believe the trolls!
One thing you didn't mention, which you have failed to give credit to in the past as well, is the fact that you earned a degree in mathematics. Even if, by your past admission, you were a poor student, a math degree forces you to think so deeply/abstractly about concepts, that it gives you a solid foundation to learn things in other areas with relative ease in comparison, not to mention your increased problem solving ability. I'm not saying it was a determining factor, but it definitely played a role, and FAANG companies definitely see the value in any developer self taught or not, who has a math degree.
I have a BS in math/physics and an MS in math, still looking for a job since graduating in May. Had a 4.0 in both undergrad and grad school, shit is rough
@@mdsalman35 because he knows that selling the story that some random guy was able to get into faang, gets more views/hype, than a someone with a math degree that was able to do the same.
@@DarkMonolth Sorry, just seeing your comment now, yes it's tough out there, but your situation really does not have anything to do with the topic at hand. The premise of the video is about how Clemente, a self taught developer was able to teach himself enough, to land a position at FAANG. Yet left out a very key factor, his math degree, that not only gave him an advantage in self learning, but is also a boost to his resume. Take clemente, vs. a self taught guy at the same level(programming wise), with no degree, who is more likely to get an interview at FAANG?
I can spend a lot of time doing something completely unrelated to coding and not necessarily something productive. It's frightening because I sometimes feel I'm not in control of the time I spend on something whether that is something I want to achieve or not. Surely I was not born a go-getter nor a super driven person and although I would like to be one I have to be ok with the fact that my pacing will be slower. Not because I'm dumb or doomed because my genetics/upbringing/personality did not turn out like that, but because I now know I have to work one step at a time to become a better version of myself, each day work a little harder, push myself a little further each week, and always holding myself accountable of any loss. This is something I have managed to come to peace with and has made it easier for me to progress on many things that were stalled in my life. Believe me, I wish I could be as driven as you to get things done for myself but if that were to be the case I would also be a different person, and thankfully I'm really happy with who I am.
A lot of people get discouraged just by reading a title like this one and I can say that I was one of them a short while ago. But what I did is, I realised that not everyone is the same. As Clement mentioned, there are a lot of factors involved in the process of learning to code. I myself have a 2 or 3 hours per day to study and take the most out of them. The process of success might go a lot slower in my case but I will not give up just because of that. My point in writing this is, do not get discouraged because there are people who can learn how to code in 3 or 6 months and you can't do that. Take your time, even if it takes years.
I love the fact that you admitted luck also plays a major role in getting hired into big organizations because there are some people who don't even get shortlisted for interviews and there are some who get into not only one but different companies.
I was referring to the trains that go in and out of NYC-not the NY subway 😋 Coding in the NY subway would indeed be next-level. I reserved the NY subway to just "thinking."
People who say luck has nothing to do with it is crazy. If you're lucky enough to have good mentors, a father, mother or someone else to point you in the right direction. If you are that blessed, that's luck enough especially now a days. You have to be lucky enough to be able to position yourself into the place to take advantage of opportunities. Cheers to you buddy.!
"Playing to your out", you never know what you will face but do things that will win the most no matter what and never give up. I really enjoy your vidéos, they are very good! Merci.
I think one of the biggest pit stops in a career or at least in the pursuit of a career is the feeling of burn-out and then to start questioning your passion, asking yourself whether or not this is what you truly want, it could sort of go downhill if you're not being honest with yourself at a certain point like that.
Luck is what we call the things that aren't in our control, or might not be in any one person's control. More effort can give you more control ( your example about contacting more recruiters is a perfect example).I understand why successful people want to say that their achievements have nothing to do with luck, they feel like acknowledging luck invalidates their efforts. But to think that luck doesn't matter, is hubris. And even worse, it disregards any hardships that others have to face. Once again, I'm talking about luck as things that we don't have direct control over. "Good Luck" and "Bad luck" aren't concrete things. They're just terms we use to retro-actively describe what kind of events have happened to us in the past.
Hey Clem I'm an AlgoExpert subscriber and have pitched it and a few of your videos to friends of mine looking to move on to greener pastures. I'm pretty disappointed to hear that you think that genetics plays such a significant role in your success. A lot of times when I hear this line of thinking its weaponized phrenology. There are those that are gifted yes, but achieving something as arguably simple as "learning how to code" isn't based on your DNA. Its about the other point you made on how much work you want to put in. And especially now in 2020 it's never been more accessible to learn how to code, thanks to platforms and content that you and people like you created. Do I think you were able to make these products because of your DNA; absolutely not. Do I think it could be based off of your environment, how you were raised, who you surrounded yourself with; probably sure. All and all Maybe what you said on a cosmic level isn't wrong, if you have disabilities that make it difficult to think critically then you're probably at a disadvantage. But linking genetics to IQ is a dangerous road to go down and historically has a lot of heinous racist roots. Any who love your content regardless and would be happy to talk about this more if you're interested.
Genetics aside, desire is by far the most important here and also the hardest. It can take many years to find something you desire to a really high level and this search is slowed down by many psychological, physical, financial factors. In my opinion the best thing to do while looking for something you really desire, especially if you feel lost, is to simply DO SOMETHING that adds to your knowledge or creativity. These can be little things like reading a book, learning a song or writing a simple program for an Arduino chip (the easiest and most accesable chip to get and program). Eventually you will find a spark that will ignite a bonfire of desire
Nice to see someone trying their utmost best to achieve something great yet stays humble by also accounting "luck" as a parameter in their success. I am enjoying your content and learn always something. I've been using your resume format and I've been ever getting compliments. Thanks alot and looking forward to learn more from your channel!
Hey Clement, love your videos. I was just curious if you had any references in mind when you discussed the genetics section of your video? I'm a cognitive neuroscientist and, while I do not study genetics directly, a good amount of my labs work is genetic adjacent. In principal, I agree with your argument, genetics certainly are at play, I just wanted to raise the point of epigenetics. Genetics are no longer supported as set in stone and a lot of great and exciting work is being done currently which is really updating our understanding of genetics, especially in the behavioral realm. The nature and nurture components of our development seem more akin to a dynamic equilibrium, than distinct elements. That is, genetics informs behavior, and behavior modifies our epigenetics, which then modifies our genetics, and over and over again for a given context/environment. Again, love your stuff, just wanted to through in my thoughts.
I think background should also be included. Generally, people getting into software development/engineering are coming from a different discipline of study or vocation and I think the skills they bring will play a factor. Not to be an arm chair psychologist put your background in Math really helped in getting the technical aspect of it since math is such a foundation to most programming. For example functional programming makes so much for sense if you have taken a calculus class before. Also, generally if the place you are coming from has some sort of ordered problem solving concept such as the scientific method helps. Another is doing research since you get use to failing but also noting that the research you did brought new data of how not to do it if you failed. Sadly, communication is a lost art until you have a software job. By communication I mean either working with people or having to heavily write. Working with people helps you as at a certain point you might be in a time period or position where you are having meetings and you have to effective lay out a plan. Another side of communication is teaching since you will have to mentor and if you are effective at distilling concepts to their basics you'll be better appreciated. Also, those who work with people often have good organizational skills which is a plus because planning out your apps is really important. Finally, writing is a good skill to have because you understand structure of written communication i.e. writing design docs etc. And also if the background you have forces you to think systematically it will also help because making the jump from beginner to advance beginner/intermediate is being good enough at the foundation (if statement, variables, loops, functions, etc) to be able to piece them together systematically i.e. design patterns, coding architecture, frameworks, etc. Basically, depending on your background you might have an easier time dealing with the very technical stuff or the soft skills stuff because of the transferable skills you have, which will help determine if you can do it in 6 months or less or more.
I like to think luck doesn’t exist. It is not an if but a when. Math, probability, what you put in is what you get out. Putting in countless cold emails until you get an interview is not luck it’s probability. Run all option until you get a hit. :) nice vid. Thanks clement
What looks like talent is often careful preparation. What looks like skill is often persistent revision. A few things you need to achieve exceptional results: 1) Quantity: You take lots of shots. 2) Quality: You take thoughtful shots. 3) Consistency: You keep shooting for a long time. 4) Feedback. You take better shots over time. 5) Luck: You get a few favorable bounces. I like these ideas, got them from James Clear.
Really good video! I think you're spot on with all of these. And to the last point about genetics, I think I'd add that for many people even if they aren't at genius-level intelligence, the other factors you describe can offset that. I know many people who have had success just based on their work ethic and dedication.
Bro you have a math background, you had an advanced math logic and problem solving skills to get into programming as fast as possible. Obviously your discipline has been the main reason that you get into Google. But you already had a powerful base to learn to programming. That’s what I think 🤔
I am EEE 2nd year student...but i love to learn programming...i started to learn c++ language for 1 month ago and it till continuing....you think can l become a good programmer?..
A Maths background helps with programming logic and understanding concepts much faster.I have a Maths degree and got into programming in around year.But to be successful in programming requires passion for it,having an exploratory mind and the love to build things.The Maths background might get you there,but it won’t keep you.So not having a Maths background should not deter you from learning to program.Great video.
Luck exist but it isn’t something that you can’t change, basically luck is equal to opportunity plus preparation so if you want to get luckier, you have to study for when that moment comes.
He gave a long winded answer but the reality is that he has a math degree from an ivy league school so he already a super key foundation for analytical and computational ability before learning to code. A LOT of folks know only how to code and will never get in a FANG because that's not what these companies want. They want a specific advanced level of thinking to incorporate advanced concepts into the code. It's possible to get in as self taught but you really need to be amazing and still have this analytical predisposition. Also, his company is designed for advanced programmers and not a beginner who thinks learning code as a newbie will somehow magically get you into a FANG. If you want to really be competitive aside from just learning code invest in advanced math and compsci courses. Not even a degree but the courses individually. Check out free online courses like Harvard's advanced algorithms course (free on RUclips). Even check out required courses for a degree and just learn those concepts somehow. It's a style of thinking + knowing code + high quality portfolio that gets you in.
Philosophical Question: The capacity for hard work, self-motivation, and the perseverance to solve complex tasks are, at least in part, genetic. Genetics are definitely a matter of luck. So.... what are we left with??
Hey Clement, Can you please make a video on the roadmap a college student should follow so as to become a SWE at FANG. I mean like where to learn coding from, where to learn data structures and algorithms from etc. I'm just out of school.
Most awaited video well we were expecting this a little bit earlier like when we are in doubt and giving our most of the time in coding rather than college things because it make me happy and yes it paid off... Thankyou celement❤️
Learning to code is one thing. Mastering is something completely different, I think people get mastering confused with learning sometimes. Mastering takes years learning depends on how much time you invest.
i tried to buy algoexpert ,attempted many times to buy ,but i failed , the rason was first of all my credit card was not accepting by your website and paypal was showing error at the end of the payment process, i am from indiA, can i pay you directly though google pay on your number , or can i pay you through google play code ,if there was option to pay through google play code , it would have been more helpful , thank you
Hi, Clement! First of all, you are great! I just want to know, do you have regional prices for AlgoExpert? I am going to purchase it anyway, but it's too pricy for Russia.
Just also had to point out that even his enthusiasm behind discussing the subject between both videos alone should've said something to his success and proves his point more. My take though, the only "luck" there technically is would be Coding Bootcamps just being something that exists in general. I'm 2 months into Flatiron School as full-time and let me just say : This shit's ridiculously hard (excuse the language) and in the most literal way "doable". As in, "yea it's POSSIBLE" but under the strict conditions that pretty much just come down to how willing you are which he already said lol. You couldn't really even cheat this thing if you wanted to (and why would you?) because you simply have to know what you're doing PLUS get creative with that knowledge just to make it to the next month. Also worth noting that understanding the nature of a computer and effectively manipulating it to do what you want it to IN ALL possible situations is an very different kind of smart that isn't easy to acquire, but again "doable" if you're serious about it and have a passion for the subject. After all , it is identified as its own science for a reason lol. In the last video, what he did with his projects was honestly brilliant in my opinion and thought more people would've caught on to that (or maybe it wasn't anything crazy and I just still have a lot to learn) however if any of it is because you're just not buying his story and think there's a catch of some sort , you clearly need a better understanding of what these bootcamps entail and maybe that just wasn't clear because this guy obviously loves it (and probably amazing at what he does too) meanwhile most people would describe it as a storm to ride out because the intensive learning curves during the program can be overwhelming (No joke, a part of our orientation involved ways to avoid falling into a depressive state as its super easy to get demotivated when everything is so foreign to you lol)
These are good points. But I think you forget yet something... Don't you think that the recruiters did certainly consider your math degree, when taking their decision to answer you? ...
Hy Clement,i just got CoderPro.. Please don't take it personally..I must say they are better than yours. You must work on making those videos interactive just as you do in your RUclips channel. Just as you do your your RUclips videos if you do those algoexpert videos...then it will be a game changer. It is easy to get lost in those graphic tablet videos. Again saying, i am saying this to you as a creative feedback and as one of your subscribers. Great video as always 👌
I just wanted to say that I find it somewhat myopic to not mention a 4 years bachelor degree in math prior to the whole learn-to-code-in-6-months endeavor. Of course it is way less attractive to tell someone to spend 4 years practicing your brain with really hard logic problems but that IS a tremendously relevant factor...
Hello Sir, Am a High School student. Kindly advise me and other high school guys who have interest in tech on Computer Science majors in University or college to later have an internship or job in the top high-tech companies like Google.
A Beautiful lesson speaking of the luck: A farmer and his son have a horse a stallion that helped them make a living and one day, this stallion runs away and the neighbors go - "Oh, what poor luck" and the farmer just drugs and says, "Maybe so, maybe not. We'll see". A few days later. The stein returns with a few wild mares/horses with it and the neighbors see this and go - "Oh, what incredible fortune" and the farmer looks at them and shrugs and goes "maybe so, maybe not. We'll see". A lot later, the sun is trying to break one of the mares and he falls off and breaks his leg and the villagers who are just observing everything that's happening with the farmer in the son. See this and they go, "Oh what a poor fortune" and the farmer looks at them and shrugs and goes "maybe so, maybe not. We'll see". ----So, Luck is "uncontrollable" the only thing that is controllable is "you". I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.
The best salesmen have a response rate of about 5-10%. That means that for every 100 outgoing outreach messages, 5-10 would lead to a conversation. These people are the ones who seem to end up with the lucky deals.
You missed three things. Having parents who would help with the tuition of the BootCamp. Being white. And math background. Not taking anything away from you, and I applaud you. But these 3 things are also crucial that need to be said.
I've been struggling alot with javascript, cant seem to solve even a single algorithmic challenge like functions and stuff, even the simple ones, very frustrating
@@Andrew-ez9ft I seem to be hitting a wall when it comes to algorithmic challenges is what someone things but idk. I tested my thought process and it seemed okay but when its time to put the code in aka creating a function or solving a challenge I just wouldnt know how to approach the issue, I've been following a course on udemy and sadly I was unable to solve even one so called challenges by myself, simply cuz idk what to use and how to use it.
@@kieran2347 I think that you should just practice more in coding. You should just try more sites like codewars, Hackerrank, and Leetcode. Just practice programming everyday. Practice it like 6 - 8 hours everyday. You should also make projects and try to be better. Don't give up and believe that you can do it!! Do you try to get a tutor or get help? There are online forums that you can do such as reddit r/learnprogramming or stackoverflow
@@Andrew-ez9ft Okay just so you know, I'm following a full stack web developement course on udemy by Angela Yu. The tutorials are really good i have to say. But its more like a fast-track course. I've another course that totally focuses on Javascript and looking forward to take up on that next to progress and learn all the concepts that exists in the language because, I havent covered everything in Javascript, still a stranger to many advanced concepts which I'm not even exposed to yet. So you suggest investing more time solving and practicing on those coding sites. I've tried edabit and codewars and cant seem to solve even the easy ones tbh. I'd love to make projects but first I have to know what to use to apply a concept when writing a code or with which I can build a project, which is where I'm hitting a wall. I'm self teaching and trying to change careers at 38 my friend and no tutors so far, just following a bootcamp and other resources that I can find. I havent checked any online programs as such nor stackoverflow for learning but except for googling a problem to find a solution lol (dont go by my lol-ing, that how I hide my frustration and desperation LOL)
I have one question, pls pls answer if you read this: I saw Algoepxert curriculum. It has 100 questions. By doing those 100 questions, will I be able to crack FAANG type companies interviews and tests. Just curious Love your videos Have been following you since a last year when you started making videos!!
Luck = Prepardness + Opportunity. Someone who never learns to code or apply will never be lucky enough to get a job at Google. Luck is not random. You make your own luck.
I admire you. That said. Why the hell should/must a Software Engineer aim be to get into google or facebook? I like coding and I'm learning but I don't have to strive for this.
I think there’s multiple ways to look at it 1) By clearing a Facebook/Google level software engineering interview, it tells every recruiter out there that you’re “at least that good”. So it’s like a certificate of proficiency in a way. Not saying someone who hasn’t got in isn’t that good, but that someone who did get in most likely is. This also makes getting investments for your startup a little easier because there’s a proven level of competency when your skills as an engineer are considered. 2) Companies of this level generally pay much better and offer better perks than most others. For example, Google offers free lunch every day to their employees, and in case of an employee’s death, Google gives their salary to the employee’s family. 3) Big companies can often create things that others cannot, and they have big impact. For example, an update to Google Maps will affects MILLIONS of people. An iOS update adds new features to almost 1 billion devices. Many people would go for that.
i understand the luck point like rolling a dice once and losing because u didn't get a number six and rolling the dice 100 time man its just probability and maximising your sample size nice
I used to work out at the same gym as Clément in high school and the dude was an absolute beast. He was there every night and stuck to a grueling 5x5 program. The man just has a winning mindset - trust the process!
How much can he bench? 😂😂😂
"Luck favors the prepared"
Beautifully put.
Very true.
True
Louis Pasteur And R W Hamming
A terrific line from the movie "Predestination" that means pretty much the same thing that stuck with me: "Luck is the residue of planning."
It is surprisingly overlooked the fact that he has a Mathematics background. Not because he had to use advanced calculus to perform well in the coding interview, but just by the problem-solving strategies that subconsciously are developed while taking any STEM-related career.
Besides that, nice video.
100% agree with this, those general transferable skills are really important, especially at the start. Even at the intermediate and advance stages a person with some math background will always have that extra level of understanding of the concepts than someone whose was never exposed or have that in knowledge somewhere in the background.
That’s why computer science majors have to take Calc 1 - 3, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations. And on top of this the physics series lmao
I disagree. I don’t think that anyone needs to go to school in X-Y-Z class(es) to develop problem solving strategies that can mainly be obtained simply by thinking through the method of “first principles.” Not trying to sound rude just chiming in!
Tommy you don’t HAVE TO, but it sure would help is what I think we were getting at
@Tommy It depends where in the field you want to work. Do you want to be a programmer of a rocket launch facility or do you want to make (web) apps. But if you want to do at least some "real" programming, you better have some good mathematics skills or at least have the sense of logic to perform well in mathematics (it sure as hell helps). The guys that are bad in mathematics are usually a lot slower in solving difficult problems (based on my past work experiences), most of those guys program by trial and error instead of working out the logic first. Their code is often a mess of spaghetti as well.
Title of the next video: The Truth About The Truth About How I Learned to Code in 6 Months And Got Into Google
😂
The Ultimate Truth about the truth😂
As a truthonnaire
Lol
It's truth turtles all the way down, maaaaaaaaaan
He went to UPenn (Ivy league) and got a degree in math. Most people would get flat out rejected.
That being said, the interviews are not easy, and require a decent amount of learning and practice.
He had the skill of mathematical thinking before starting the bootcamp, but I'm pretty sure they don't teach you how to reverse a linked list or make a rest API (or any other important CS concept) in Math undergrad. Also, he worked to get that degree too.
I have a degree in physics, a year of experience as a software engineer, did interviews for practice with a friend who works at and interviews for google, got a strong recommendation from them, and had spent a lot of time fine tuning my resume, and I got flat out rejected. (No interview, no phone screen).
It’s a lot harder to break in than he suggests.
@@Duderichy same here but Neurobiology. He definitely got lucky which is something that he mentions. Also just because you got rejected once, doesn't mean that's gonna be the case forever. Hopefully in a year or two, they like your resume a lot more. There is a pretty big part that's not in our control but you want to make sure that whenever that ball rolls around to you, that you are as ready and prepared as you can be at that time. That's all you can control so you might as well do it, no?
I didn’t give up, and ended up somewhere great, but, I also met someone who went to a top university, did a bootcamp, had some projects, did 500 leetcode sent 700 applications and got _one_ interview. They passed and work at a highly rated place.
Between me and him I’m pretty against saying anyone can break in if you just do a few things. Even with a good background it can be hard to break in.
@@Duderichy I'm glad to hear it. It's definitely very very hard to break into tech, let alone get your first job at Google. His situation is definitely unique and the exception to the rule, which is why I understand your point. However, I think most people can break into tech if by "break-in" you mean just getting a job as a swe. Yes it will be difficult and challenging, but I don't think impossible. It will also help if you are willing to move or already live in a city with a ton of jobs (NYC in his case).
Luck and timing does make a difference, but I do think it also takes a level of persistence, most people I met at google did not get in their first or even second try
"People insist on calling it luck." -Mike McDermott
Honestly, the trick is to put yourself into so many uncomfortable situations that you eventually get lucky due to statistical probability.
That is difference between the definition of luck and serendipity. Try hard for long enough and luck is bound to hit you or in other words you will eventually become serendipitous.
Of poker is the perfect use case of how luck is a factor, but only one factor.
wooaahhhh
Clement : I put 14 hours a day
myself just realized that we actually can put 14 hours a day.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
always be prepared then
Yea no, your parents genetics and upbringing is most responsible for your success before 30.
@@cannafarmer loser
I thought a lot about this in the past couple of days because there are lots of people here saying this is just a result of hard work. I think those people haven't done anything remotely similar in their lives. Also, I don't think they have studied anything else of comparable complexity. So for anyone out there that is feeling bad that they are nowhere near capable of this, I would say this. Doing something like this is similar to picking up a guitar and in 6 months joining a band that plays stadiums. Its exceedingly rare that a person could pull that off.
The reason I like the music analogy is there are always prodigies in music. Kids as young as three or four that from the moment they touch their instruments, they are just as polished as professionals. These kids have perfect pitch (most people don't) and photographic memories. Kids that can hear a song ONCE and play it back, sometimes years later. This guy is one of those people, only he is a programmer.
That doesn't mean the average person can't become a professional musician. On the contrary, lots and lots of professional musicians will tell you they spent YEARS being awful, then mediocre, at their craft. But after spending thousands of hours at their instrument, they eventually rose to professional levels.
Not everyone is a prodigy, but most of us can learn enough, through practice, to become working programmers. Think about it. And don't believe the trolls!
One thing you didn't mention, which you have failed to give credit to in the past as well, is the fact that you earned a degree in mathematics. Even if, by your past admission, you were a poor student, a math degree forces you to think so deeply/abstractly about concepts, that it gives you a solid foundation to learn things in other areas with relative ease in comparison, not to mention your increased problem solving ability. I'm not saying it was a determining factor, but it definitely played a role, and FAANG companies definitely see the value in any developer self taught or not, who has a math degree.
I have a BS in math/physics and an MS in math, still looking for a job since graduating in May. Had a 4.0 in both undergrad and grad school, shit is rough
So true. I am wondering why he is hiding such important thing for mathematics like man wtf?
@@mdsalman35 because he knows that selling the story that some random guy was able to get into faang, gets more views/hype, than a someone with a math degree that was able to do the same.
@@DarkMonolth Sorry, just seeing your comment now, yes it's tough out there, but your situation really does not have anything to do with the topic at hand. The premise of the video is about how Clemente, a self taught developer was able to teach himself enough, to land a position at FAANG. Yet left out a very key factor, his math degree, that not only gave him an advantage in self learning, but is also a boost to his resume. Take clemente, vs. a self taught guy at the same level(programming wise), with no degree, who is more likely to get an interview at FAANG?
I can spend a lot of time doing something completely unrelated to coding and not necessarily something productive. It's frightening because I sometimes feel I'm not in control of the time I spend on something whether that is something I want to achieve or not. Surely I was not born a go-getter nor a super driven person and although I would like to be one I have to be ok with the fact that my pacing will be slower. Not because I'm dumb or doomed because my genetics/upbringing/personality did not turn out like that, but because I now know I have to work one step at a time to become a better version of myself, each day work a little harder, push myself a little further each week, and always holding myself accountable of any loss. This is something I have managed to come to peace with and has made it easier for me to progress on many things that were stalled in my life. Believe me, I wish I could be as driven as you to get things done for myself but if that were to be the case I would also be a different person, and thankfully I'm really happy with who I am.
A lot of people get discouraged just by reading a title like this one and I can say that I was one of them a short while ago. But what I did is, I realised that not everyone is the same. As Clement mentioned, there are a lot of factors involved in the process of learning to code. I myself have a 2 or 3 hours per day to study and take the most out of them. The process of success might go a lot slower in my case but I will not give up just because of that. My point in writing this is, do not get discouraged because there are people who can learn how to code in 3 or 6 months and you can't do that. Take your time, even if it takes years.
7:45 - add discipline to that list.
When motivation dwindles, discipline carries you through!
Great video by the way!
I love the fact that you admitted luck also plays a major role in getting hired into big organizations because there are some people who don't even get shortlisted for interviews and there are some who get into not only one but different companies.
yep but thats a lame excuse
@@SyedAhmed-lv3kh for those who will face the situation soon in future.
@@Dryicicles in my country unless you are from IIT that admits 600 students each year, no one at FAANG entertains you.
@@sr-xd8jb not really bro, I have my friends and cousins from Non IITS who works for FACEBOOK or Google
@@unknownman1 they surely got some referals which I wont be able to get.
coding in a ny subway? that's some next-level dedication
I was referring to the trains that go in and out of NYC-not the NY subway 😋 Coding in the NY subway would indeed be next-level. I reserved the NY subway to just "thinking."
Try coding in an SF subway 🙃
@@soradev5386
Nah
Bart ain't shit
People who say luck has nothing to do with it is crazy. If you're lucky enough to have good mentors, a father, mother or someone else to point you in the right direction. If you are that blessed, that's luck enough especially now a days. You have to be lucky enough to be able to position yourself into the place to take advantage of opportunities. Cheers to you buddy.!
"Playing to your out", you never know what you will face but do things that will win the most no matter what and never give up.
I really enjoy your vidéos, they are very good! Merci.
I think one of the biggest pit stops in a career or at least in the pursuit of a career is the feeling of burn-out and then to start questioning your passion, asking yourself whether or not this is what you truly want, it could sort of go downhill if you're not being honest with yourself at a certain point like that.
Luck is what we call the things that aren't in our control, or might not be in any one person's control. More effort can give you more control ( your example about contacting more recruiters is a perfect example).I understand why successful people want to say that their achievements have nothing to do with luck, they feel like acknowledging luck invalidates their efforts. But to think that luck doesn't matter, is hubris. And even worse, it disregards any hardships that others have to face.
Once again, I'm talking about luck as things that we don't have direct control over. "Good Luck" and "Bad luck" aren't concrete things. They're just terms we use to retro-actively describe what kind of events have happened to us in the past.
Hey Clem I'm an AlgoExpert subscriber and have pitched it and a few of your videos to friends of mine looking to move on to greener pastures.
I'm pretty disappointed to hear that you think that genetics plays such a significant role in your success.
A lot of times when I hear this line of thinking its weaponized phrenology.
There are those that are gifted yes, but achieving something as arguably simple as "learning how to code" isn't based on your DNA.
Its about the other point you made on how much work you want to put in.
And especially now in 2020 it's never been more accessible to learn how to code, thanks to platforms and content that you and people like you created.
Do I think you were able to make these products because of your DNA; absolutely not.
Do I think it could be based off of your environment, how you were raised, who you surrounded yourself with; probably sure.
All and all Maybe what you said on a cosmic level isn't wrong, if you have disabilities that make it difficult to think critically then you're probably at a disadvantage.
But linking genetics to IQ is a dangerous road to go down and historically has a lot of heinous racist roots.
Any who love your content regardless and would be happy to talk about this more if you're interested.
You are good speaker. I am not native speaker, but listening to you makes my understanding English easier. It's easy to focus on what you say.
Genetics aside, desire is by far the most important here and also the hardest. It can take many years to find something you desire to a really high level and this search is slowed down by many psychological, physical, financial factors. In my opinion the best thing to do while looking for something you really desire, especially if you feel lost, is to simply DO SOMETHING that adds to your knowledge or creativity. These can be little things like reading a book, learning a song or writing a simple program for an Arduino chip (the easiest and most accesable chip to get and program). Eventually you will find a spark that will ignite a bonfire of desire
Nice to see someone trying their utmost best to achieve something great yet stays humble by also accounting "luck" as a parameter in their success. I am enjoying your content and learn always something. I've been using your resume format and I've been ever getting compliments. Thanks alot and looking forward to learn more from your channel!
luck & genetics is not in your control
Believe in...
DEDICATION & CONSISTENCY
A quote about luck from a KDrama I'm watching right now lol: "The greatest luck in life finds its way to the person that sees it."
Hey Clement!!! It’s so amazing to see your videos!! Damn you are ABSOLUTELY transparent on RUclips! Must have took a LOT of courage to do this!🔥🔥🔥
Hey Clement, love your videos. I was just curious if you had any references in mind when you discussed the genetics section of your video? I'm a cognitive neuroscientist and, while I do not study genetics directly, a good amount of my labs work is genetic adjacent. In principal, I agree with your argument, genetics certainly are at play, I just wanted to raise the point of epigenetics.
Genetics are no longer supported as set in stone and a lot of great and exciting work is being done currently which is really updating our understanding of genetics, especially in the behavioral realm. The nature and nurture components of our development seem more akin to a dynamic equilibrium, than distinct elements. That is, genetics informs behavior, and behavior modifies our epigenetics, which then modifies our genetics, and over and over again for a given context/environment.
Again, love your stuff, just wanted to through in my thoughts.
you're so good on what you're saying. a very good piece of advice from you....
I Can See why you are very succesfull!
I think background should also be included. Generally, people getting into software development/engineering are coming from a different discipline of study or vocation and I think the skills they bring will play a factor.
Not to be an arm chair psychologist put your background in Math really helped in getting the technical aspect of it since math is such a foundation to most programming. For example functional programming makes so much for sense if you have taken a calculus class before. Also, generally if the place you are coming from has some sort of ordered problem solving concept such as the scientific method helps. Another is doing research since you get use to failing but also noting that the research you did brought new data of how not to do it if you failed.
Sadly, communication is a lost art until you have a software job. By communication I mean either working with people or having to heavily write. Working with people helps you as at a certain point you might be in a time period or position where you are having meetings and you have to effective lay out a plan. Another side of communication is teaching since you will have to mentor and if you are effective at distilling concepts to their basics you'll be better appreciated. Also, those who work with people often have good organizational skills which is a plus because planning out your apps is really important. Finally, writing is a good skill to have because you understand structure of written communication i.e. writing design docs etc.
And also if the background you have forces you to think systematically it will also help because making the jump from beginner to advance beginner/intermediate is being good enough at the foundation (if statement, variables, loops, functions, etc) to be able to piece them together systematically i.e. design patterns, coding architecture, frameworks, etc.
Basically, depending on your background you might have an easier time dealing with the very technical stuff or the soft skills stuff because of the transferable skills you have, which will help determine if you can do it in 6 months or less or more.
Hardwork beats talent(Genetics) if hardwork works hard enough.... VOLUME!!!!!!
If we are passionate about something and work(hard) towards it, the probability of being lucky increases 🔥🔥.
I like to think luck doesn’t exist. It is not an if but a when. Math, probability, what you put in is what you get out. Putting in countless cold emails until you get an interview is not luck it’s probability. Run all option until you get a hit. :) nice vid. Thanks clement
What looks like talent is often careful preparation.
What looks like skill is often persistent revision.
A few things you need to achieve exceptional results:
1) Quantity: You take lots of shots.
2) Quality: You take thoughtful shots.
3) Consistency: You keep shooting for a long time.
4) Feedback. You take better shots over time.
5) Luck: You get a few favorable bounces.
I like these ideas, got them from James Clear.
How does one take quality and quantity of shots? Both definitions contradict each other
Really good video! I think you're spot on with all of these. And to the last point about genetics, I think I'd add that for many people even if they aren't at genius-level intelligence, the other factors you describe can offset that. I know many people who have had success just based on their work ethic and dedication.
Exactly!
1) learn to code
2) Get into google
3) leave google
4) brag about it on youtube
5) make x2 money from youtube
Bro you have a math background, you had an advanced math logic and problem solving skills to get into programming as fast as possible. Obviously your discipline has been the main reason that you get into Google. But you already had a powerful base to learn to programming. That’s what I think 🤔
The title of this video is almost as dramatic as the lighting 😂 I really like this kind of videos btw, hopefully you do more of those in the future.
Hello Clement! Thanks for all the great videos! Hope you will make a software interview soon :)
Keep up the good work and your humor!
Luck, Volume, Desire, Genetic
Man, you are the best motivator than those bunch of garage motivators
I am EEE 2nd year student...but i love to learn programming...i started to learn c++ language for 1 month ago and it till continuing....you think can l become a good programmer?..
This was incredibly motivating, thanks!
A Maths background helps with programming logic and understanding concepts much faster.I have a Maths degree and got into programming in around year.But to be successful in programming requires passion for it,having an exploratory mind and the love to build things.The Maths background might get you there,but it won’t keep you.So not having a Maths background should not deter you from learning to program.Great video.
Luck exist but it isn’t something that you can’t change, basically luck is equal to opportunity plus preparation so if you want to get luckier, you have to study for when that moment comes.
He gave a long winded answer but the reality is that he has a math degree from an ivy league school so he already a super key foundation for analytical and computational ability before learning to code. A LOT of folks know only how to code and will never get in a FANG because that's not what these companies want. They want a specific advanced level of thinking to incorporate advanced concepts into the code. It's possible to get in as self taught but you really need to be amazing and still have this analytical predisposition. Also, his company is designed for advanced programmers and not a beginner who thinks learning code as a newbie will somehow magically get you into a FANG. If you want to really be competitive aside from just learning code invest in advanced math and compsci courses. Not even a degree but the courses individually. Check out free online courses like Harvard's advanced algorithms course (free on RUclips). Even check out required courses for a degree and just learn those concepts somehow. It's a style of thinking + knowing code + high quality portfolio that gets you in.
Philosophical Question: The capacity for hard work, self-motivation, and the perseverance to solve complex tasks are, at least in part, genetic. Genetics are definitely a matter of luck. So.... what are we left with??
Hey Clement,
Can you please make a video on the roadmap a college student should follow so as to become a SWE at FANG. I mean like where to learn coding from, where to learn data structures and algorithms from etc. I'm just out of school.
.
Most awaited video well we were expecting this a little bit earlier like when we are in doubt and giving our most of the time in coding rather than college things because it make me happy and yes it paid off... Thankyou celement❤️
6:27 the moment when your prediction turns right and you say "By the way" Before Clément
Ikr XD
You know me too well!
Great video. I was hoping you would share more of some of the resources that helped you get to where you are :)
Learning to code is one thing. Mastering is something completely different, I think people get mastering confused with learning sometimes. Mastering takes years learning depends on how much time you invest.
i tried to buy algoexpert ,attempted many times to buy ,but i failed , the rason was first of all my credit card was not accepting by your website and paypal was showing error at the end of the payment process,
i am from indiA, can i pay you directly though google pay on your number ,
or can i pay you through google play code ,if there was option to pay through google play code , it would have been more helpful ,
thank you
Hi, Clement!
First of all, you are great!
I just want to know, do you have regional prices for AlgoExpert? I am going to purchase it anyway, but it's too pricy for Russia.
Just also had to point out that even his enthusiasm behind discussing the subject between both videos alone should've said something to his success and proves his point more. My take though, the only "luck" there technically is would be Coding Bootcamps just being something that exists in general. I'm 2 months into Flatiron School as full-time and let me just say : This shit's ridiculously hard (excuse the language) and in the most literal way "doable". As in, "yea it's POSSIBLE" but under the strict conditions that pretty much just come down to how willing you are which he already said lol. You couldn't really even cheat this thing if you wanted to (and why would you?) because you simply have to know what you're doing PLUS get creative with that knowledge just to make it to the next month. Also worth noting that understanding the nature of a computer and effectively manipulating it to do what you want it to IN ALL possible situations is an very different kind of smart that isn't easy to acquire, but again "doable" if you're serious about it and have a passion for the subject. After all , it is identified as its own science for a reason lol. In the last video, what he did with his projects was honestly brilliant in my opinion and thought more people would've caught on to that (or maybe it wasn't anything crazy and I just still have a lot to learn) however if any of it is because you're just not buying his story and think there's a catch of some sort , you clearly need a better understanding of what these bootcamps entail and maybe that just wasn't clear because this guy obviously loves it (and probably amazing at what he does too) meanwhile most people would describe it as a storm to ride out because the intensive learning curves during the program can be overwhelming (No joke, a part of our orientation involved ways to avoid falling into a depressive state as its super easy to get demotivated when everything is so foreign to you lol)
These are good points. But I think you forget yet something... Don't you think that the recruiters did certainly consider your math degree, when taking their decision to answer you? ...
Hy Clement,i just got CoderPro..
Please don't take it personally..I must say they are better than yours.
You must work on making those videos interactive just as you do in your RUclips channel.
Just as you do your your RUclips videos if you do those algoexpert videos...then it will be a game changer.
It is easy to get lost in those graphic tablet videos.
Again saying, i am saying this to you as a creative feedback and as one of your subscribers.
Great video as always 👌
I just wanted to say that I find it somewhat myopic to not mention a 4 years bachelor degree in math prior to the whole learn-to-code-in-6-months endeavor. Of course it is way less attractive to tell someone to spend 4 years practicing your brain with really hard logic problems but that IS a tremendously relevant factor...
Thanks Clement, that's great!
A very clear explanation
Btw isn't genetics also considered as luck?
Ofc
Thanks for create and share.
I want to say that you talk like Slavoj Zizej, a phylosoper. Is interesting the accent.
Thanks for all
thanks bro, ur videos inspires me to get to a better position.
You should start coaching. It was very motivating.
Hello Sir, Am a High School student. Kindly advise me and other high school guys who have interest in tech on Computer Science majors in University or college to later have an internship or job in the top high-tech companies like Google.
Funfact: you can beat clement time with algo expert
A Beautiful lesson speaking of the luck:
A farmer and his son have a horse a stallion that helped them make a living and one day, this stallion runs away and the neighbors go - "Oh, what poor luck" and the farmer just drugs and says, "Maybe so, maybe not. We'll see".
A few days later. The stein returns with a few wild mares/horses with it and the neighbors see this and go - "Oh, what incredible fortune" and the farmer looks at them and shrugs and goes "maybe so, maybe not. We'll see".
A lot later, the sun is trying to break one of the mares and he falls off and breaks his leg and the villagers who are just observing everything that's happening with the farmer in the son. See this and they go, "Oh what a poor fortune" and the farmer looks at them and shrugs and goes "maybe so, maybe not. We'll see".
----So, Luck is "uncontrollable" the only thing that is controllable is "you".
I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.
Thanks for the motivation Clem 👍
The best salesmen have a response rate of about 5-10%. That means that for every 100 outgoing outreach messages, 5-10 would lead to a conversation. These people are the ones who seem to end up with the lucky deals.
Do you have plans for software design pattern videos on algo expert?
"The harder I work , the luckier I get !"
I'm learning to code, trying to be self-taught can you please be my mentor?
Do you recommend any online course to get to an advance level of programming?
Dude, you are my role model thanks for the huge amount of enthusiasm ❤️❤️
I totally agree to all the statements that u said... You help me stay motivated... Thanks Clement...
You missed three things.
Having parents who would help with the tuition of the BootCamp. Being white. And math background.
Not taking anything away from you, and I applaud you. But these 3 things are also crucial that need to be said.
Clément, how many languages did you have to learn during your time in Google? How did you handle that?
I believe he only knew JS and learned python for the google interview
This video is why I subscribed. Thank you, Clement.
I've been struggling alot with javascript, cant seem to solve even a single algorithmic challenge like functions and stuff, even the simple ones, very frustrating
What do you mean? Any examples of what you are struggling with?
@@Andrew-ez9ft I seem to be hitting a wall when it comes to algorithmic challenges is what someone things but idk. I tested my thought process and it seemed okay but when its time to put the code in aka creating a function or solving a challenge I just wouldnt know how to approach the issue, I've been following a course on udemy and sadly I was unable to solve even one so called challenges by myself, simply cuz idk what to use and how to use it.
@@kieran2347 I think that you should just practice more in coding. You should just try more sites like codewars, Hackerrank, and Leetcode. Just practice programming everyday. Practice it like 6 - 8 hours everyday. You should also make projects and try to be better. Don't give up and believe that you can do it!! Do you try to get a tutor or get help? There are online forums that you can do such as reddit r/learnprogramming or stackoverflow
@@Andrew-ez9ft Okay just so you know, I'm following a full stack web developement course on udemy by Angela Yu. The tutorials are really good i have to say. But its more like a fast-track course. I've another course that totally focuses on Javascript and looking forward to take up on that next to progress and learn all the concepts that exists in the language because, I havent covered everything in Javascript, still a stranger to many advanced concepts which I'm not even exposed to yet.
So you suggest investing more time solving and practicing on those coding sites. I've tried edabit and codewars and cant seem to solve even the easy ones tbh. I'd love to make projects but first I have to know what to use to apply a concept when writing a code or with which I can build a project, which is where I'm hitting a wall.
I'm self teaching and trying to change careers at 38 my friend and no tutors so far, just following a bootcamp and other resources that I can find. I havent checked any online programs as such nor stackoverflow for learning but except for googling a problem to find a solution lol (dont go by my lol-ing, that how I hide my frustration and desperation LOL)
I have one question, pls pls answer if you read this:
I saw Algoepxert curriculum. It has 100 questions.
By doing those 100 questions, will I be able to crack FAANG type companies interviews and tests.
Just curious
Love your videos
Have been following you since a last year when you started making videos!!
Well, everytime i feel depressed , i see that video of yours for motivation !
Luck = Prepardness + Opportunity.
Someone who never learns to code or apply will never be lucky enough to get a job at Google.
Luck is not random. You make your own luck.
1) Luck
2) Volume
3) Motivation
4) Genetics
Dang, here I am having trouble just to open up my laptop to code. college has beat it out of me. any advice?
Taking a guess, Clement is an MMA fan.
Correct!
@@clem So who you got, Izzy or Costa? I got Izzy by TKO after a slip counter left hook.
@Suvojit Mukherjee 0 for 2 there. I told you, slip counter left all day.
Omg i got algoexpert ads while watching the boss hahaha
Clement Mihailescuc i am unable to put " ' " on e
Will we get one time pay lifetime access on algoexpert.io again?
The best video in this channel.
just an opinion ✋
I admire you. That said. Why the hell should/must a Software Engineer aim be to get into google or facebook? I like coding and I'm learning but I don't have to strive for this.
I think there’s multiple ways to look at it
1) By clearing a Facebook/Google level software engineering interview, it tells every recruiter out there that you’re “at least that good”. So it’s like a certificate of proficiency in a way. Not saying someone who hasn’t got in isn’t that good, but that someone who did get in most likely is. This also makes getting investments for your startup a little easier because there’s a proven level of competency when your skills as an engineer are considered.
2) Companies of this level generally pay much better and offer better perks than most others. For example, Google offers free lunch every day to their employees, and in case of an employee’s death, Google gives their salary to the employee’s family.
3) Big companies can often create things that others cannot, and they have big impact. For example, an update to Google Maps will affects MILLIONS of people. An iOS update adds new features to almost 1 billion devices. Many people would go for that.
i understand the luck point like rolling a dice once and losing because u didn't get a number six and rolling the dice 100 time man its just probability and maximising your sample size nice
What kind of math do you " realy " need for software engineering???
And do you test the code???
Newbie gere,show the love!!
From Lisboa, Portugal.
so how to contact google intreviewer?
Clément can be so dramatic sometimes XD. But he posts really great content so that overwhelms everything. Thanks man.
Yeah, I practice coding 16 hours a day (I am not lying) I think I have pushed limits. I am not feeling very good
Love your videos, also I'm interested to know what's your mbti personality type, I think estp?
Glad you love the videos! My MBTI personality type is ENTJ.
this was an incredible video!! thank u
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity
-Lil Wayne
He Clement, about luck, watch Veritasium much : D?
Love your vids btw, really helpful.
How come your every video has "Google" in it ?
Because.... he's from Google.....
Were you a straight A student in High School? I mean it seems like you were since you went to UPenn.
I honestly love this guy. He has been spot on .Here is the take away(Clement: " YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE DISIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....). ( Me:I am in Trouble)