
Coding is a vast field with limitless scope once you get into it. The main struggle is technically most in the initial stages when you are just starting your journey.
Getting the hang of the concepts and preparing for coding interviews, everything can be overwhelming without a doubt. Even if you are returning from a break, you might feel a little hard at hand. With all the endless concepts and time limits, it’s okay to feel lost at times. However, following the right approach, the right resources, and maintaining consistency, even beginners can go from zero to hero in just 3 months.
This guide provides a step-by-step, customizable 90-day plan, covering essential data structures, algorithms, and real-world interview strategies. Whether you're targeting FAANG interviews or startups, this structured roadmap can get you job-ready without burning out.
If you start your coding interview preparation without drafting a clear plan, you may feel burned out, experience knowledge gaps, and waste time in a short while. As a 2023 HackerRank survey states, 60% of developers spend at least 3-6 months preparing for such interviews, but those without a plan are often seen struggling with unbalanced topic coverage and inconsistent progress.
However, all the unfortunate instances can be significantly minimized or even altogether prevented by following a dedicated 3-month timeline. It’s a long enough timeframe to cover all essential concepts, yet short enough to maintain urgency and motivation.
More importantly, a structured study plan ensures that you cover all the core topics (not just arrays and strings), gradually increase in problem-solving difficulty level, and practice smartly using spaced repetition and mock interviews.
Rather than guessing what to do next, platforms like Algocademy.com simplify the journey by offering efficient study paths, from fundamentals to advanced topics, along with built-in progress tracking and certification to validate your interview readiness.
Prepare a time commitment chart to assess your study plan, customizable based on your pace and schedule.
Consistency is a must if you want to crack coding interviews. To be able to solve problems efficiently, you need to stay motivated while also tracking your progress and pacing accordingly. Getting frustrated over the inability to solve problems or missing concepts is not the way to go.
Learn to visualize your growth to maintain momentum. For that, you may use:
A spreadsheet or Notion board to log problems, topics, and notes
AlgoCademy’s built-in tracker for personalized guided paths, checkpoints, and certifications
Tracking progress makes your effort visible and helps you know weak areas early so that you can focus on improvement.
We understand that studying 90 days straight is tough. But it's not an impossible feat if done right:
Rotate your practice area between problem-solving, mock interviews, and video reviews.
Set weekly micro-goals, such as 5 problems and 1 mock interview.
Remember to take breaks to improve long-term retention and motivation.
If needed, join a community to learn with others, allowing you to be inspired and accountable.
Small achievements will result in big feats. With steady tracking and mindful pacing, you stay on course and motivated to be on your path to interview success.
By the last month of the set timeline, your skills and confidence are ready to shift into interview mode.
Polish your resume by highlighting AlgoCademy certificates, GitHub work, etc., to stand out and pass ATS filters.
Prepare for behavioral rounds by using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to tackle common questions.
Run mock interviews to simulate real interview pressure. Record your sessions to boost clarity and pacing.
Start applying by Week 10 to gain real-world interview experience, likely involving comfortable and aspirational roles.
Reflect and adapt after each interview. Note what worked and what didn’t to update your prep accordingly.
While coding interviews are tough, they are beatable with a smart study plan, consistent effort, and by leveraging modern tools like AlgoCademy’s efficient study paths that guide learners from basics to advanced topics (with certification), setting them up for success. This 3-month roadmap presents clarity, structure, and momentum. No more guessing game of what to learn next; just focus, track, and grow.