About the contest: GeeksforGeeks Mega Job-A-Thon

The GeeksforGeeks Mega Job-A-Thon was a highly anticipated coding contest aimed at freshers looking to kickstart their careers in the tech industry. It was a competitive challenge hosted on the GeeksforGeeks platform, known for its rigorous coding assessments and high-caliber participants.

Overview of the Questions:

The contest comprised three challenging coding questions that tested a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and coding proficiency. Each question was assigned a specific time limit, and participants were required to submit efficient solutions within these constraints.

Experience with Problems:

• Problem 1 – Array Manipulation: This problem involved manipulating an array based on a series of queries. It required careful consideration of data structures and optimization to solve efficiently. I initially struggled with understanding the problem statement but eventually managed to devise an algorithm that performed well.
• Problem 2 – String Queries: This problem revolved around string manipulation and pattern matching. It was less complex than the first problem, but it demanded attention to detail and precision in implementing the algorithm. I found this problem relatively straightforward and solved it quickly.
• Problem 3 – Tree Traversal: The third problem was the most challenging. It required traversing a tree and finding the longest path without repeating nodes. This problem pushed the limits of my tree traversal skills, and I spent a significant amount of time devising an efficient algorithm to tackle it.

Approach Used:

1. For Problem 1, I used a prefix sum technique to optimize the array manipulation process, significantly reducing the time complexity.
2. Problem 2 was solved using a sliding window approach, which allowed me to efficiently search for patterns in the given strings.
3. Problem 3 required a depth-first search (DFS) on the tree to find the longest path. I used a recursive DFS approach to tackle this problem.

Result:

Despite the challenges, I managed to successfully solve all three problems within the given time limits. I submitted my solutions and anxiously awaited the results. After a few days of anticipation, I received the exciting news that I had secured a position in the top 10% of participants in the GeeksforGeeks Mega Job-A-Thon. This achievement not only boosted my confidence but also opened up opportunities for interviews with top tech companies participating in the hiring challenge.

Conclusion:

Overall, my coding contest experience in the GeeksforGeeks Mega Job-A-Thon was both challenging and rewarding. It reaffirmed my passion for coding and problem-solving while providing me with valuable exposure to real-world coding challenges and the opportunity to showcase my skills to potential employers.