Software developer

 

Next

🚀 PHASE 1: Fundamentals (Months 1–3)

✅ Programming Language (Choose One)

  • C++ (recommended for DSA), or
  • Java, or
  • Python

Learn:

  • Syntax, Loops, Functions, Recursion
  • OOP (classes, inheritance, polymorphism)
  • Exception Handling

📚 Resources:

✅ Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) Basics

Topics to cover:

  • Arrays, Strings
  • Linked Lists
  • Stacks, Queues
  • HashMaps, Sets
  • Recursion
  • Sorting and Searching

📚 Practice:

🧠 PHASE 2: Intermediate DSA + Core CS (Months 4–8)

✅ Intermediate to Advanced DSA

Topics:

  • Trees & Binary Trees
  • Binary Search Trees
  • Heaps / Priority Queue
  • Graphs (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Union-Find)
  • Backtracking
  • Sliding Window, Two Pointers
  • Dynamic Programming

📚 Resources:

✅ Core CS Subjects (Important for Google & Amazon)

  • Operating Systems (Processes, Threads, Deadlocks)
  • DBMS (Normalization, Transactions, SQL Queries)
  • Computer Networks (OSI model, TCP/IP, HTTP)
  • System Design Basics (Scalability, Load Balancing)

📚 Resources:

💻 PHASE 3: Projects + System Design (Months 9–12)

✅ Projects (2–3 good quality)

Ideas:

  • E-commerce app (React + Node.js)
  • Chat App (Socket.io / Firebase)
  • Portfolio Website
  • REST API with authentication

Tools to learn:

  • Git & GitHub
  • Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React
  • Backend: Node.js / Django / Spring Boot
  • DB: MongoDB, MySQL

📚 Resources:

✅ System Design (Important for Amazon/Google)

Topics:

  • Scalability, Load Balancers, Caching
  • CAP Theorem, Consistency Models
  • Designing:
    • URL Shortener
    • Rate Limiter
    • Instagram/Facebook clone
    • Uber/Lyft architecture

📚 Resources:

🔁 PHASE 4: Interview Preparation (Ongoing after 6 months)

✅ Practice Coding Problems

  • Leetcode: 300–500 questions (Amazon/Google tag)
  • Daily practice: 2 easy, 1 medium, 1 hard
  • Mock interviews with friends or platforms

✅ Amazon & Google Specific Rounds

  • Amazon: Leadership Principles-based questions
  • Google: More DSA + System Design focused

📚 Resources:

🔎 RESUME + APPLICATIONS (After 10–12 months)

  • Build a 1-page resume (emphasize projects, DSA, internships)
  • Upload on LinkedIn, AngelList, Naukri
  • Apply on Amazon Jobs, Google Careers, Internships via Careers Page, Referrals, Hackathons

Optional (but useful):

📈 Competitive Programming (for Google especially)

  • Codeforces, CodeChef, AtCoder

🛠 Open Source Contribution

  • Hacktoberfest
  • Good First Issue GitHub

✅ Checklist Summary:

Skill Priority Done
DSA (300–500 questions) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
CS Core (OS, DBMS, CN) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
2–3 Projects ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
Git & GitHub ⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
System Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
Mock Interviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
Resume & Applications ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⬜
Competitive Programming ⭐⭐ (Google) ⬜


✅ 1. Master the Basics of Programming

This is non-negotiable.

  • Choose one language: Start with Python, C++, or Java.
  • Learn:
    • Variables, loops, functions
    • Arrays, strings
    • OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)
    • Recursion

📘 Resources:

✅ 2. Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA)

This is the most important topic for Amazon, Google, etc.

Learn:

  • Arrays & Strings
  • Linked Lists
  • Stacks & Queues
  • Trees (Binary Trees, BST)
  • Graphs (BFS, DFS)
  • Hash Maps
  • Sorting & Searching
  • Dynamic Programming
  • Greedy Algorithms

📘 Practice:

✅ 3. Problem Solving

Practice daily coding problems:

  • Start with easy → medium → hard
  • Focus on logic building and patterns

🛠 Tools:

  • LeetCode
  • HackerRank
  • Codeforces (for competitive coding)

✅ 4. System Design (Basic for Freshers)

Big tech companies value design thinking.

Understand:

  • Client-Server Model
  • APIs (REST)
  • Basics of scalable systems
  • Databases (SQL/NoSQL)

📘 Learn from:

✅ 5. Core CS Subjects (Interview Level)

Just the interview-relevant topics:

Subject Topics to Focus
OS Processes, Threads, Scheduling, Deadlocks
DBMS SQL, Normalization, Transactions
CN (Networks) TCP/IP, OSI model, HTTP, DNS
OOP Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism

✅ 6. Projects (Very Important!)

Show that you can build real things.

Examples:

  • Web development project (React + Node.js)
  • Android app (Kotlin/Flutter)
  • ML project (if interested in AI)
  • DB-backed application (SQL + front-end)

📘 Share on GitHub, make a portfolio.

✅ 7. Aptitude + Communication Skills

  • Aptitude: Practice logical reasoning, number series, puzzles.
  • Communication: Practice mock interviews, speak clearly, explain your code logic.

✅ 8. Resume Building

Your resume must:

  • Highlight 2-3 good projects
  • List key skills (DSA, Python, DBMS, etc.)
  • Show GitHub/LinkedIn link

📘 Tip: Use Overleaf Resume Template or Canva.

✅ 9. Apply + Practice Interviews

  • Practice mock interviews with friends or mentors
  • Join coding groups
  • Apply for:
    • Amazon SDE Intern/Graduate
    • Google STEP Internship
    • Off-campus contests (TCS Codevita, Google Kickstart, etc.)

Final Advice:

📌 Even if you know nothing now, give yourself 6-8 months of focused learning:

  • Code daily
  • Solve 200+ problems
  • Build 2+ real projects
  • Study interview-focused CS concepts