What do you do if your portfolio doesn't showcase your expertise in Algorithms?

Algorithms should not be in your CV, unless you are applying for the role, where algo/ds knowledge is essential. For most engineers, algorithms are not applicable knowledge for day-to-day work. Therefore it provides no signal for HR/recruiter why you are a good candidate for this specific role. One way is to try to explain how theoretical knowledge helped you to solve real enterprise problems: - Implemented autocomplete using Trie datastructure - Implemented in-memory cache eviction using min/max heap algorithm If you have achievements in algorithms competitions, definitely provide them in CV. It shows that you are competitive and you are one the best in this area. One more reason to hire you.

One can implement the different algorithms like - Sorting algorithms: Bubble Sort, Quick Sort, Merge Sort and Heaps on GitHub inside a repository and then show the code snippet to their own portfolio website. Similarly going on the same line they can also host or create a repository on GitHub containing their implementation of Leetcode questions. I myself do it daily. It will not only show a candidate’s potential of Algorithm but also cover basic knowledge of Git and portfolio- website making.

Algorithms in themselves are not displayables, but their implementations in projects are. Therefore, having a separate section in the resume only to showcase algorithms makes no real sense or gives no real value. Perhaps if you've taken a special course to study data structures and algorithms theory, then including a mention of the certification gained will do some good. But that alone may not be enough.

Some of my friends put their coding site URL in CV. For me I put in their that I teaching Algorithms in Samsung for 5 years at the professional level (certificate test).

You can create your custom algorithm by improving on the existing algorithm and host it on GitHub and write a blog post explaining why your custom algorithm is performing better than the existing algorithm. Stressen did the same with matrix multiplication as the worst case running time complexity of multiplying 2 compatible matrices the TC = O(n^3) But stressen was focussed and devised a startegy to use Divide & Conquer to achieve the worst case running time complexity to be O(n^2.7)

Algorithms in themselves have no legs of their own. Just like applied mathematics, algorithms also gain value only when applied in some solution. The visibility is the success of the solution. Yes, if one has taken a course to study data structures and algorithms theory, then including a mention of the certification gained will do some good. But that alone may not be value enough.

Most such competitions stand on their own, often having little implication on real world applications. Yes, it's great to compete for the thrill of showcasing one's prowess in abstractions and challenges. And there's perhaps nothing wrong in mentioning these in one's resume. However, real world production code will need be readable and maintainable, and therefore will need to adhere to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle of coding. Often most of those competition level algorithms do not lend to such day to day coding.

Once an individual grasps the fundamentals of algorithms and has practiced introductory problems, I then advise my students to engage in online competitions or hackathons. Premature participation can lead to discouragement, as they often compete against seasoned practitioners with 10-12 years of experience. Therefore, I caution against hastily entering such contests. It is important to avoid undermining your confidence, a common outcome for many who consequently abandon the subject due to the demoralizing effects of online competitions hosted on platforms like LeetCode, Codeforces, and others.

This is the best way to improve and progress forward not only in algorithm but in all subjects - Try to explain the algorithm by writing a blog post and make it as detailed as possible. It helps because: 1. It verifies whether you actually know the algorithm or you are in illusion that you have knowledge of the algorithm 2. It increases your online presence which is a must for every CS student in modern world 3. It might benefit other also who read your blog post

Learning is a life long process which never stops and perfection can never be attained in any domain. Practice is something which can increase your knowledge domain of the subject like algorithm and make you come up with your own new creative ideas or algorithm like how Stressen reduced the time complexity of matrix multiplication by using Divide & Conquer approach.

Learning is only the key for any problem-solution. It’s very important that learn and implement will make things better in job.

When HR asks me about an interview with algorithms, I am happy to share that I am okay with that, and I am also a teacher on that field. When interviewer know that, they help me to skip some common part and focus on the logic and edge case of the problem. We also have time to talk and it's more fun. We all agree to some degree that algorithms should help you to make better code, not to flex of how many leetcode you do