Layed off leetcoding full time, will employment gap hurt me?

[ktran03]

Hi HN.

So I was layed off a few months ago because of covid, and been leetcoding fulltime since. I've tried solving lc problems in the past with a full-time job but barely made any progress.

In the past 2 months I've done about 200 questions and starting to feel really comfortable with these problems. I want to reach 500-600 lc solved before interviewing, but I'm worried what a long unemployment gap might look bad and make it harder for me to find work ?

I've been in the industry less than 6 years.

[onion2k]

Ordinarily, yes. During these strange times when lots of others are in the same situation, probably not.

[teetertater]

Exactly. If any company asks, just give them an explanation like "I got laid off due to covid and spent the time learning and preparing for interviews" which implies that you're using your time well. If that explanation doesn't suffice for them, then you probably don't want to work there anyways