Passionate in Software Engineering but Don’t Have CP Capabilities

A lot of people believe that working as a software engineer means you need to have strong competitive programming (CP) skills. I get it — CP is often seen as the gold standard for coding ability. But the truth is, not everyone has the natural talent or interest to solve CP-style problems.

I want to share something upfront: I’m also not someone who excels at CP-level coding questions. And that’s okay.

What really matters is having a solid foundation in data structures and algorithms. Even if you’re not great at solving tricky Leetcode problems, understanding the basics well — things like arrays, maps, sorting, trees — can carry you far.

These days, many companies are shifting away from pure algorithm tests. Instead, they focus more on real-world, day-to-day coding problems and system design. Of course, it’s a different story if you're aiming for FAANG-level companies; they still stick to CP-style challenges in their early rounds.

In my personal experience, I spent most of my time working at a fintech company in Singapore. Their interview process was nothing like Leetcode. Instead, they tested practical coding skills and did a lot of collaborative code reviews. The main goal was to understand my thought process and see if I’d fit well in the team.

At another UK-based fintech company, the process was even more practical. The focus was on processing raw data and transforming it into the expected output — again, no tricky algorithm puzzles, just clear and logical problem-solving.

So to anyone passionate about software engineering: don’t let CP hold you back. You can absolutely build a strong career in this field, even if CP-style coding isn’t your thing.