u/Competitive-Bar-7196

I’m a 25M with 2.5 years of work experience, about to start preparing seriously for a switch, and I’m looking for a dedicated accountability partner.

Main focus areas:

• DSA
• Development
• System Design

The idea is to stay consistent together by:

• Sharing daily/weekly goals
• Tracking progress
• Regular check-ins
• Pulling each other back whenever one of us starts slacking
• May be Mock Interviews

Looking for someone who’s genuinely serious about improving and staying disciplined over the next few months.

Timezone: IST preferred, but flexible if schedules align.

Feel free to DM/comment

After graduation I always wanted to do masters. Got a job offer from a service based company in the meantime (you know the kind, everyone says it's basically a private govt job, stable, chill etc). Thought I'd manage both, work during the day, study on the side. Seemed doable at the time.

Three years later, that plan has completely fallen apart.

The job was nothing like what I expected. The micromanagement was insane, leaves were a nightmare to get, and the manager made the environment genuinely toxic. I couldn't study properly, couldn't even work properly half the time. And now after 3 attempts, I still haven't cleared the entrance exam.

On the work side, I basically just build and maintain REST APIs. Some basic architecture stuff here and there. That's it. Since all my energy outside work was going into exam prep, I never really upskilled. DSA I used to be okayish at but honestly I've forgotten most of it by now. To be clear though, I wasn't slacking at work — I did get appreciation from the client/business side, so it's not like I completely dropped the ball there.

The worst part? My parents don't know I didn't clear it again. They were really hopeful this time and I just... haven't been able to tell them yet.

I think I'm done with the masters plan honestly. Three attempts, three years, and it has cost me a lot — time, skills, mental peace. Don't want to give it another shot. I want to switch now but the problem is I don't have much to show for 2.5 years and I'm not sure where to start rebuilding. Has anyone managed to turn things around from a similar spot? What would you focus on first?