u/Fickle-Key-2616

Hi people!

I'm a recent AI & ML graduate from India, and my long-term goal is to land a software engineering or AI/ML role at a top tech company (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, etc.).

I've realized there's a lot of conflicting advice online. Some people say grind LeetCode, others say build projects, others say networking is everything. I'm looking for advice from people who have actually made it into Big Tech.

Here's where I currently stand:

Learning DSA seriously and working through LeetCode.
Studying CS fundamentals (OS, DBMS, CN, OOP).
Improving Python and backend development.
Interested in AI/ML and GenAI, but also open to general software engineering roles if that's the better path.

A few questions:

If you had to start from scratch today, what roadmap would you follow?
What do most candidates waste time on?
What are the highest ROI skills for getting interviews?
How much LeetCode is actually enough?
What projects genuinely impressed recruiters or interviewers?
Are there any "unwritten rules" or tricks that most people don't know about?
If your goal was to get into Big Tech within 12 months, how would you structure your learning?

I'm not looking for shortcuts, I know there's no substitute for hard work. I'm just trying to avoid spending hundreds of hours on things that don't move the needle.

I'd really appreciate any advice, even if it's something you wish someone had told you when you were starting out.

Thanks in advance!

want internship or job experience?

Looking for advice from Big Tech engineers on the most efficient roadmap