
## Ep 3: University Education is Important!

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One might argue that we can find a job and build a great career even without one. But I don't see universities' main goal to help you find a job or master JS basics (youtube videos are doing it 😏).

University helps you to master and improve the following skills: ⤵️

🎓 1. Academic approach for learning and executing.
Youtube videos might help you learn some basics regarding technologies, but they are not digging enough as a result we have specialists who don’t know how to approach complex problems which require deep analysis.

As a result, we don’t go further than google’s first page of results.
As a result, we have bunch of coders who acknowledge “Engineer” just as a LinkedIn status.

🌁 2. Big Picture.
Higher education gives you the big picture about everything you are going to face during your professional career. Sometimes we think that it’s not important, but lately facing issues regarding different domains, we are able to dive deep into the topic really fast.

Maybe I didn’t need those lessons of Calculus and Philosophy when I was 18, but now (when I’m 23) they help me to be a better engineer, a better manager, and a human.

🧐 3. Fundamental Knowledge shows its importance in the long term run.
University gives deep fundamental knowledge regarding Computer Science, Philosophy, Physics, and Math. Sometimes they are not enough to find a job, but these skills create huge potential which you can turn into a career (with intensive courses, YouTube videos, etc) later. Maybe in short term, people, who started earlier without fundamental knowledge, might outstrip university graduates, but in the long-term run, they had no chance.

🔥 People who think that they don’t need higher education, are receiving tasks corresponding to their competence and will never be able to understand where they are going to be needed.

P.S. I want to dedicate this post to all my university teachers. They were right about _almost_ anything. I was a fool to think that I'm smarter. 🙏🏻


😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 3

> And then she asked "So, how to join Toptal?"

The question I have heard a lot of times during past weeks. It was a little bit
confusing to forward the same message, so I decided to prepare an article.

Below you can find my ultimate description of Toptal interview and work process 👇

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<hr />

## Table of contents

- Part 1. [Interview process](#interview-process)
  
- Part 2. [Preparation](#preparation)
  
- Part 3. [FAQ](#faq)
  

<hr />

## Interview process

### Application / CV

The inital stage for toptal application includes registration on the platform
using LinkedIn or Email.

Recommendations:

- Don't forget to attach your CV
- Prepare professional photo for the application.
  <a
    target="_blank"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NFL9vVDXss3c9TU52T-ZRGPnPnM0QkI/view?usp=sharing"
  >
    Sample
  </a>

Toptal usually checks applications quickly.

<a
  href="https://topt.al/4bcPwK"
  target="_blank"
  rel="noopener noreferrer"
>
  <button
    type="link"
    style={{ backgroundColor: "#1f4fce" }}
    className="w-full flex items-center justify-center px-8 py-2 border border-transparent text-base font-medium rounded-md text-white hover:bg-indigo-700 md:py-2 md:text-lg md:px-10"
  >
    Join Toptal
  </button>
</a>

For referrals:

- In case of any question, feel free to reach me out using one of the social links in website [footer](#footer).
- Using my referral link will help you to earn additional bonuses when you join the network (up to $2500).

### 1st stage: English Screening / ☕️ 15 min

When your application is accepted, the very first stage of your journey starts!
You need to schedule a quick call with English Screener.

Usually the whole process is going to take around 10-15 minutes and
the goal of this stage is to check English speaking and listening skills.

Recommendations:

- Don't panic and be confident.
  Your english most probably is more than enough for this stage.
- Prepare the environment. Toptal is using BlueJeans for all sorts of calls
- Prepare to answer for questions like these:

  > Tell me about yourself?

  > What's your strenghts?

  > Tell me about your past experience?

  > What you love about being an engineer?

### 2nd stage: Online testing / ☕️☕️☕️ 90 min

So, right after the process of screening your English
you are going to get an email about the next stage which is an online coding test.

The test is 90 minutes long(from the moment you clicked the link)
using the [Codility](https://www.codility.com/) platform.
During this stage, you are free to use google.

Recommendations:

- Play with Codility before taking test.
  I started without getting acknowledged with platform and it costed me valuable time.
- Prepare to get algorithmic questions (see [Preparation](#algorithms-and-data-structures) section).
- Prepare for react in case of frontend track (see [Preparation](#frontend-track) section).

### 3rd stage: Live coding / ☕️☕️ 30-60 minute

After the online test, you will get a chance to schedule the next step which is Live Coding
with TopTal technical screener.

During this stage, the hardest part is time restriction:
you must solve 1-2 tasks under short time frame.

You will start screen sharing, get the task description and after
confirmation that requirements are clear, the countdown starts.

Recommendations:

- Try using timer during preparation in order to get ready for this step
- In case of algorithmic tasks get acknowledged with platform (Codility)
- In case of frontend track prepare environment (disable Copilot, prepare code editor, language syntax highlights)
- Understand your salary expectations: this is the first step when interviewer asks about your desired rate

### 4th stage: Technical Task / ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ up to 1 week

The last and the longest step is the technical task. Technical screener will send
requirements by email and you will start working on the project using GitLab.

Recommendations:

- Get acknowledged with GitLab (Merge Requests, Squash commits)
- Test everything before submission
  - Validations
  - Access Rights
  - Paginations, etc.
- Avoid using technologies you are not famillar with
- Prepare 10-20 hours for the task
  Use vacation or have weekends ahead before starting

## Preparation

### Algorithms and Data Structures

1. [Grokking Algorithms](https://www.amazon.com/Grokking-Algorithms-illustrated-programmers-curious/dp/1617292230) —
   The best book to start your journey of learning algorithms.
2. Solve tasks using one of the websites

- [Codility Lessons](https://app.codility.com/programmers/lessons/1-iterations/)
- [Leetcode](https://leetcode.com/)

3. If you are looking for something like a course with tons of materials prepared earlier, then use [AlgoExpert](https://www.algoexpert.io/)

### Frontend Track

1. [React Docs](https://reactjs.org/) —
   Don't forget to pay attention to both Class components (lifecycle) and Hooks.

2. [Articles](https://www.robinwieruch.de/) —
   Use Robin's articles regarding different topics

## FAQ

1. How the payments work?

> Toptal sends the money to your Toptal wallet (during 20 days), then you can use 2 options to get the money:
>
> 1. Visa Digital or Physical card — has additional fees (see in payment portal)
> 2. Wire Transfer (1-2 working days) — costs $10 per transfer

2. What about english proficiency?

> You should not be native english speaker to cope with the interviews
> and daily conversations with clients. Good listening and speaking skills
> (around B2) is enough.

3. How long it takes to prepare?

> I'd set aside 5-10 hours for frontend track and 1,5-2 weeks for algorithms

4. Will you help me?

> Use my [referral link](https://topt.al/4bcPwK) and feel free to reach me out in case of questions.

The most ultimative guide on how to apply and pass toptal interview process.

🙋‍♂️ How to Toptal?


## Ep 4: Offline Courses Sucks!

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Before you close the tab, let me bring some arguments to the table ⤵️

### Attract best talents

During the covid I had several courses where students were from Armenia (both capital and multiple villages) and Russia (even from glubinka). Most of them were great students and they’d miss the class if it was offline.

And the class would miss them.

### Out of box solutions for recordings

Recorded lessons were one of the great bonuses for students. Now they can re-watch the lesson multiple times instead of trying to remember everything. It really improved the performance.

### Less operational costs

During the offline lessons, operational issues were the ones that bothered me the most. Broken projectors, cords, and lines.

Now, the only operational dependency is the internet.

### But what about socialization?

One might argue that communication suffers during the online lesson. Sadly, I have to agree. But! We can and must adapt:

- Peer-graded assignments, Pair-programming, Team Related tasks

> Coursera uses them to solve the problem of cooperation and experience sharing

- Start each lesson by experience sharing

> Evil Martiance use every 10-20 minutes of their meeting time to share their life-related experience

- Online tours

> e.g. visit the Louvre or watch some tv-shows via Netflix Party


😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 4

You don’t agree? Let me explain why you are mistaken 🔝

😈 Second Monitor is overrated. Ep 5

Ep 5: Second Monitor is overrated.

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😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 3

🙋‍♂️ How to Toptal?

😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 4