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Interview Prep
Jan 2026
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ITJobNotify Team
Is Competitive Programming Necessary for MAANG in 2026?
Understand whether competitive programming is still required for MAANG interviews and how to prepare smartly.
DSAMAANGCompetitive Programming
Estimated reading time: 4
Is Competitive Programming Necessary for MAANG in 2026?
Competitive programming (CP) has long been associated with MAANG hiring, but in 2026 its role has become more nuanced.
When CP Helps
- Strong problem-solving foundation
- Faster thinking under constraints
- Useful for algorithm-heavy roles
When CP Is Not Mandatory
- Product engineering roles
- Backend or platform teams
- Candidates with strong system design + projects
Smart Preparation Strategy
- Practice DSA patterns instead of contests
- Focus on explaining solutions clearly
- Balance CP with real-world projects
Learning Resources
- LeetCode Patterns → https://leetcode.com/discuss/
- CP Handbook → https://cses.fi/book/book.pdf
Read time: ~4 minutes
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