hidro

I'm a software engineer with more than 5 years experience. There have been more than 1 time I am contacted by big companies for interview opportunities. And every time I find myself in a position where I'm totally unprepared for it.

I know the drill, and I know my skills. I'm not terrific with algorithm problems. I need preparation and frequent practice to stay sharp. In the past, I have tried spending 1-2 hours each day to practice. But as I gain more experience, I find myself spending more and more time working on side projects, exploring things that interest me, solving problems at a different scale. I can't really keep myself motivated to practice random algorithm problems anymore.

I do want to be prepared when the chance comes, but I can't balance my time. What would you do if you were me?