Dynamic Programming on LeetCode: What Every International Student Should Know for IT Job Hunting

If you’re an international student trying to get an IT job in North America, chances are you’re spending a lot of time on LeetCode. Among all the tricky topics, dynamic programming (DP) is usually the one that trips up a lot of people. Big companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google often throw one or two DP problems in technical interviews. These questions aren’t just about writing code—they want to see if you really get how to break down the problem.

When you start with DP, it’s normal to feel confused. Many people don’t know how to split the problem into smaller parts or how to set up the right “states.” The key isn’t just coding, it’s thinking it through. A good way to start is with some classic, straightforward problems like Climbing Stairs, Coin Change, Longest Common Subsequence, or House Robber. These help you learn how to break down a problem, define what each state means, and figure out the rules for moving between states.

But solving problems alone isn’t enough. What really helps in interviews is being able to explain your thinking clearly. If you can draw a quick diagram and say something like, “dp[i] means the best solution up to element i, and here I have two options: take it or leave it,” that’s way more important than just getting the perfect answer. Interviewers want to understand how you approach problems and how you communicate your ideas.

DP isn’t just useful for interviews either. When you’re working on real projects—like speeding up data processing, running models, or designing cache systems—you’ll find that DP concepts come in handy. So don’t just memorize solutions; really try to understand the why behind them. When practicing, write out your answers by hand and explain them out loud if you can. It’s better to really get a handful of problems than to rush through a bunch without understanding.

To wrap up, DP problems are tough, but they’re definitely manageable if you find the right way to learn. Take your time, get comfortable with the thinking process, and turn your fear of DP into confidence. This will not only help you nail interviews but also make you stronger on the job later on.