The Blog

Interview strategy that actually works.

Tactical guides on technical interviews, AI tools, system design, and the unfair advantages most engineers ignore. No fluff. No motivation porn. Just what works.

Best AI tools for technical interviews in 2026 - honest comparison
I tested every AI interview tool on the market - Cluely, ChatGPT, Pieces, GitHub Copilot, and Acemode. Here's what works, what doesn't, and which one your interviewer can detect.
How to use AI during a coding interview without getting caught
A practical guide to using AI tools in technical interviews - what's safe, what isn't, and the techniques that actually work in 2026.
Cluely vs Acemode: an honest side-by-side comparison
Both apps promise invisibility during interviews. Here's a real, hands-on comparison of features, pricing, and detection risk.
How to prepare for a system design interview in 24 hours
You have a system design interview tomorrow and you've never done one before. This is the exact framework that gets you a passing grade.
What screen-sharing tools actually can and cannot detect
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams - what does each one actually capture? An engineer's deep-dive into screen-sharing internals.
Is using AI during an interview cheating? Here's how I think about it.
A serious take on the ethics of AI interview tools. The line between "preparation" and "cheating" is blurrier than you think.
Behavioral interview answers that don't sound like ChatGPT
Generic STAR-format answers fail at senior interviews. Here's how to make AI-generated behavioral responses sound human and specific.
LeetCode, CoderPad, HackerRank: where AI tools work best
Each platform has different anti-cheat measures. Here's exactly which AI tools work where, and which platforms are most strict.
Your first technical interview: a step-by-step preparation guide
Never done a technical interview before? Here's the exact 7-day plan to walk in confident and walk out with an offer.
I used AI in 5 technical interviews - here's what worked
Real results from using Acemode in 5 different technical interviews. What worked, what didn't, and what I'd do differently.