Hi everyone,

I’m a 2025 CS graduate with a 6-month Java Full Stack internship under my belt. Currently, I’m at a crossroads. I missed the CP train in college due to fear/lack of guidance, but in the last 30 days, I’ve started the grind—solving 40+ problems (mostly Div. 3 A/B) and participating in my first contest.

My Plan: I want to push my rating to Expert (1600) and then use that as 'proof of work' to ask for referrals at top product companies.

I need your advice on two things:

The Referral Reality: Is being a 'Codeforces Expert' + 'Java Intern' a strong enough combo to get referrals from seniors at companies like Uber, Google, or startups? Or should I focus more on Projects?

Improving Logic: I can solve A and B easily, but I get stuck on C and D (Constructive algorithms/Greedy/Bitmasking). What’s the best way to bridge this gap to reach 1600 fast? Should I follow a specific ladder (like A2SV or Striver’s)?

Would appreciate any brutal feedback on my strategy.