How to Pass Coding Interviews with Just Vibes

So here’s how it went down.
I got an interview last month.
I opened LeetCode.
I panicked.
Then I opened GPT-4… and somehow, I didn’t bomb.

That’s when I realized:
I wasn’t prepping. I was vibe prepping.

No 75-question grind. No algorithms bootcamp. Just vibes, GPT-4, and a vague memory of a Neetcode video I half-watched at 1.5x speed. I guessed, I prompted, I shipped it.

If that sounds unhinged… it kind of is.
But it also kinda worked.
No spreadsheets and burnout. Just enough structure to fake being prepared.

Here’s how to pass the coding interview—without losing your will to live:

Step 1: Learn the Patterns—Then Forget the Syntax

You don’t need to remember every detail about trees or graphs.
You just need to recognize them like you recognize red flags on LinkedIn.

Do this:

• Watch 5-minute explainers on the top 6 patterns (sliding window, BFS/DFS, two pointers, etc.).

• Use GPT like a personal tutor:

  1. Explain dynamic programming like I’m 12 and bored.

  2. Give me a brute-force and optimized solution for this LeetCode question.

You’re not memorizing—you’re building intuition. The AI handles the rest.

Step 2: Use GPT, But Use It Like a Pro🤖

Anyone can paste a prompt.
But smart vibe coders treat GPT like a junior dev on their team.

Instead of just asking “solve this,” try:

• “Here’s a list of test cases. Write code that passes them.”

• “Walk through this implementation line-by-line so I can explain it in an interview.”

• “Think of 3 possible reasons this is breaking before suggesting a fix.” ← This one’s underrated.

You’re not just solving problems—you’re learning how to talk about them.

Step 3: Do 20 Questions. Deeply. That’s It.

Forget the grindset. Do 20 problems well.

• Choose 5 patterns.

• Do 4 problems each (easy → medium → hard).

• For each one:

  • Try solo.

  • Use GPT only after struggling.

  • Write a 2-line summary:

    “Used two pointers to reduce O(n²) to O(n). Got stuck on edge cases, GPT helped refactor.”

This is vibe studying with receipts.

Step 4: Practice Talking, Not Just Typing

In interviews, they care more about how you think than how fast you code.

Before your next mock interview:

Ask GPT
“Pretend you’re an interviewer. Ask me a coding question, then critique my answer.”

• Explain solutions out loud. Even if it’s just to your cat. Or your ceiling fan.

• Bonus: Try using voice-to-text tools while coding. Talking your way through problems is weirdly effective.

Bonus: Reset Often. Junk Code Builds Up Fast.
When GPT gets stuck and starts hallucinating 12 versions of the same broken function?

Don’t fix it.

git reset --hard 

Start fresh. Rewrite the prompt. Rebuild your logic. Save your sanity.

Also: Once a week, delete your LeetCode history and start clean. Re-solve without looking. If it feels new again—you’re learning.

Final Strategy
You don’t need 300 LeetCode questions.
You need confidence, context, and clean vibes.

Here’s your vibe-coded blueprint:

🔹 Learn just enough to recognize the patterns
🔹 Use GPT like a junior dev, not a vending machine
🔹 Solve 20 solid problems—not 200 random ones
🔹 Talk through your code like you’re live on Twitch
🔹 Reset often — crusty code is a trap
🔹 Bonus: Build weird stuff. Say weird things. Learn loud.

This isn’t lazy prep.
It’s the future of coding.

Ready to take the vibe-coded prep plan for a spin?
Send us your GPT prompt via email or drop it in our Reddit community.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Until then—keep shipping.
Even if you guessed half the syntax.