Problems solved, applications sent, interviews scheduled: these are easy to count. A few more problems done today, a few more rows in the spreadsheet. At least there's a visible record of the work.

It's tempting to extend that calculation one step further: after doing this much, shouldn't I get something back?

“I did X, so I should get Y”

I understand the appeal. After months of preparation, you want to know how much is left and when it will be enough. A progress bar you could fill and be done with would make this a lot easier.

But solving a problem once doesn't mean you can handle a variation. A good project may not be relevant to the team hiring right now. Openings, timing, and work authorization also affect the outcome, and another week of preparation won't necessarily change those.

Effort matters. It just doesn't come with a fixed exchange rate.

What I want the numbers to tell me

During that internship search, I did 120 problems in a month and still failed an interview because of my coding speed and approach. The problem count was real. So were the gaps in my preparation.

Looking at that record now, I'd want to ask: can I handle a changed constraint? Can I write the solution again a week later? If someone asks why I made a particular project decision, can I explain it?

The same goes for applications. If none are getting a response, another hundred isn't the only possible next step. I could check whether I'm applying too broadly, whether my résumé makes the relevant experience clear, or talk to someone who knows the role.

Those questions are less convenient to track, but they give me a better idea of what to do next.

I expect this comes up on the job too

Someone can do a lot of work and still not be promoted. Their performance may be part of it; so may the role, available openings, or organizational decisions. I don't have enough experience to offer a rule, but “work harder” doesn't seem like a sufficient explanation for every case.

If more time keeps failing to produce the outcome you want, it's worth asking whether the approach needs to change—or whether that position can offer what you're looking for at all.

I'll keep using the spreadsheet. I just don't want a few numbers in it to become my entire assessment of the year.