Really Remote

Skill track

Software engineering

Get through coding tests and AI interviews for coding evaluation work and remote developer roles.

Time to ready
4–8 weeks
Spend
$0
Pay
Coding evaluation often pays more than general work
How hard to get in4/5
Check if I'm ready

Some links pay us a referral fee. It never changes what we recommend, and we list good options that pay us nothing.

What gets tested

What screeners actually check

Solving timed coding problems in one language
Reading and finding bugs in someone else's code
Explaining your reasoning out loud in an AI interview
Basic system design for senior roles

Unlocks: Mercor · Coding projects on Ethos · Remote developer jobs

Worth your time

What moves the needle

One or two finished projects on GitHub

Free

A working project with a short README and a live demo answers "can you build?" faster than anything else.

A structured problem list (e.g. NeetCode 150)

Free

Covers the common patterns timed tests use. Depth in one language beats breadth.

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Practise talking through code out loud

Free

AI interviews score how you explain, not just the answer. Record yourself solving one problem a day.

Reviewing code from open-source pull requests

Free

Code evaluation work is mostly reading and judging code, not writing it from scratch.

Coursera project-based courses (e.g. Google, Meta, DeepLearning.AI)

Low cost

Good structured learning, but only if you finish the hands-on project and put the working code on GitHub. Link the project, not the certificate PDF.

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Save your money

Usually a waste

Certificates of completion with no project

They show you watched videos, not that you can code.

Short "full-stack in a week" bootcamps

Too shallow to pass a timed test, and screeners know it.

Collecting many language badges

One language you know deeply beats five you know a little.

Your plan

From zero to applying

  1. 1

    Weeks 1–2

    Pick one language

    Do 3–5 problems a week from a structured list, focusing on patterns.

  2. 2

    Weeks 3–5

    Build proof

    Finish one small project with a README and a live demo link.

  3. 3

    Weeks 6–8

    Mock interviews

    Solve problems out loud on a timer, then apply.

Questions

FAQ

Which language should I prepare in?

The one you know best. Most tests let you choose, and Python and JavaScript are widely accepted.

Is a Coursera certificate worth paying for?

The certificate alone rarely gets you through a screening. Audit courses for free where possible, pay only if you need graded projects, and finish quickly so a monthly subscription doesn't run on. What helps is the project you build and link on your profile.

Do cloud certificates help?

They can help for some infrastructure jobs, but for coding tests and AI coding evaluation, solved problems and projects matter much more.

Other tracks

Keep exploring

AI training & evaluation
English proof (C1 level)
Domain experts