Scale Engineer

IC1

Software EngineerApprentice Software EngineerMedium

The IC1 Apprentice Software Engineer interview at LinkedIn is designed to assess foundational programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for entry-level engineers. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral assessments to ensure candidates have the potential to grow within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving ability
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Coding proficiency
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Learning agility
  • Cultural fit

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on easy and medium difficulty.
  3. Understand core computer science concepts such as operating systems, databases, and networking basics.
  4. Prepare to discuss your academic projects, internships, or personal coding projects in detail.
  5. Research LinkedIn's mission, values, and recent news to understand the company culture.
  6. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  7. Familiarize yourself with common programming languages used at LinkedIn (e.g., Java, Python, C++).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Hash Tables). Practice implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), heaps, and hash tables. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems related to them. Understand their time and space complexity.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Write a program to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree.
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult teammate.
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Explain the difference between TCP and UDP.
  • What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?
  • Design a basic rate limiter.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

Global

Interview focus

Understanding of core computer science concepts.Ability to articulate thought process during problem-solving.Enthusiasm for learning and growth.Teamwork and communication skills.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your studies.
  • How do you approach learning a new programming language or technology?
  • Describe a time you had to collaborate with a team on a technical project.
  • What are your favorite data structures and why?
  • Explain the concept of recursion with an example.

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss academic projects in detail.
  • Showcase your eagerness to learn and adapt.
  • Highlight any contributions to open-source projects or personal coding initiatives.
  • Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at LinkedIn.

Frequently reported on LinkedIn loops

View all at LinkedIn

Other guides

More at LinkedIn.