# IC1
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Apprentice Software Engineer
**Company:** [LinkedIn](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/linkedin)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$75000 - US$95000
**Experience:** 0 - 2
**Timeline:** ~14 days
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.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/linkedin/apprentice-software-engineer-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication and Behavioral

## Questions 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.

## Preparation tips

### lists

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

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Hash Tables). Practice implementations and complexity analysis."}
- {"title":"Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on Algorithms. Cover sorting algorithms (bubble sort, merge sort, quick sort), searching algorithms (binary search), graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's), dynamic programming, and recursion. Practice solving problems using these algorithms.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Graph Traversal, Recursion). Practice problem-solving."}
- {"title":"System Design Fundamentals","longDescription":"Week 5: System Design Fundamentals. Understand basic concepts like scalability, availability, load balancing, and caching. Focus on designing simple systems relevant to entry-level roles.","shortDescription":"Week 5: System Design Basics (Scalability, Caching). Focus on simple designs."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 6: Behavioral Preparation. Prepare answers for common behavioral questions using the STAR method. Reflect on your experiences related to teamwork, problem-solving, challenges, and learning.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR Method). Prepare examples for teamwork and problem-solving."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Review","longDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews and Review. Conduct mock interviews to simulate the actual interview environment. Review weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Refine your explanations and problem-solving approaches.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews and Review. Practice and refine weak areas."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Global","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of core computer science concepts.","Ability to articulate thought process during problem-solving.","Enthusiasm for learning and growth.","Teamwork and communication skills."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}
- {"location":"North America","differences":{"tips":["Prepare examples that demonstrate your problem-solving approach.","Be ready to discuss your understanding of software engineering best practices.","Showcase your ability to learn from feedback.","Research common software design patterns."],"interviewFocus":["Problem-solving skills with a focus on practical application.","Understanding of software development lifecycle.","Ability to work independently and as part of a team.","Adaptability to different technical challenges."],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle ambiguity in project requirements?","Describe a situation where you received constructive criticism and how you responded.","What are your thoughts on code reviews?","Explain the difference between a process and a thread.","How would you design a simple URL shortener?"]}}
- {"location":"Europe","differences":{"tips":["Brush up on your knowledge of data structures and algorithms.","Be prepared to walk through your debugging process.","Emphasize your commitment to writing clean and maintainable code.","Familiarize yourself with common software development tools."],"interviewFocus":["Strong grasp of fundamental programming concepts.","Attention to detail in coding and problem-solving.","Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.","Understanding of collaborative development workflows."],"commonQuestions":["Can you explain the principles of object-oriented programming?","How do you ensure the quality of your code?","Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue.","What are the advantages of using version control systems like Git?","How would you approach optimizing a slow-running query?"]}}

## Round 1: Coding Challenge
**Type:** Technical Screening (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 45 min
Assess fundamental coding skills and problem-solving with 1-2 coding questions.
This round focuses on assessing your fundamental programming skills and problem-solving abilities. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving arrays, strings, or basic data structures. The interviewer will evaluate your approach, the correctness of your code, and your ability to explain your thought process.
**Interviewers look for:** Basic coding proficiency.; Understanding of core data structures.; Logical thinking.; Ability to articulate solutions.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of code; Efficiency of solution (time and space complexity); Clarity and organization of code; Ability to communicate approach
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve basic coding problems.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Difficulty explaining thought process.; Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.
## Questions

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode (Easy difficulty).
- Ensure you can explain your code and its complexity.
- Be prepared to write code on a whiteboard or shared editor.

## Round 2: Algorithms and Data Structures Deep Dive
**Type:** Technical Interview (Algorithms) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 60 min
Deeper dive into algorithms and data structures with more complex coding problems.
This round delves deeper into your algorithmic knowledge and problem-solving capabilities. You'll be presented with more complex coding problems that require knowledge of various data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze the problem, choose appropriate algorithms, optimize solutions, and handle edge cases.
**Interviewers look for:** Proficiency in applying algorithms.; Ability to analyze time and space complexity.; Problem-solving approach.; Code quality and structure.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness and efficiency of algorithms.; Understanding of edge cases.; Debugging skills.; Communication of trade-offs.
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to apply algorithms to solve problems.; Poor time or space complexity analysis.; Difficulty debugging code.; Lack of clarity in explaining solutions.
## Questions

- Write a program to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree.
- Find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.

## Preparation tips

- Practice medium-difficulty problems on LeetCode, focusing on trees, graphs, and dynamic programming.
- Understand the time and space complexity of your solutions.
- Be prepared to discuss alternative approaches and their trade-offs.
- Practice explaining your solution step-by-step.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Cultural Fit
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assess soft skills, teamwork, and cultural fit through behavioral questions.
This round focuses on your behavioral and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, work in teams, and your motivations. The goal is to understand your soft skills and how well you align with LinkedIn's values and work environment.
**Interviewers look for:** How you handle challenges.; Your collaboration style.; Your learning aptitude.; Your motivation and passion.
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication clarity; Relevance of examples (STAR method); Self-awareness; Teamwork and collaboration potential; Alignment with company values
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication skills.; Lack of examples for behavioral questions.; Inability to articulate past experiences.; Poor cultural fit or lack of enthusiasm.
## Questions

- Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult teammate.
- How do you stay updated with new technologies?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Think about situations related to teamwork, problem-solving, failures, and successes.
- Be ready to discuss why you are interested in LinkedIn and this specific role.
- Show enthusiasm and genuine interest in the company and the position.