The IC2 Software Engineer interview at LinkedIn is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, including technical screenings, coding challenges, system design, and behavioral interviews.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Traversal). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms & Intro to System Design.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into advanced algorithms like Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms, and graph algorithms. Practice problems that require combining multiple concepts. Start exploring basic system design principles.
Phase 03 of 05
Weeks 5-6: System Design Principles and Practice.
Weeks 5-6: Deepen your understanding of system design. Cover topics like database design, caching, load balancing, message queues, and distributed systems. Practice designing common applications.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 7: Behavioral Interview Preparation.
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare STAR method answers for common questions related to teamwork, challenges, failures, and successes. Research LinkedIn's culture and values.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 8: Mock Interviews and Final Review.
Week 8: Conduct mock interviews, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Get feedback and identify areas for improvement. Review any weak areas identified during practice.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Recruiter/Hiring Manager Screen · 45 min · Recruiter or Hiring Manager
This initial screening round is typically conducted by a recruiter or a junior engineer. It aims to assess your basic qualifications, communication skills, and understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. You might be asked about your resume, career goals, and some introductory technical questions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself and your experience.
Why are you interested in this role at LinkedIn?
What is a hash map and how does it work?
Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Phone Screen / Coding Interview · 60 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your core technical skills, primarily through coding challenges. You'll likely be asked to solve one or two algorithmic problems on a shared coding platform. The interviewer will assess your ability to write efficient, bug-free code and explain your thought process.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given two sorted arrays, merge them into a single sorted array.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Implement a function to find the longest common prefix among a list of strings.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design complex, scalable systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to discuss various components, data models, APIs, and trade-offs. Focus on clarity, scalability, and robustness.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design the Twitter feed system.
How would you design a rate limiter?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you fit into the team and company culture. You'll be asked questions about past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflict resolution, dealing with failure), and your motivations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple deadlines?
What are your career aspirations for the next 3-5 years?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on LinkedIn loops
Other guides
