LinkedIn Interview Experience For SWE Internship (Off-Campus)

Interview Process for Software Engineer Intern at LinkedIn

• Round 0: Resume Shortlisting
• Round 1: Hackerrank Coding Round
• Round 2: Technical Interview
• Round 3: Technical Interview
• Round 4: Host Manager Round

Introduction:

Getting an internship in the tech world is a big deal, and I’m excited to share my story with you. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the ups and downs of my two technical interviews and a final chat with the HR team that eventually led to me landing a Software Engineer Intern position.

Applying and Getting Noticed:

I started my journey in August 2023 by applying for a Software Engineer Intern role on LinkedIn. One key tip I’d give is to keep your resume ready and apply on time. Luckily, a recruiter on LinkedIn shortlisted my resume, and that’s where the adventure began.

Round 1 Hackerrank Coding Challenge (12th September 2023):

The first hurdle was the Hackerrank Coding Round. They threw three medium to hard-level Leetcode questions at me. It wasn’t just about solving problems; you needed to be quick too. Nailing this round got me a ticket to the next step – the virtual technical interviews.

After around 2-3 weeks(26 Sept 2023), I got a call from my recruiter stating that I’d be having my virtual technical interview in 4 days.

Round 2: Technical Round 1 (DSA) :

Before the technical interview, I brushed up on Data structures and algorithms concepts. The first tech round, lasting an hour, was all about DSA-based questions related to trees and graphs medium to hard-level Leetcode questions. It sounds complex, but the key was to solve problems efficiently and explain my thought process clearly.

The duration of the round was 1 hour and our discussion consisted of the following –

• 1 Medium Level Leetcode Question – I was asked to code and dry run it using some test cases.
• 1 Hard Level Leetcode Question – I was asked to explain my approach and write a pseudocode for it.

I liked the entire experience and did not feel any nervousness once the process started. The interviewer was nice and he asked me about the edge cases in my code, asked me to do a dry run with examples

(Tiphad: A tip for DSA questions would be to write clean code, as the interviewer might help you if you get stuck.)

Round 2: Technical Round 2 (DSA + Core concepts) :

The second tech round got into the nitty-gritty of hashing. I had to solve a tricky problem using three different approaches. They also asked me about Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, and Database Management System (DBMS). It was about being versatile and understanding the basics well.

After a day, I got the update that I had been selected for the final Host Manager Round.

Final Round: Host Manager Round

The Host Manager Round, lasting 50-60 minutes, was like a friendly chat with the Hiring Manager. We talked about technical stuff, but also he asked behavioural questions, like my strengths, weaknesses, and why I wanted to work at the company. Staying calm and being polite was key.

HR Round: Sharing My Story:

The HR round was a mix of behavioural questions and deep dives into my resume and past experiences. Talking about my projects and internships was important. Being honest, positive, and showing adaptability were crucial.

I used LinkedIn Learning to prepare for this round and prepared answers to common questions. The round lasted for 50 minutes, and I was feeling pretty confident this time.

(Tip – Stay calm and answer politely.)

Celebrating the Win:

I remember I used to refresh Gmail every 10 minutes However after a day I received an email with the subject “Congratulations ! on your offer “. Finally, the moment of truth arrived with the “Internship Offer” email. The recruiter called to officially offer the position. I was over the moon and couldn’t stop smiling.

Conclusion:

My journey from applying to getting a Software Engineer Intern position at LinkedIn was like a rollercoaster. If you’re on a similar journey, remember to focus on a mix of technical skills, problem-solving, and good communication. I hope my story helps you on your path. Feel free to ask me anything about this exciting adventure!