linkedin | Staff | Interview Experience
Interview Date: Not specified
Result: Not specified
Difficulty: Not specified
Interview Process
The interview consisted of two rounds: a coding round and a design retrospective.
In the coding round, the interviewer began by asking about the candidate’s proudest project and a few behavioral questions, such as how to avoid being a bottleneck. The candidate then started solving a problem related to the Max Stack. With only 35 minutes remaining, the candidate quickly discussed the optimal solution using a doubly linked list and a hash map. The interviewer interrupted frequently, asking how to modify the design if popMax was not called frequently. As time was running out, the candidate inquired if this round was strictly coding or if discussing the thought process was sufficient. The interviewer confirmed that they should write some code, and the candidate completed the doubly linked list solution with just 2 minutes left. The round concluded with one final question from the candidate.
The design retrospective involved a different interviewer who asked the candidate to introduce their proudest project. The conversation was entirely behavioral, focusing on how the candidate handled various situations, such as project setbacks. The interviewer shared his background, mentioning his expertise in Spanner at Google and his current role as a Senior Staff member managing a large project at LinkedIn. After the interview, the candidate reviewed the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile and noted that he had only spent about a year and a half at Google, with a total of 6-7 years of experience.
The candidate received notification of passing the interview a week later.
Technical Questions
- Max Stack (stack, data structures, design)
Tips & Insights
- Be prepared to discuss your proudest projects and how you handle challenges.
- Expect behavioral questions that explore your problem-solving approach and project management skills.
- Manage your time effectively during coding interviews to ensure you can complete your solution and discuss it.