LinkedIn IC3 Loop
Most experienced hires join at IC3, and design carries most of the level decision. The system design round and the technical communication deep dive both need to show ownership of a system end to end, and strong coding with a thin design tends to land at IC2.
The Rounds
Screens
- Recruiter CallCovers your experience, past projects, and the target level. · 30 minPractice Recruiter Call
- Technical Phone ScreenTwo or three problems of rising size, often with a second interviewer shadowing. · 60 minPractice Technical Phone Screen
- Recruiter Prep CallA short call before the onsite on timelines and what to expect. · 30 minPractice Recruiter Prep Call
Onsite
- CodingData structures and algorithms, sometimes two problems in one round, with harder follow-ups. · 60 minPractice Coding
- System DesignA large-scale system, often in LinkedIn's domain: feeds, messaging, search, or notifications. · 60 minPractice System Design
- Technical CommunicationA deep dive into one of your past projects: the architecture, your decisions, and what you would change. · 60 minPractice Technical Communication
- BehavioralA conversational round tied to LinkedIn's values, with follow-ups on scope and impact. · 60 minPractice Behavioral
What the IC3 Loop Weighs
- A design you drive end to end, with the tradeoffs stated as you make them.
- A project deep dive that makes your own decisions and their results clear.
- Coding that stays clean on harder follow-ups.
- Stories of mentoring and of projects you owned from start to finish.
Sources
Last checked Nov 2026. Loops vary by team and change over time, so confirm the details with your recruiter.