LinkedIn has helped millions worldwide promote their personal and business brands, find the right job or candidate, and connect with other professionals in their industry. According to a survey by Statista in 2022, LinkedIn is the most used social media for employment-related activities in the United States. As a LinkedIn user, you might already be familiar with the several benefits of using LinkedIn, but have you wondered what it's like to work for LinkedIn?
If you’re looking to break into the tech industry but don’t have the conventional technical background, an apprenticeship with LinkedIn can provide a seamless experience. We’ve curated this article as your one-stop guide to landing a technical apprenticeship program at LinkedIn. Read on to learn about the LinkedIn apprenticeship program, cohorts, hiring process, reviews, and salary structure to help you get started.
LinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. This social media application allows you to showcase your expertise, stay updated on the latest employment trends, build your knowledge and skills through articles, and courses, post or apply for jobs, and create business relationships with professionals within and outside your industry through direct messaging and virtual events.
As the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn allows you to connect with over 875 million verified professionals in up to 200 countries worldwide by simply setting up a free membership profile on the platform. And that’s not all; LinkedIn allows users to upgrade their profile to gain access to special features and products through a premium subscription.
LinkedIn was founded on May 5, 2003, by Reid Hoffman, Eric Ly, Allen Blue, Jean-Luc Vaillant, and Konstantin Guericke. This top Internet Services and Social Media Corporation has grown in market share and profit since it began 20 years ago in Reid Hoffman’s living room. In 2016, Microsoft, a leading Information Technology (IT) services provider in the United States, acquired LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a total of 21,000 employees across ten cities in the United States and 26 cities internationally. LinkedIn’s headquarter is in Sunnyvale, California.
According to the Microsoft Fourth Quarter Annual Press Release for July 2022, LinkedIn’s revenue rose by 26 percent year-on-year and 29 percent in constant currency. In addition, LinkedIn’s Talent Solutions exceeded $6 billion in annual revenue, and its Marketing Solutions exceeded $5 billion for the first time in yearly income. According to Crunchbase, LinkedIn Corporation went public on May 19, 2011, as LNKD on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). It has raised $154.8 million in seven fundraising rounds, the last of which was on February 15, 2016.
LinkedIn hopes to create economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce.
LinkedIn believes its mission is simple. It wants to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.
LinkedIn’s culture and values guide its business operations and community relations. At its core, LinkedIn’s culture, also known as “LinkedIn Life,” is a sense of belonging, flexibility, and support for its members to dream big in an inclusive environment.
Six core values guide LinkedIn’s decisions.
LinkedIn generates revenue through premium subscriptions and four business solutions: talent solutions, marketing solutions, sales solutions, and learning solutions.
LinkedIn’s business model is based on a core need: professional networking. LinkedIn capitalizes on the irrefutable fact that no business or individual can exist in a vacuum. It acts as a middleman between companies/individuals and their growth needs by eliminating all the physical barriers, especially geographical barriers, to achieving these growth needs.
According to Crunchbase, LinkedIn’s technology base comprises 175 products, including JQuery, HTML5, and Google Analytics. LinkedIn also uses eight website technologies, including Viewport Meta, IPhone/Mobile Compatible, and SSL by Default. It has 83 registered patents, majorly in “computing; calculating,” and 138 registered trademarks, primarily in “advertising; business,” according to IPqwery.
According to Stackshare, LinkedIn uses 25 applications and data, including JQuery, React, Java, and MySQL. It uses eight DevOps, including Jenkins, New Relic, and Bugsnag. Linkedin uses six business tools, including WordPress, Confluence, and Adobe Experience. In addition, it operates seven utilities, including Google Analytics, Dyn, and Okta.
LinkedIn’s apprenticeship program, known as REACH, is a technical apprenticeship program designed to help individuals with alternative backgrounds launch and grow a career in technology. LinkedIn organizes these apprenticeship programs in two levels, each stage preparing you for unique tech roles and allowing you to take on business-need projects.
LinkedIn first launched its REACH program in 2017 as a six-month apprenticeship to create a new pipeline rooted in the company’s vision of providing economic opportunity to all members of the global workforce. Today, this LinkedIn program has birthed 90 apprentices in over ten technical focus areas, with plans to expand in the coming years. In addition, its partnership with Year Up makes a seamless transition from Year Up intern to LinkedIn apprentice.
LinkedIn allocates timetables to REACH apprentices weekly. The schedules may include online courses, internal or external classes, or side projects spread over a week or day. Each apprentice steers their learning process. You’ll receive team support and dedicated mentorship from the employees. You’ll also spend 20 percent of your allotted time on self-development.
The LinkedIn apprenticeship program spans between one and five years. The multi-year structure allows you to build in-demand skills through various IT apprenticeship jobs. You should know that the length of your apprenticeship depends on your performance in developing the required entry-level skill set and experience. You'll transition faster if you have a strong background in technology before joining the LinkedIn REACH program.
The REACH program recruits apprentices for diverse tech roles, depending on the cohort and business needs. Notable REACH apprenticeship roles include software engineering, machine learning/data science, cyber security, user experience, and other technical and administrative positions.
Mobile development (Android or IOS) apprentices at LinkedIn work with the engineering team to create web and mobile products for LinkedIn’s daily visitors. They also work with visual and interaction designers to build optimized user experiences. To qualify for this role, you need to prove you’ve worked on mobile-related coding projects, have a basic understanding of computer science concepts, and know an object-oriented programming language.
Data science and machine learning apprentices at LinkedIn build cutting-edge machine learning models for various use cases. You need problem-solving, quantitative, and analytical skills to succeed in this role. You also need at least an undergraduate degree in any field and basic knowledge of computer science and machine learning techniques.
As a backend engineer at LinkedIn, you’ll be part of the engineering team that builds backend business logic to support LinkedIn product use cases. This apprenticeship allows you to learn how to develop applications at scale by working with industry engineers and managers. To qualify for this role, you need a solid coding background, preferably knowledge of basic computer science concepts, object-oriented programming languages, and the Linux operating system.
As a User Interface apprentice at LinkedIn, you’ll work with the engineering team to create front-end products and optimized user experiences for LinkedIn’s diverse market base. You need a solid knowledge of JavaScript and an object-oriented programming language to succeed in this role. You also need experience working on coding projects that include user interface and front-end development.
Yes, most LinkedIn apprentices convert to full-time employees at the end of their apprenticeship programs. Although there has yet to be data for recent years, LinkedIn offered 80 percent of the 29 apprentices who made up the first cohort full-time software engineering roles in the pilot year. At least 96 percent accepted the offers. Those who received no offers were already applying for other technical positions in the company.
While there has yet to be an official report on the compensation rate for LinkedIn apprentices, you should expect a competitive compensation package. According to the LinkedIn apprenticeship salary review by Glassdoor in 2022, LinkedIn engineering apprentices earn an average of $142,266 annually. The LinkedIn REACH salary includes base pay of $98,784 and additional pay of $43,482.
LinkedIn apprentices receive a wide range of benefits as part of their program offering. Your health benefits include health insurance, an employee assistance program for counseling, and a wellness program for on-site gyms, fitness classes, and events. All apprentices receive paid time off and life and business travel accident insurance.
Aside from the benefits listed, expect to be reimbursed for developing your technical skills. LinkedIn also offers donation matching for your favorite charities, the LinkedIn Social Impact volunteer program, and InDay once a month on Fridays to focus on you, LinkedIn, or the world. Others include family support, product discounts, LinkedIn Speaker Series, end of the year paid shutdown. You’ll find out more details during orientation.
LinkedIn Apprenticeship Hiring Process: How Many Rounds Is An LinkedIn Interview?
The LinkedIn apprenticeship hiring process starts with an online application sent through your LinkedIn profile. If you’re interested in becoming a LinkedIn apprentice, begin by reviewing the job-specific page to discover the roles and apprenticeship levels you’re best suited. While you may be allowed to apply for over one position, it is within the discretion of the recruitment team will contact you for only one role.
LinkedIn posts its apprenticeship applications a few times a year. For 2022, the application opens on the 7th of October and ends on the 21st of October. However, if you fail to meet up, you should check back early 2023 for new apprenticeships. You’ll be expected to complete three to four-part application essay questions. The essay allows you to express the qualities you believe will make you successful at LinkedIn.
Upon review, a recruiter will contact you to complete a take-home project, followed by two interviews to evaluate your technical and soft skills. If successful, you’ll attend the LinkedIn REACH Meet & Greet event. Based on your performance, expect to receive an offer by late January. The program team will determine what apprenticeship team. Following a custom onboarding, LinkedIn may ask you to resume in February.
LinkedIn Apprenticeship Press: Where Can I Get News About LinkedIn Apprenticeship Programs?
You can get the latest news and updates on LinkedIn’s REACH apprenticeship program on LinkedIn’s career page. This page contains information about the various REACH apprenticeship roles and application requirements. It also provides information on other job opportunities and employee programs at LinkedIn.
LinkedIn’s REACH apprenticeship cohorts comprise 15-35 apprentices per cycle. The number of hires LinkedIn makes per cohort depends on the business needs and the program’s capacity for each process.
For example, LinkedIn extended 31 offers and onboarded 29 apprentices in the first year, even though it planned to hire only 15 of the 60 candidates who took part in the interviews.
LinkedIn Apprenticeship Cohort Frequency: How Often Are LinkedIn Apprenticeships Recruited?
LinkedIn usually recruits more than one cohort per year, so if you’re interested in joining the LinkedIn REACH apprenticeship program but can’t fit in with the two-week application window, you may still be able to apply at the beginning or the end of the year.
LinkedIn Apprenticeship Cohort Prediction: How Do I Qualify for a REACH Apprenticeship Program?
The REACH apprenticeship is for those passionate about tech. As an aspiring apprentice, you should be interested in learning and growing independently and continuously. In addition, you should be driven and willing to grow your community. Over the years, LinkedIn has recruited candidates with backgrounds in music, business, education, engineering, finance, sports, cosmetics, and health.
Candidates who are selected usually want a career change, have attended a coding bootcamp, were self-taught, and are most likely trying to re-enter the workforce after a break. You don’t need a college degree to qualify for an apprenticeship with LinkedIn. LinkedIn doesn’t consider resumes or LinkedIn profiles to evaluate candidates.
LinkedIn Apprenticeship Cohort Blogs: Where Do I Get News About LinkedIn Cohorts?
To learn more about the apprenticeship cohorts, visit LinkedIn’s engineering blog. You’ll find articles that offer progress news on the apprenticeship programs held at LinkedIn. This blog also allows you to discover LinkedIn career stories and experiences of LinkedIn employees.
Yes, LinkedIn is an excellent company to work for. Several former apprentices agreed that this dynamic LinkedIn program challenged them to build impressive technical skills to thrive in the industry. For instance, Jamil DeMontmorency, a former LinkedIn apprentice, wrote that because of the apprenticeship, he discovered he enjoyed the process of problem-solving more than the answers themselves.
Meredith Jones, a pioneer apprentice, recounted that one notable aspect of her apprenticeship at LinkedIn was that her manager had more confidence in her than she did in herself.
According to the 2022 reviews from Glassdoor, LinkedIn is an excellent company to work for. LinkedIn software apprenticeship got a 5.0 out of a five-star rating based on company culture, positive environment, and benefits. Based on the thousands of reviews, the CEO, Ryan Roslansky, got 100 percent approval and a 100 percent likelihood of being recommended to a friend.
Yes, LinkedIn offers prospective apprentices remote and hybrid work options. You can choose which option suits your needs and that of your team. If you choose the hybrid work option, you may be offered a relocation package to any LinkedIn US offices. However, this package does not include a visa sponsorship, and you must be authorized to partake in a USA apprenticeship.
You can get an apprenticeship at LinkedIn by following updates on the apprenticeship cohorts on LinkedIn’s career page. To increase your chances of being hired, take the time to prepare for your ideal role. The recruitment team wants to know that you're passionate about your career and the tech industry. They also want to see that you've built the basic technical and soft skills you need to excel in that role.
The LinkedIn recruitment process for the REACH apprenticeship program takes a maximum of three months, judging by the application start date and program start date. The application submissions usually last for two weeks, then the take-home test and two interviews last for two months, with recruitment offers coming at the end of the third month.
