Some background: After assessing the available positions in the location I wanted to work at (NYC office), I applied online via LinkedIn and a recruiter reached out to me about a week later. We scheduled a time to speak the next week after that. It occurred to me shortly after we scheduled this time, that I should leverage the power of LinkedIn to not only increase my odds of actually getting an interview, but also to demonstrate that I understand the value of the product. It was at that point that I decided to write personal messages to alumni of my alma mater who work at LinkedIn to ask for advice, informational interviews, and referrals. 2 people referred me internally, and so even though I applied online and got a phone screen independently of their internal referrals, it is possible that their willingness to vouch for me boosted my odds. This was hands down the BEST interviewing experience I have ever had. I had a phone screen with an associate recruiter, a second screen with a more senior recruiter, a phone screen with the hiring manager, a video conference with the hiring manager, and a last video conference with both the hiring manager and her direct manager. This may slightly differ from the typical process as I was a candidate who did not live in the New York Area. The phone calls with the recruiters were mostly to check into my background and to gain an understanding of my experience and skill set. The phone conversation with the manager was more conversational-- we talked about my experience, but we also talked about my interests outside of work and her team. I believe this was to assess my "culture fit." The first video conference with her was a mock scenario, and the second video conference was that same mock scenario with both her and her manager, likely to assess how good I was at applying coaching and feedback. After every step, my recruiter made himself available to me to debrief, ask questions, and understand next steps. I appreciated how many conversations I had because I was given the opportunity to interview the company as well-- was this someplace I could see myself? Do these people truly believe in the Company's mission, vision, and values, or is it just a job for them? The passion and kindness of every person I spoke to, both in my interview process and during my research process, made it abundantly clear that this was a culture I *had* to be a part of. I was considering another opportunity at another tech company, but the experiences I had during my candidacies for the positions were night and day, and LinkedIn came out on top by far.