When
interviewing for an IT job, being prepared to answer any question is
critical. Knowing what questions will be asked and how to prepare for
them isn’t always easy. During the interview you could also be asked
specific technical questions, skills you have, your education, and
certifications you have. Hiring managers want to see how you handle
detailed situations, and how you react under pressure. We’ve put
together a list of some important IT questions hiring managers have
asked in the past, as well as other things you should prepare for. If
you know and understand the answers to these questions, you can be
prepared for any job interview.
What are your favorite (and least favorite) pieces of technology? Why?
- Answering
this question shows the interviewer a few things. First, are you
current on your technology background? Do you enjoy technology that the
company uses? Are you excited about technology?
How do you respond when a project you’re in charge of doesn’t go the way you planned?
- Disappointment
and failure are part of life. Hiring managers want someone who uses
failure as a chance to learn, and springboard into newer, better ideas.
What do you do to stay current with technology?
- If
you’re interviewing for an IT job, it’s very important that you have a
strong knowledge and understanding of current technology. Do you spend
time working on different certifications? Do you work on coding in your
spare time? Do you learn more about areas of the tech world you don’t
know a lot about?
How do you get started on projects involving technology you’re unfamiliar with?
- Problem solving skills are very important to hiring managers. This question gives you the opportunity to show who you are beyond your resume.
How do you handle multiple deadlines?
- Many
jobs have several ongoing projects. This creates many overlapping
deadlines. If you can show the interviewer you have a great ability to
stay organized and prioritize your workload, you’ve made yourself stand
out among other applicants.
What technology blogs, websites, podcasts, or other tech related news do you follow?
- Just
like showing your familiarity with new technology, being up to date on
important tech news and talk is really important to prospective
employers. If you have a sincere interest in the IT world, this is a
great way to show hiring managers.
What have you done in the past to make projects, assignments, or company processes better and more efficient?
- Your
ability to demonstrate initiative and go beyond what is required of you
is a valuable skill. As an IT employee, you need to be able to see
big-picture things, and find as many ways as possible to impact them for
the better. Companies value and search for employees who do things like
that.
When you’re faced with challenges in the workplace, how do you handle them?
- This
question isn’t specific to IT interviews, but is a really important
question. In the IT world, there are a lot of challenges you could face
as an employee. Showing the interviewer you have the skills and ability
to handle anything that’s thrown at you is paramount to a good
interview.
What certifications do you have, and how do you maintain them?
- The
more certifications you have, the more valuable you are to potential
employers. They see that you’ve put in the time and effort to improve
your abilities and they see that you’re a driven and competent person.
What was one of the most recent projects you worked on? What responsibilities did you have?
- The
opportunity to showcase work from your last job is a golden
opportunity. If you have any examples of past work, bring them. This
shows the company what you’re capable of doing, and that you can produce
quality work.
At
the end of all the questions, make sure you have questions for the
hiring manager. This shows your interest in the company, the job, and
that you want to understand more about what they do. The better prepared
you are to answer these questions, and others like them, the better
candidate you will be for the job you apply for.
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