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. Becoming familiar with technology quickly, and being able to get projects done on time is a skill that not a lot of employees have. It’s important that you can show this during a job interview.
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.
Contact The Computer Merchant today or call (800) 617-6172 for one of our representatives to assist you.
