Prepare for an interview by practicing potential interview questions beforehand.
Technology careers are in high demand. The U.S. Department of Labor indicates careers in information technology, network engineering, database administration, technical support and web development are projected to grow much faster than average through 2018. Favorable job prospects and keen competition is expected for technology jobs. Preparing for a technology interview requires careful planning and knowledge of typical interview questions to ensure your interview stands out from other applicants.
Skills Assessment
Technology interviewers will ask questions regarding your skills and experience to determine if you are qualified for the position. Typical skills assessment interview questions could be, "How would you rate your computer skills" and "What software are your proficient with?"
Answer these questions with a thorough explanation of your skills and experience. For example, when providing information about your programming or software knowledge, indicate the specific types of software you are familiar with, and tell the interviewer how and where your obtained these skills.
Industry Knowlege
Interviewers want to determine the level of knowledge you have about the technology industry. Because the technology field requires specialized skills and training, it is difficult to fabricate your knowledge during the interview. A typical interview question to assess industry knowledge could be, "Can you explain the importance of network security?" Another question may be, "What experience do you have monitoring or maintaining remote systems?" You may be required to elaborate on your experience and knowledge of the technology industry based on the specific job you are interviewing for.
Situational Questions
Situational questions in a technology interview are designed to give the interviewer an idea of how you handle specific situations and tasks. A typical situational interview question could be, "Tell me about a time when you had to explain a technical solution to a customer over the phone, and what was the outcome?" Another question could be "Tell me about a time when you had to perform a troubleshooting procedure." Give recent examples. Answer questions with current technological information and avoid providing answers about technology that is out of date and obsolete.
Career Goals
Most employers ask questions that have nothing to do with the specific job but focus on the applicant's career goals, aspirations and employment expectations. A typical interview question is, "Why should we hire you" or "Why do you want to work here?" Another question is, "If hired, where do you see yourself with this company in a year; five years?" Job interviewers may also ask questions regarding salary and advancement expectations. It is important to be thorough and truthful.
