7 Interview Questions to Ask Any IT Candidate

Finding the right people for your tech team isn’t always easy, but if you take the right approach, the interview process can help you identify the right people for your open roles. Many interview questions must pertain to the specifics of the job, but there are some important questions to ask IT candidates that will help you assess fit. 

1. Why do you want to work here? 

This question will tell you whether a candidate has done their homework. What do they know about what you do? Do they understand your values and approach? Someone who can speak specifically about why they are in alignment with your company has conducted research and thought about what it would be like to work for you. 

2. Tell me about a time you were asked to complete a task you didn’t understand.

This type of situation can happen to anyone at any time. It’s important to know how candidates will act when they receive unclear directions. Do they ask for clarity? Or do they suffer and attempt to do the task poorly because they are afraid to ask for help? 

3. What type of functions do you expect this role to entail, and which tasks do you look forward to? 

This question will help you determine whether the candidate understands the role and whether their expectations are aligned with the reality of the situation. Misaligned expectations will cause problems once someone is on staff. 

4. Describe a tech project you’ve worked on in your spare time.

People who work on passion projects outside of work hours are extremely dedicated to their field. If they work on projects in their free time, it also indicates they know they need to keep their skills fresh. 

5. Tell me about a time when things didn’t go the way you wanted at work? 

Everyone experiences disappointments, failures and setbacks. Whether it’s a failed project, being passed up for a promotion or a major mistake that falls squarely on their back, you want to see whether candidates can admit hardships and what they learn from those situations. 

6. Pretend I know nothing about tech. Can you describe (a relevant technology) to me in basic terms? 

This question will give you a glimpse into a candidate’s communication skills. IT professionals need to work with non-technical people and must be able to communicate complex information in a way that a layperson can understand. 

7. How do you keep your skills updated? 

Technology evolves rapidly, and professionals must continually build their skills to stay relevant.  Someone who doesn’t keep their skills sharp isn’t very passionate about what they do, and they may struggle to keep up if hired. This is also a great gateway to opening a conversation about professional development.  

Are You Ready to Improve Your IT Hiring Process?  

At PEAK Technical Consulting, we have a proven track record of helping employers overcome their biggest IT hiring challenges. If you are ready to improve IT recruiting and hiring, we invite you to contact us today.