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These days, most companies perform the bulk of their business with the help of computer systems and networks. Ensuring that their operations expressed in this department run smoothly is of the utmost importance for efficiency. This is why they need experienced network administers on the job, and they’re willing to do the necessary legwork to find them.
Key Takeaways:
Network administrator candidates should brush up on their basic network administrations knowledge and think about their relevant soft skills to help prepare for the interview.
Interviewers should create common and behavioral interview questions that help evaluate the candidates skills and qualifications to help find your ideal candidate.
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Thriving during a job interview for a network administrator position is comprised of equal parts former experience and preparation. To make sure you’re ready to take on any interrogation that’s thrown at you, read through the following top 15 questions that are asked during a network administrator interview:
Tell me about yourself. The interviewer will ask this common interview question to get to know you better. They have some basic information from your resume, but they still want to know more. This is also often asked at the start of the interview as way to break the ice and get the interview started.
How to Answer:
Your answer should highlight your relevant experiences and skills that relate to the job position. Any personal information you include in this answer should relate back to the job position as well.
Example Answer:
I have six years of experience working as a network administrator. During this time, I have gained expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining network systems. I also have experience working with a range of networking technologies including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points.
I have strong communication skills and I understand the importance of effective collaboration and customer service. I am dedicated to staying up-to-date with all the latest advancements in networking technologies to help expand and improve my knowledge and skills.
Why do you want to work for our organization? This is a question that is asked to get a deeper understanding as to why you want to work at that particular organization. How you answer this question will tell the interviewer if you actually want to work for the company or if you are just looking for a job anywhere.
How to Answer:
Your answer should include information from the research that you have done on the organization. Be sure that you highlight your values and how they align with the company's values. Your answer should show your genuine interest as to why you want to work at that specific organization.
Example Answer:
I want to work here because I am impressed by your reputation. I am particularly attracted to the specific challenges and opportunities that your organization faces in terms of its network and infrastructure. From my research, I understand that you have a robust and complex network environment that requires continuous optimization, security, and scalability.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated team members at this organization. I value collaborative work environments where individuals can learn from one another and contribute their unique perspectives.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, that's why it's common for interviewers to ask about them. They want to know how self-aware you are and if you are familiar with the areas you can improve on and how you plan on doing it.
How to Answer:
To answer this question, your strengths should be relevant to the job position. Avoid adding anything the interviewer won't care about. Your strengths should be something that you are actively improving on. You should also include how you are working to improve them to turn it into a positive.
Example Answer:
I am a highly detail-oriented individual and pay attention to network configurations, documentation, and security measures to ensure the reliability and integrity of the network. My attention to detail skills help me maintain optimal network performance and minimize potential vulnerabilities.
As for weaknesses, an area that I am working on improving is expanding my knowledge in emerging network technologies and trends. Since the field is constantly evolving, staying up-to-date is crucial for success.
Have you ever worked as a network administrator before? Even though the recruiter has already read through your resume at a glance, they want to hear about your former experience straight from the source. This question will usually be brought up at the very beginning of an interview to evaluate your level of expertise in the field.
How to Answer:
Give a brief synopsis of your former experience that’s accurate in its depiction of your responsibilities. If you’re a candidate who recently graduated and doesn’t have much formal work experience, express this honestly.
Example Answer:
“Yes, I have worked as a network administrator before. I’ve been working in the industry for about 6 years now, across several different companies.”
What do you know about our company? The amount of research that a candidate does on the company they’re interviewing for says a lot about their readiness. Be prepared to field questions about your familiarity with the company by spending some time on their website before the interview.
Having at least some foundational knowledge about the organization you’re hoping to become a part of makes you appear professionally eager.
How to Answer:
After doing a little background research on the company, you should be in a comfortable position to explain what features of the organization draws you in. Consulting the original job posting can help draw out aspects of the position that your experience fits well.
Example Answer:
“I’ve worked for quite a few organizations as a network administrator in the past, each with its preferred work environment. With experience in many different work environments, I’ve come to prefer a more independent working situation. After looking into the values and structure of your company, I believe this job would provide exactly that.”
How do you keep your knowledge of the field current? Positions that rely on knowledge of computer networks, servers, and software must keep their industry knowledge fresh. Otherwise, they run the risk of working according to outdated practices.
Since learning is an eternal part of a network administrator’s job, an interviewer will ask a question like this to understand what a candidate does to keep up with an ever-changing field.
How to Answer:
Most network administrators use their variety of techniques to stay on their toes when it comes to professional knowledge. List out the ways that you stay on top of industry-related information.
Example Answer:
“One of my favorite things about working as a network administrator is that it always keeps me learning more. I think a lot of people would be overwhelmed with constantly needing to learn about their field of work, but for me, it’s motivating. I keep my knowledge current by attending field-related conferences and doing research in my free time.”
Can you explain two-factor authentication? An interviewer needs to evaluate technical abilities in the short time they have to discuss with a candidate. To do this, at least 25% of an interview for this type of position is dedicated to testing your knowledge in the field. This is an example of a question used to do this.
How to Answer:
These questions will generally progress in difficulty when it comes to hard skills and networking knowledge evaluation. Since this is an easier one, take the textbook definition.
Example Answer:
“Two-factor authentication is a process of authentication that’s done electronically to give users access to a website, login page, or application after providing two pieces of authenticating information, such as knowledge of a password. It’s a security measure.”
What former training or certifications have you received in network administration? There are a lot of responsibilities placed on network administrators to manage servers properly, which is why employers often search for employees with at least some experience in the field.
Expect a question or two about your training or additional certifications in network administration.
How to Answer:
While having some extra training or certification in network administration can boost your performance in an interview, never exaggerate your former experience. Be honest about the training you’ve had, and if it’s lacking, explain that you’d be willing to take on more.
Example Answer:
“Besides the training that I received in college, I also went on to pursue additional certifications to broaden my network administrator profile. I currently hold CompTIA A+ and Cisco CCNA certifications.”
What types of networks do you have experience in? Every job has its specialties, and this is true of a network administrator as well. There are various types of networks involved in this profession. Having experience in one doesn’t necessarily translate to knowing others easily.
How to Answer:
Be thorough when explaining your experience with every type of network that you’ve worked within the past. Explain how familiar you are with each one. Try to only include networks that you’d feel comfortable working on professionally. If you’re still in the basic learning phase, it’s probably best to mention it later.
Example Answer:
“I have experience with a few types of networks. The majority of my career has been spent working on Local Area Network (LAN). However, I have worked on Virtual Private Network (VPN) and System Area Network (SAN). I’d say my level of experience with these would be moderate.”
What is HTTP? This is another question that addresses your basic network administration knowledge. Most candidates who are interviewing for this kind of position would be familiar with these concepts and able to provide an effortless definition.
How to Answer:
Simply give a basic definition in response to this question. However, be prepared to receive other network knowledge-testing questions like this one.
Example Answer:
“HTTP, which stands for ‘Hypertext Transfer Protocol’, is an application protocol, which allows for the fetching of documents. It’s generally the foundation for web data exchange.”
Break down your home network set-up for me. A recruiter might ask candidates for a potential network administrator job opening about their home set-up to see what types of procedures and protocols they use in their daily technical life.
In a job that’s based on computer networks, an employer is interested to know the way you do things when you’re off the clock.
How to Answer:
While you should answer the hiring manager’s question straightforwardly, there’s no need to mention any bad habits that you fall victim to in your home network setup. Keep your answer strategically focused on strong behaviors that you demonstrate, even in your home network.
Example Answer:
“I think there’s a lot of ways to keep a home network set-up functioning well, but the best one is diligent organization. I choose to encrypt my network and update firmware religiously. Additionally, I run a VPN in my home network to provide the utmost security possible.”
Are there any skills that you could improve on? Employers want to hire applicants who demonstrate a realistic understanding of their abilities because that’s the only way that they’ll ever be able to improve.
It’s bad business to bring on an employee whose wildly insecure or cocky about their skills to the point where it’s delusional. That’s why a recruiter asks this question.
Asking candidates if there are any skills they can improve on weeds out people who give an unenlightening “no.” Additionally, it shows them how willing they are to work on their work performance and abilities.
How to Answer:
Do some reflection before an interview about what your strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to skills in network administration. When bringing up skills that you could improve, make sure to mention the ways you’ve been working on them.
Example Answer:
“While my technical abilities as a network administrator are strong, I believe that my teamwork skills could use some improvement. I’m a very independent person, and sometimes, this can take shape as working poorly in a team environment. While being a network administrator doesn’t require the most interpersonal skills in the world, I think I could strengthen my overall performance with stronger teamwork.
“In my previous roles, I started actively volunteering myself for my team-based projects to start working on this aspect of my professional performance.”
Why should we hire you? Even if they’re prepared for an interview in every other possible way, this question can still come as a bombshell to network administrator candidates.
It’s tough to face a recruiter directly and explain succinctly why you’re the absolute best person for the job. Employers use this question to receive a quick elevator pitch for each applicant and close the interview on a memorable note.
How to Answer:
While this question is initially intimidating coming from an interviewer’s mouth, don’t overthink it. Match aspects of your former experience to the qualities they were initially seeking in their job posting, and try to use your unique personality as an advantage. This is the time to sell yourself because the recruiter needs to remember your answer.
Example Answer:
“There are a lot of talented network administrators in the industry, but I think what makes me stand out from the rest is my dedication. My work is truly my passion, and I always want to perform to the best of my abilities. With my expertise and enthusiasm for network administration, I believe I would exceed your expectations for the role and that’s why your company should hire me.”
How would you troubleshoot a network connectivity issue between two remote offices? This question may be asked to get an understanding of your knowledge on troubleshooting. This can be a common practice when you are an network administrator so the interviewer wants to make sure you are able to handle it.
How to Answer:
Your answer should showcase your knowledge of equipment and protocols used in the organization. To help you answer, use an example from your past experiences to back up your answer.
Example Answer:
I start by gathering any relevant information about the network setup and the reported issue. This can include obtaining details about the network topology and any recent changes or incidents that might have contributes to the connectivity problem.
I will then inspect the physical connections between the deceives at both remote offices. I would also verify the link status and activity lights on the network devices to ensure proper connectivity. I would use the ping and trace route utility to test connectivity between two remote offices.Throughout the troubleshooting process, I make sure to document any steps taken, findings, and changes made. These steps help me identify and resolve network connectivity issues and ensure seamless communication and collaboration between sites.
How do you ensure network security and protect against potential threats? It's important to know and understand how to protect against potential threats when you are a network administrator. The interviewer will ask you this to ensure that you have the experience and knowledge to support your claims on your resume.
How to Answer:
When answering, you should showcase your knowledge in network security and how to protect against potential threats. Use specific examples from your past to help you answer this question.
Example Answer:
To help protect against potential threats, I will implement robust access controls to limit unauthorized access to the network. This includes implementing stronger user authentication mechanisms such as multifactor authentication.
I also ensure that the network devices, operating systems, and software applications are regularly updates with the latest security patches and firmware updates.
What is a proxy server?
Can you explain the process of subnetting a network and how it helps in efficient IP address allocation and routing?
Describe the differences between TCP and UDP protocols and when you would choose one over the other for specific applications or scenarios.
What are your greatest accomplishments?
Explain an intrusion detection system.
Have you ever made a mistake while working as a network administrator? If so, how did you handle it?
Which monitoring tools do you prefer using?
What are your interests outside of work?
What is the difference between a domain and a workgroup?
Can you explain the concept of VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) and how it enhances network performance and security?
What are the main differences between IPv4 and IPv6 protocols? Discuss the challenges involved in transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 and any experiences you have had with this migration process.
Walk me through the steps you would take to implement a secure wireless network in an organization.
How do you monitor network performance and identify potential bottlenecks or issues?
Can you discuss your experience with configuring and managing routers and switches? Explain the process you follow to configure routing protocols, set up VLANs, or implement Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing network traffic.
As a Candidate:
Brush up on your basic network administration knowledge. When you’re interviewing for a position that requires a depth of technical knowledge, you’ll be quizzed in this area without a doubt.
Even if you’ve worked as a network administrator for years, you never know what types of questions a hiring manager might ask to test your basic knowledge. Doing a little freshening up on these facts avoids an instance of not knowing the answer to a simple question in an interview.
Think about your soft skills. A candidate’s practical abilities on the job are the most crucial to qualify for an open position, but that doesn’t mean soft skills go out the window.
While the role has less interpersonal interaction than some other occupations, you still need to be a team player and excel in a variety of useful soft skills. Before going into an interview, consider which soft skills you bring to the table as a network administrator.
Ask questions at the end of the interview. The end of an interview is a candidate’s opportunity to ask any last straggling questions that they have left.
Asking a thoughtful question about the position reflects positively on an applicant’s genuine interest in the role. If you’re stumped for what questions to ask at the end of a network administrator interview, below are a few strong examples:
Who will I be reporting to in this position?
Do you have any hesitation about my qualifications for this role?
What would you consider to be the major challenges in this position?
Do you enjoy working for the company?
As an Interviewer:
Prepare Interview questions. Prepare common and network administrator behavioral interview questions. The questions you create should be specific to the job to help you evaluate and understand the candidates skills and qualifications better.
Take notes on their skills. While the candidate is answering questions, take notes on the skills that they highlight. It's especially important to focus on their soft skills like their analytical and communication skills.
Prepare for questions. The candidate should be asking you questions relating the role and the organization. Make sure you have an understanding of the needs of the position to help you answer questions regarding that.
The servers and networks that uphold the functioning of a corporation must be properly maintained, updated, and monitored to keep everything up to standard. These responsibilities are delegated to a network administrator.
The particular tasks of the job fluctuate depending on the requirements of their employer, but their overall daily duties involve supporting the company’s technical network system.
There is a great deal of pressure put upon the shoulders of network administrators to do their job well because they must handle an entire organization’s network operations.
It’s a position that requires an abundance of technical skills, but many transferable qualities are crucial to success as a network administrator. During an interview, a hiring manager pays close attention to a candidate’s abilities in these areas to determine if they’re the best person for the job.