10 Questions You NEED to Ask During Your Tech Job Interview
These ten questions can help you avoid a bad company and identify a great one during your Linux, Devops, or Software Development job interviews. As a bonus, asking these questions at your next job interview can make you look more professional and reduce your interview stress.
I've learned to ask these tech job interview questions the hard way over the last 10 years, having made great (and not-so-great) decisions about where to work. I also asked some of the best tech people I know out in the real world, and they've generously contributed to this list.
QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE TEAM MEMBERS (technical staff)
1. What's the most interesting thing you've gotten to work on (or learn about) here?
2. What's the balance between firefighting and project work in an average week?
3. What's the one thing you wish you could improve or change about your everyday work life here?
4. Every company is carrying some amount of technical debt -- what's the tech debt situation here?
-how much they think there is
-what they're doing about it
4. What is the policy/practice as far as WFH or remotely?
5. What does the on-call rotation look like?
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QUESTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT
1. What are the biggest challenges you're dealing with on the technical side right now?
-is this going to be technically interesting?
-something you can learn from?
-are they doing super boring things or using super crappy tech?
2. Where do you see the $(team you're interviewing for) in 2 years?
-do they respect the team or are they looked at as an annoying expense?
-do they talk about training opportunities, growth, etc?
3. What is your favorite aspect of working here?
-If it's a stock bullshit answer, I dig more.
-If they duck it, that's a smell.
-If they answer honestly, then that's a really valuable datapoint
4. Every company is carrying some amount of technical debt -- what's the tech debt situation here?
-how much they think there is
-what they're doing about it
5. How would you describe the culture and if/how it is maintained?
5a. Is there an active mentoring strategy? What does that look like?
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Пікірлер: 92
I watched this video the night before my interview and it 100% made a difference in the entire interview process. Got a call for an offer in 24hrs. Thank you for this video
Probably the best 15 minutes I spent in KZread. Thank you very much for this one :)
One of the very few interviews guides that's actually helpful and insightful. You just earned a new sub!
Although the video is about a tech job interview, the way I see it the tips are applicable to any job at all and that is why I think that everybody would benefit from watching this clip! I straight up shared it at my facebook page, because I thought that it was that good! :)
One of the greatest, freshest videos on tech interviewing that I have seen in a long time. Thanks for making it!
@tutoriaLinux
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks! It's not nearly as popular as "which interview questions to expect," but I think it's much more important in terms of peoples' long-term success in this industry.
I'm currently a manager of a count room in a casino in Las Vegas, and I can tell you that (most of)these questions would go over well where I work. Great video!
Simply amazing; this information is golden! Thanks again Dave!
Absolutely. I'm interviewing for Tier-2 support roles and work from home flexibility and on-call rotation are 2 huge things that I'm asking about this time around. When I last interviewed 8 years ago, these things werent really big topics
I have my third interview tomorrow. Thank you so much for this!
I wish I watched this video before I got hired. These are great questions and I'm definitely going to ask them going into this hire. Thanks. I truly appreciate these videos on stuff other than technical topics.
I'd been in a lot of interviews but your advice is really great! more videos please
wow, what great insight i have gained from this Dave!. I wish i had learned this stuff years ago and saved myself years of pain working for rubbish companies. Many thanks
_Super_ important stuff there. Thanks ...
If I can add one I saw on reddit recently: "What was your company's response to COVID-19?"
I just want to thank you so much for all you great content of videos that you are sharing with us! It's just approves me that we all need to help other people and make this world a better place! Keep your great work , I wish you all the best in your interpersonal life :)
These are great questions for a senior role and I will use them some day!
Thanks a bunch for the advice. Never thought about interviewing process from different prospective.
This is the first time in a long time I’ve heard something else than a tech lemming opinion. Refreshing!
Really good questions to ask, practically timeless questions as well! Thank you!
Another Good one. One of your other videos helped me through my first few interviews with the first tech company to email back and these are some awesome additions. You do good work and are a huge help. Thanks, Mick
I just realized a first interview is a first date
@danwalsh4032
3 жыл бұрын
And a first date is a first interview
So very useful! Thank you!
This is perfect. I usually ask if there is a training program, work culture and working from home. I will definitely add some of these. Very well thought out video.
Thanks for sharing these great ideas and reminding us that the onus is on the interviewee to shift the focus on getting to know the interviewer as well.
I'm interviewing currently and the question about work from home is sometimes misleading. I found some companies that have restrictive policies ask employees to work from a set time but not beyond that time in the office. While other companies might have more flexible work from home schedules, they might encourage late night work since everyone else is also online. It's not a which is better, but more about which fits your work style.
@tutoriaLinux
6 жыл бұрын
Yeah, that's a definite drawback of WFH, and about not being able to see what's really happening in a company before you join. Avoiding 'always online' work cultures (even if it's in the 'everyone is really helpful!' context) is really important.
This video is pure gold.
Interesting but I think that it's so competitive that likely if you pry too much the company will ghost you because there's always 20 more fresh out of college or fresh out of bootcamp candidates.
@1999Zahra
2 жыл бұрын
Than do you really want to work at such a company?
this video and the one of technical debt shows your great mindset .. love it
Thank you so much for these questions!! Great once. You saved me so much time.
Very Useful Dave... Thank You for all the years you fully engaged sharing your experience with us.. Again Thank U
I just used some of these in an interview - thanks for sharing! :)
On point and genuine questions. Thanks!
Thank you for everything 🔥🔥🔥
So glad I found this right before my final Sysadmin interview! Thank you!
@motivatedandinspired
3 жыл бұрын
How did it go? You got the job?
So...6 minutes in I've decided that you're now the Rafiki (that Yoda monkey from Lion King) of my life. Perhaps this is just the noob in me but this video really lets me know you give a fck about the folks you're helping with your videos. Gonna share THE FCK out of these videos :D
Another for Operations/DevOps vs Devs realationship: Q: Does top management supoort Devs to do rotating on-calls escalation for software they have written? If not - that's a really bad sign, that DevOps approach is not there and you as Ops/SRE going to suffer.
Also important indicator of if there is "Constant improvement culture": Q: how many of tickets opened by your team for process improvement got closed/rejected with "Won't do" status last year by Devs?
Thank you for providing this valuable information!
I love love love this. I literally drew a blank on my way to my interview for IT Technical Support (please wish me fortune!)
Thank god for you. Wish I was working with you!
Wow i have never thought about these questions. Thanks.
Super useful, many thanks!
I like the info, but do you think these would "work" if someone with little to no experience (or no work experience at all) asked them? say, if someone who's still in college asked these, don't you think he would appear as nit-picky? or give a bad impression? I kind of get the impression that if it's someone considering a job change (from another company or field), these would make a better impression for someone who's never had a job, I think simpler questions could make a better impression, take the mentoring one for example, if I instead asked "what are the personal growth opportunities here? is there a feedback mechanism between management and technical workers?", it sounds more like the sort of thing someone without experience would ask (in the way it's "worded") that would still make a good impression thanks for the video, if possible I'd like you thoughts on this
@tutoriaLinux
6 жыл бұрын
Those are great, thanks for sharing. I completely agree -- you've got to read the room before you just unleash a torrent of questions that could be mistaken for arrogant.
cool stuff .YOUR MATERIALS INTRODUCED ME TO LiNUX, am building myself now. thanks man!!, but the batch scripting part was very boring . if you have a more elaborate video on batch scripting please let me know please
really strong video!
Amazing video!! thank you :)
super useful. Pretty sure i just bombed an interview that i would have been perfect for.. all because they were expecting me to ask all sorts of questions interviewing is the fucking worst
very nice thanks
This is very interesting, thanks :)
a couple of these would be good for AWS interview, not sure if all of them are.
rephrasing question about # of interviews into Management speak: What's voluntary churn rate in your team vs company overall? If it is > 25% run! if it is 40%+ express condolences and leave interview immediately!
really appreciate this one
You remind me a guy I work with he is super intelligent in Windows servers VMware but hate management specially the management not flexible with work remotely
What diffrent between devops and sysadmin?
As much as I love the questions + video... I am still in the middle of looking for entry-level dev job and I wonder if this is appropriate to ask for someone who is just looking to get in first. :( any tips?
@ThePaulWilliams
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, if for no other reason than the mindset shift Dave spoke about early on in the video. You do not want to seem desperate during this process. You don't need to be cocky or full of yourself either, but seeing the interview as a two-way street changes the tone of the whole thing in a positive way. I know that can be difficult if you are actually feeling desperate or are in a desperate situation, but it's worth pushing through those feelings to get into this kind of mindset.
Awesome advice! Thank you.
Best first two minutes I've ever watched on KZread.. Derek Jeter's last at bat might beat it, so might Tiger Woods, Concert livestreams+, and of course educational videos... but other than that., ... you know what I mean. Just de-stressed for Network analyst position when I'm a Security professional..and gave some great questions that I will definitely use...
Thank you for this
Thank's Dave!
Thanks Dave.. I'm jobless currently with 3 years of experience as process executive. I saw all ur videos on Linux and aspiring to change my career. Is it possible to change my career path now? What interviews should I give to become a devops engineer. Really hoping for a reply.
@tutoriaLinux
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, it's always possible to change careers. If you like tech, start learning on your own, try building a few small practice projects in whatever field you're interested in, and then start looking at job ads and studying the material they say they require. Each market is different, so you'll need to prep in slightly different ways depending on where in the world you are. Your best bet is to make some friends in your area and start asking them for advice, while learning as much as you can on your own. Tech is very self-directed, and your best learning will come from solving problems yourself. If you really have a desire to do it, you absolutely can!
@vidyasonkamble8117
3 жыл бұрын
@@tutoriaLinux Thankyou.. Started my preparation and following ur vids... (a fan from India😊)
Thanks so much
Very solid
whats firefighting?
great tips
Dude, so good.
Instant Sub
Great Video
Awesome.
Best best best! Great mindset, so I don't have to worry about how strong my skills are.....hey! I can log into AOL mail so just save ur comments! 😉
For a second, I thought I saw Chris Pratt!
15:27 middle finger
you suddenly had a different voice at the end. someone took over? : D
I can't believe there's only 258 likes. People are so lazy. Great stuff though and I especially like the tech debt, firefighting & old (soft|hard)ware questions. From experience these tend to be major indicators of how the tech team(s) are viewed and treated by management.
coolest? we're looking for cool at jobs now? do the job up until you're tired of it, and find another one..
wtf is firefighting?
@Jhern2116
4 жыл бұрын
When things are on "fire" at work and you / your team has to put out the fires metaphorically.
Then I should really get the f*ck out of my current job.
tl:dr please write someone this questions
Whenever I hear "Whats up guys" I just wonder how that feels to women viewers.
@cerenademe9433
4 жыл бұрын
Eh - that's not nearly as annoying as people seeing you and looking around the room for the "real" IT support person.
@thisisbob1001
4 жыл бұрын
Yo!
asymmetric beard... that's the main topic of this video. Wasn't able to pay attention to anything else :-/
everyone giving questions ideas on youtube, literally just sits in front a camera and blabs away.. smh