Top interview questions to expect

1. Tell me about a time you resolved a challenging technical issue.
2. Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to troubleshoot an IT problem.
3. Give me an example of a time when you had to learn new technology quickly to solve a problem.
4. Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
5. Describe a situation when you had to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
6. Give me an example of a time when you had to resolve a conflict between team members.
7. Tell me about a time when you used creative thinking to solve a problem.

Check the latest questions for this role:

Answering interview questions with STAR structure

The STAR framework is a structured approach to answering behavioral interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. When you answer a question using the STAR framework, you start by describing the situation you were in, then you explain the task you had to complete, then you describe the actions you took to complete the task, and finally you share the result of your actions. This framework helps you to provide a clear and concise answer that highlights your skills and abilities.

Sample answers to above interview questions

1. Tell me about a time you resolved a challenging technical issue.

Answer:

Situation: I was working as an IT Support Specialist at a large corporation when a server that hosted critical business applications crashed.

Task: I was responsible for diagnosing the problem and restoring the server as quickly as possible.

Action: I began by running a series of tests to identify the source of the problem. After troubleshooting for several hours, I discovered that a faulty hard drive was causing the server to crash. I replaced the hard drive and restored the server from a backup.

Result: The server was restored and operational within 24 hours, and the business was able to resume its normal operations.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

2. Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to troubleshoot an IT problem.

Answer:

Situation: I was part of a team of IT specialists who were tasked with troubleshooting a network issue that was affecting a large number of users.

Task: I was responsible for working with the other team members to identify the source of the problem and develop a solution.

Action: We began by gathering information from the users who were experiencing the problem. We then used this information to troubleshoot the issue and identify the root cause. Once we had identified the root cause, we developed a solution and implemented it.

Result: The network issue was resolved within 24 hours, and the users were able to resume their normal work activities.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s teamwork and problem-solving skills.

3. Give me an example of a time when you had to learn new technology quickly to solve a problem.

Answer:

Situation: I was working as an IT Support Specialist when a new software application was implemented at the company. I was responsible for training the users on how to use the new software.

Task: I needed to learn the new software quickly so that I could train the users.

Action: I spent several hours reading the documentation and practicing with the software. I also attended a training session that was offered by the software vendor.

Result: I was able to learn the new software quickly and effectively train the users.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s learning agility and willingness to embrace new technology.

4. Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project with a tight deadline when I was assigned several other tasks.

Task: I needed to prioritize the tasks and complete them all on time.

Action: I began by creating a list of all the tasks that I needed to complete. I then prioritized the tasks based on their importance and deadline. I then began working on the tasks, starting with the most important and urgent tasks.

Result: I was able to complete all of the tasks on time and to the satisfaction of my manager.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s time management and prioritization skills.

5. Describe a situation when you had to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to upgrade the company’s network infrastructure. I needed to communicate the technical details of the project to the non-technical stakeholders.

Task: I needed to explain the project in a way that the stakeholders could understand.

Action: I began by gathering information about the project. I then created a presentation that was easy to understand and that used non-technical language. I also invited the stakeholders to ask questions during the presentation.

Result: The stakeholders were able to understand the project and they were supportive of the project.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s communication skills and ability to adapt to different audiences.

6. Give me an example of a time when you had to resolve a conflict between team members.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project with a team of other IT specialists. Two of the team members were having a conflict that was affecting the project.

Task: I needed to resolve the conflict and get the team back on track.

Action: I began by talking to each of the team members individually to understand their perspectives on the conflict. I then facilitated a meeting between the two team members to discuss their conflict and to find a resolution.

Result: The team members were able to resolve their conflict and they were able to continue working together effectively.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s conflict resolution skills and ability to lead and motivate a team.

7. Tell me about a time when you used creative thinking to solve a problem.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to implement a new software application. The software was not working as expected and I was having trouble troubleshooting the problem.

Task: I needed to find a creative solution to the problem.

Action: I began by brainstorming with my team to come up with ideas for how to solve the problem. We eventually came up with a solution that involved using a different software application to work around the problem.

Result: The solution worked and the project was completed on time.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise account of the situation, task, action, and result. It also highlights the candidate’s creativity and problem-solving skills.