What are Common Network Administrator Interview Questions?

The following are some common network administrator interview questions: What is the size of the networks you have worked with? Are you confident in your ability to back up data? Have you worked with network monitoring and security software before, and have you ever designed a network infrastructure? Potential employers or clients may also inquire about a person’s ability and willingness to work under duress, meet tight deadlines, communicate complex ideas, and work overtime. Other network administrator interview questions include: How much network operating system experience do you have, and do you have any network administration or engineering certifications?

Many factors influence the type of network administrator interview questions that are asked. Because of the significant differences between managing networks of various sizes, questions about experience with large networks are asked when interviewing for a position in which the interviewee would be managing a large network. Administrators of very large networks are usually only in charge of a few routine functions and work in a team with other administrators and technicians. Managers of small networks, on the other hand, are typically responsible for everything across the network and may work alone, which raises concerns about meeting deadlines, working under pressure, and working extra hours when necessary.

Interview questions for network administrators also focus on the specific environment in which the new employee will work. The size of a network has a significant impact on how an administrator spends his or her days. Interviewers for positions managing small networks, for example, may ask applicants if they are comfortable working alone. They might also ask the interviewees to rate their analytical abilities, because small network administrators rarely have a co-administrator to turn to for help when troubleshooting problems, many of which can disrupt mission-critical operations.

If the network administrator interview questions mention infrastructure, the interviewees may interpret the questions as a test of their engineering knowledge. Network engineers, not administrators, are typically in charge of setting up infrastructure for wired networks, such as cabling and terminating ends. Terminating fiber optic cable ends necessitates a high level of expertise that could be critical to a prospective employer or client. These types of questions can even reveal some of the tasks and responsibilities for which the new employee will be responsible, allowing the interviewee to “tailor” his or her answers to those tasks.