15 Network Technician Interview Questions And Answers
A computer network technician is typically referred to as a network technician. People who have this job title manage a network system of computers and their responsibilities can include installation, operations, maintenance, upgrades, fixes, and other diagnostic tasks on computers and network equipment.
They can work in a company and specialize in that organizations equipment. They can also work for a large-scale provider of technology and help a broad base of consumers, this might include individuals at home, keeping their technology in working condition.
Its an important job, it requires a lot of technical expertise, and it can be very rewarding. Whether its your first job or youre switching careers or companies, these interview questions and answer examples will help you land a job as a network technician.
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15 Network Technician Interview Questions and Answers
Please note that we are giving you sample questions and answers. This is no guarantee that these will be the exact questions you will be asked but they will help you prepare for your interview. Likewise, well give you possible answers, but youll have to answer the questions honestly and as they apply to your experiences.
What skills and knowledge do you have that have prepared you for a job as a network technician? Try to hit on both your hard and soft skills when answering this question. In many situations, this job requires you to communicate with other people.
Sometimes youll simply be listening to them to gather information. In other situations, you may have to instruct them so that a problem can be fixed.
No matter which situation youre in, having communication skills and being understanding and thorough are just as important as knowing the technical ins and outs of the job.
I am completing my Bachelors Degree in Computer Science in a month and have taken all of the courses necessary to be a network technician. I consistently rank at the top of my class and am on track to graduate with honors. Also, my instructors have always said that I communicate well and am easy to understand. I believe my technical knowledge combined with my love of teaching people makes me an ideal network technician.
Explain Active Directory. This is a straightforward knowledge question and its just one example. You may encounter many of them. You should expect something like this and should be able to answer thoroughly and in a confident manner.
The interviewer doesnt want to know how Active Directory works or what its used for so theres no need to go into great detail. Theyre checking to see if you know how to answer the question and know your stuff. Confidence is everything here.
Active Directory stores information about network components. It is where youll turn to look for user accounts and passwords and you can use it to manage accounts and passwords, like if you want to add or delete them or change passwords.
What is bus topology? Just like the last question, this one is looking to see what your basic knowledge is. Answer it well, making sure to display your knowledge.
Bus topology connects workstations to the servers with bus cables. Its a great option for many companies because it is less expensive than other options and there is better security than with a wireless network. But for a technician, like me, they can require more maintenance and skill to handle.
Describe what a switch is to you. This should be easy to answer for people in the field. People who do not have professional expertise will have a harder time answering this question accurately.
In my work world, switches are everything. Theyre the network devices that handle communication routing and the connections between devices. Theyre the first place you check when theres a connection problem in the system.
Are you familiar with VPN? Most companies now use them, especially with more and more people working from home. If you havent had the experience yet, its important that you at least know what one is.
Yes, our company was using VPNs long before COVID, so we already had a protocol in place for them to access our network remotely. My company deals with large amounts of secure information so we must protect it as much as possible. That said, it simply wasnt practical for them to insist people always be onsite.
I take it from that answer that youre comfortable working with wireless networks. What do you think is a drawback of this set-up? If you answered that you are familiar with VPNs and using them, then you know about wireless. But even if you didnt answer that way, you should know what benefits and downfalls there are with wireless networks.
Im very familiar with wireless networks and I like it because its so convenient and there seem to be fewer problems, especially when it comes to adding more connections or users. Of course, the downfall is that its much easier to hack them. From my perspective as a network technician, wireless is the way to go but I understand why our legal department has fears.
I want to speed up network performance. What would you do to help me? Do you know how to speed up a network? If you do this is the time to show off your knowledge base.
It all depends on what youre doing on your computer. Using a lot of media, peer-to-peer downloading, compression files these are all things that can slow down your network. You can also clear your cache or check your tech to make sure its in good working order. Finally, a new internet plan or provider can help.
Do you work in a heterogeneous or homogeneous work environment? Basic knowledge question. You should be able to answer it and elaborate a bit.
At this point, I think all work environments, or at least most, are heterogeneous. The tech world is so complicated that homogeneous is hard to find. Because my current employer is very diversified, we have a lot of different technologies that we have to be familiar with: desktops, laptops, Mac, Windows, and then different programs and platforms. Its very confusing for sure and we all try to stay on top of tech as much as possible.
How do you stay on top of technology and trends? Are you a true tech-geek? If so, this is where you can show off all the groups you belong to, all the e-zines you read, the conferences you attend let them have it.
I belong to seven different tech societies and read everything I can on the topic. We also have in-office workshops each week to share news and events. Sometimes theyre short and sometimes they can last several hours, especially if someone includes a show-and-tell portion. In addition to all of that, I guess I just am always looking for information because this is something Im passionate about.
If I were to call you with a problem, what steps would you take to solve it? This can be a difficult question to answer if they dont give you a specific issue to base your question around, but you should still be able to answer. This one is about the process but its also a test of your technical and soft skills.
The process itself may vary by company so thats not always important but there can be individualized parts, and theyll get insight into your work habits.
In this situation, I gather as much information from you as possible. I like to take notes as we go, so I can refer back to them if necessary. If I can quickly identify the problem, I begin to correct it. If I do not understand what is going on, I will try to replicate the issue to see if that gives me any more insight.
Finally, if I cannot figure out what the problem is, I escalate it to a senior technician. If I was able to fix the problem, I try to do the action from the beginning just to confirm that the fix worked.
Lets look at a specific problem: If I cant access the internet, how do you help me? This should be something youve dealt with or been trained to deal with. It should be a nice comfortable question and you can answer in as much detail as you feel is needed.
First, Id determine how you were accessing, whether youre wired or wireless. Then wed go through the steps together to determine where the failure is. Often, its a low signal or a simple user error.
If that doesnt seem to be where the problem lies, then I begin using a ping test and other diagnostic programs to see if I can find the hangup and create a solution. Of course, there are many different problems and solutions. But the first step is always to go through it with the caller and see if its a simple user error.
What do you see as the pros of this profession? What made you choose this field? You might want to anticipate being asked what some of the cons are also. These questions help them see your approach to the profession and what things you might do better or have problems with.
I have always loved technology and have a natural inclination for it. For a while, I considered being a teacher and going into some sort of technical or computer teaching program, but I decided I like the idea of being a network technician better. I like that I could get through school much faster with this degree and begin working in the field. It does seem like the perfect way for me to pair my interests in a profession that helps people. I also get paid to stay on top of trends that interest me.
What do you do when you have a large amount of work or many problems happening at once? If you have not had any real-world experience at this point, explain what you think youd do. In this case, our answer above is a good reference point.
If you do have experience in the field, make sure you answer in a way that reflects your actual process and experience.
I understand that this career ebbs and flows. When there are a lot of issues, they often are related, so taking the information and processing as much of it as possible may lead to a solution that solves several problems at once. I think its important, in these situations, to communicate well with others on my team because the issues, solutions, and concerns may all be interconnected. If theyre not, then I have to prioritize the critical problems over others and tackle them in a top-down fashion.
Your position often requires that you work alone or in a one-on-one environment. How do you feel about that? This not only gauges how you work but also is a way to determine how you interact with others. The old misconception about IT people being antisocial is still out there, so it might be a good idea to address it.
I find that working alone helps me get to a solution more quickly if I know what steps I need to take. When theres a very confusing issue at hand, I like to call in my team to get their input. I find that teamwork can play a big role in being successful in this business. I also enjoy working with people one-on-one but theyre often very frustrated so it typically takes a little work to get them to calm down and to let them know that Im going to do my best as quickly as possible to fix the problem.
What do you see as the future of your field? Its an interesting question and theres no right answer. They might just want to gauge how much youre paying attention to trends.
I think more automation is coming down the road, which means fewer jobs for people like me, but Im hoping to continue to learn and grow and move into a senior position. I think there will always be a need for senior network technicians and engineers. While automation and computer-aided diagnostics are important and pretty cool, people are still at the core of the solution, especially when people are also on the other end of technology.
Other Job Interview Questions
In addition to practicing some specific interview questions, its a good idea to look over a handful of general and common interview questions that can be asked at an interview. A few of these include:
Youll get a variety of questions in your interview. Some will have right and wrong answers. Some will be up for interpretation and designed to give greater insight into who you are as a person. Its good to practice with someone or at least review a lot of different questions so you get a feel for answering them with confidence.
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Tips for Interviewing for a Network Technician Job
Youre already taking great steps forward in your efforts to get this job. If you have the qualifications and required training for a job, researching this will help you get an interview and get hired. Try these other tips to better your odds of getting the job.
Dress to impress. Looking like a professional not only makes it easier for the interviewer to picture you working at their company, it also shows respect. If you dont know how to dress for a job interview, do some research or ask around.
Research the company. Its always important to know something about the company before youre interviewed. This can save you from embarrassing gaffes during your interview. It will also impress the interviewer and it proves that youre interested in the job.
Reference job posting materials. If youve been asked in for an interview, then youve probably applied to a job posting, sent a resume and a cover letter. Its a good idea to go back to this information and reread it. Theres a good chance youve been applying to a lot of jobs and its hard to keep them all straight.
Ask questions. A job interview isnt just about you being asked questions. The best interviews are a bit of a give and take. Thats why you must come up with a few questions before you go in for the interview.
While youre in the interview, if you have other questions, make sure you ask them. This shows that youre engaged and interested and considering the position as a part of your future.
Final Thoughts
All job searches are stressful events. The best thing you can do to make your search more successful is to prepare and research. Doing this at the outset helps you narrow down your search to the best jobs for great companies. It also helps you tailor your application to fit their needs and get more attention.
When you get to that job interview, being prepared helps you answer completely and with confidence. This will impress the interviewer and make the process go more smoothly. Likewise, practicing interview questions that are specific to the job of network technician will help you present yourself in the best light.
The above questions are a good start, and our answers should help you come up with your personalized answers. Make sure you consider questions specific to your job and general ones as well.