Use these questions to identify a candidate’s technical knowledge and abilities
Use these questions to determine how a candidate handled situations in the past
Use these questions to assess a candidate’s personal traits and cognitive skills
Why this matters
This question can help you assess a candidate’s ability to handle complexity. The larger the network, the more moving pieces there are—and the more opportunities for problems and vulnerabilities. You need to know that your candidate has experience with a network of your size, or at least demonstrates the potential to work with one competently.
What to listen for
- Evidence the candidate has configured complex networks and is adaptable to the change that comes with growth.
- Understanding and discussion of a business’s need to upgrade network systems and foundations over time.
Why this matters
Great customer service is at the heart of every successful business—especially in the digital age. Network administrators invariably find themselves providing on-call support when issues arise. Can your candidate acknowledge and validate a client’s concerns? And are they able to earn back any confidence that’s been lost?
What to listen for
- Top candidates will emphasize that they deal with all clients respectfully, showing empathy and patience.
- Evidence that the candidate has experience improving or saving client relationships is a good sign.
Why this matters
The challenge of scaling is one every network administrator encounters. Your candidate should be able to talk you through how they assess the situation, and what techniques they would employ to expand without decreasing functionality. This will require a clear understanding of the company’s current technical needs, as well as the ability to account for future growth.
What to listen for
- An understanding of different metrics that may be important—including cost, resources, and efficacy.
- Look for candidates who display knowledge about both quantitative and qualitative aspects of scaling.
Why this matters
Increasingly, companies are seeing the benefit of integrating systems administrators and development teams. You’re looking for either specific hands-on experience in this type of cross-functional working partnership, or indications that the candidate is interested in and capable of working fluidly on a multi-disciplinary team.
What to listen for
- Look for answers that highlight a commitment to strong collaboration and communication.
- Hesitation could indicate the candidate doesn’t work well with a team, or hasn’t experienced good team dynamics in the past.
Why this matters
A large part of a network administrator’s role is knowing how to analyze and troubleshoot network issues, and improve functionality and efficiency. With this question, you’ll gain insight into the candidate’s eye for detail and problem-solving skills. The best network administrators are proactive about implementing fixes and strategizing ways to prevent further issues.
What to listen for
- Specific example of issues the candidate has diagnosed and what they did to fix or mitigate them—and prevent future vulnerabilities.
- Evidence the candidate is quick to respond and thorough in their approach.
Why this matters
Network and connectivity issues are a constant source of frustration for companies. Every system and network poses its own unique challenges. The key here is to press the candidate for specific and varied examples. What tools did they use to test? How did they isolate the error? And how was it ultimately resolved?
What to listen for
- Evidence that the candidate has a strong process for resolving network and connectivity issues, regardless of scale or severity.
- Discussion of how they communicated with the rest of the organization during the process.
Why this matters
Today, IT is integral to every facet of a business, so network administrators need to be able to communicate the value of what they do to a non-technical audience. A strong candidate can make complex terminology simple and understandable to a layperson. They should also be able to back their recommendations with solid data that leaders will respond to.
What to listen for
- Examples that emphasize open communication delivered in non-technical terms.
- Look for candidates who gather all the relevant facts about past performance before attempting to influence leadership’s future decisions.
Why this matters
Since IT underpins everything a company does, network administrators need strong collaboration and leadership skills. Here, the candidate should provide examples of how they helped to coordinate necessary resources, lay out a plan, handle setbacks, and ultimately see a project through to completion alongside others.
What to listen for
- Ability to both interact effectively with multiple levels of the organization and work independently without supervision.
- Strong answers indicate a tendency to offer support and guidance to team members, rather than making demands.
Why this matters
Organizations must remain current with network infrastructures to be able to host the latest technologies, as well as update security protocols as needed. New innovations that could improve your organization’s systems pop up daily. Excellent candidates are passionate about staying on top of the trends that influence their work.
What to listen for
- Examples of specific industry websites, resources, thought leaders, and professional bodies that the candidate follows.
- Evidence that the candidate is deeply passionate about their chosen field and is eager to keep learning and growing.
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