Prepare for your IT Manager interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working in a team setting. It can also show them how you might interact with other members of their team if you were hired. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you worked with a team of IT professionals or other managers.
Answer Example: "Absolutely. I have extensive experience working with teams of IT professionals to manage a company’s IT needs. Throughout my career, I have worked alongside other managers to ensure that our teams were adequately staffed to meet the demands of our clients. I also understand the importance of communication and collaboration when it comes to managing complex projects."
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed to be an effective IT manager. You can answer this question by listing some of the most important qualities, such as leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
Answer Example: "An IT manager should have strong leadership skills, as they will be responsible for managing a team of IT professionals. They should also have excellent communication abilities, as they will be communicating with clients and other members of the company on a regular basis. Finally, an IT manager should have problem-solving skills, as they will need to solve any issues that arise with the company’s computer systems."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a conflict between your employees and company policy. Your answer should show that you value compliance with company policies and procedures, but also that you are willing to work with your employees to help them understand why these policies are important.
Answer Example: "I would first speak with the employee about their behavior and explain why it is not acceptable. If they continue to disregard company IT policies, then I would take disciplinary action such as issuing a warning or suspension. If the behavior continues, I would consider firing them."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with managing large teams and how you approach challenging tasks. Use examples from previous projects to highlight your leadership skills, communication abilities and problem-solving skills.
Answer Example: "In my last role as an IT manager, I was responsible for managing a large project that involved installing new software across all of our company’s computers. This required me to work closely with the IT team and other departments to ensure everyone had the necessary information about the new system and any questions they had were answered quickly. The project took several months to complete, but I made sure to communicate with my team regularly about their progress so they knew what to expect."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach problems and use your critical thinking skills. Use examples from previous work experiences where you had to solve a challenging IT issue, such as a computer glitch or network problem.
Answer Example: "In my last role as an IT manager, I had a client who was having issues with their email account. They couldn’t access their inbox or send out emails, which was causing major disruption in their business. I worked with my team to troubleshoot the issue, and we discovered that there was a problem with the server. We quickly fixed the issue so that the client could get back to business as usual."
This question can help the interviewer understand your management style and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer can also reveal what type of environment you prefer to work in—one where you’re interacting with other managers or one where you’re interacting with your IT team members.
Answer Example: "I would find managing business personnel more challenging because I find it more rewarding to work with other professionals. I enjoy helping them achieve their goals and develop their skills. Managing IT personnel is challenging enough, so I would prefer to focus on that."
This question can help the interviewer assess your problem-solving skills and how you might handle a challenging situation. In your answer, try to highlight your ability to analyze data and make decisions based on evidence.
Answer Example: "If I noticed employee productivity was dropping due to an issue with the company’s computer network, my first step would be to investigate the problem. I would gather as much information as possible about the issue, including any reports from employees about their computers not working properly or any other clues that could help me identify the source of the problem. Then, I would work with my team to create a plan for fixing the issue."
This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the different types of computer networks and how they can be used in an organization. You can list out the different types of networks that are available, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and wireless networks.
Answer Example: "There are three main types of computer networks that I am familiar with—local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and wireless networks. A LAN is a network that connects computers within a single building or campus. A WAN connects two or more LANs over a large distance. For example, a company may have multiple locations across the country that are connected via a WAN. Finally, a wireless network uses radio waves to transmit data between devices."
This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with training and developing other IT professionals. Use examples from your past to show how you helped others learn new skills or techniques that improved their performance on the job.
Answer Example: "In my last position as an IT manager, I had two employees who were new to their positions. I worked with them individually to develop training plans that included both classroom instruction and on-the-job training. We also created checklists of tasks they needed to complete so they could become familiar with their responsibilities quickly. By working together, we were able to ensure both employees were comfortable performing their duties by their third month on the job."
This question is a great way to see how you approach change and innovation. It also shows the interviewer that you are aware of the different approaches to technology and their benefits. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain what each approach involves so the interviewer understands your answer.
Answer Example: "I believe in taking an evolutionary approach to technology because it allows me to slowly adopt new systems and processes without disrupting the current workflow. This approach allows me to see how well the new system works before making any major changes. If there are any issues, I can work on fixing them before making the switch. Taking this approach also allows me to learn more about the technology so I can better understand how to use it."
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with cloud computing and how you would implement it at their company. Use examples from previous roles where you implemented cloud computing or other technologies that are similar to cloud computing.
Answer Example: "Cloud computing is an IT strategy that allows companies to store data on remote servers rather than on-site. This allows for increased flexibility in terms of scalability, as well as reduced costs because there is no need for hardware maintenance or upgrades. In order to implement cloud computing at our company, I would first assess our current infrastructure and determine if it’s compatible with cloud computing. If so, I would then create a plan for migrating our data to the cloud. Finally, I would train employees on how to use the new system."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with a specific type of IT project. Use examples from previous work to highlight your skills, knowledge and ability to complete projects successfully.
Answer Example: "In my last role as an IT manager, I was responsible for managing all software development and deployment projects. My team and I would meet regularly to discuss new features we wanted to add to our existing applications or create entirely new ones. After deciding on the best course of action, we would create detailed plans for each project. We would then implement the plans by testing the code before deploying it to users."
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you are qualified for this role. You can answer this question by highlighting some of your most relevant skills and experience.
Answer Example: "I am highly organized, which makes me an excellent candidate for this position. I have experience using project management software like Trello to keep track of all my projects and tasks. I also have experience managing a team of IT professionals, so I know how to delegate tasks effectively. These skills make me confident that I can successfully manage a team of IT professionals."
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with various management software tools. Use this opportunity to highlight any specific tools you are familiar with and how they’ve helped you perform your job effectively.
Answer Example: "I’m most familiar with Microsoft Office 365, Google G Suite and Atlassian JIRA. I’ve used Office 365 for several years now and find it to be an effective tool for managing my team’s projects and communication. I also use G Suite for email and document collaboration among my team members. Finally, I’m familiar with Atlassian JIRA for project management purposes. These three tools allow me to stay organized while also providing my team with the resources they need to complete their tasks."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan to lead your team and create a positive work environment for them. Your answer should show that you value employee input, collaboration and communication.
Answer Example: "I think it’s important for IT managers to be open to ideas from their employees about how to improve the workplace. I always encourage my team members to share their suggestions for new technology or processes that could make their jobs easier. In fact, I have a monthly meeting where anyone can come and talk about ideas they have for improving our department."
This question can help the interviewer determine how committed you are to your career and whether you’re likely to stay with their company for a long time. Your answer should show that you have a passion for learning new things, especially if you’ve taken courses or participated in other professional development opportunities recently.
Answer Example: "I am always looking for ways to improve my knowledge and skills in IT. I attend conferences, read industry magazines and blogs, and take online courses whenever I can. In fact, I just completed a course on cloud computing last month. I find that staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies helps me provide better service to my team and clients."
This question can help the interviewer determine how you learn new things and adapt to changes in your work environment. Use examples from your past experience to show that you are willing to take the time to learn new software, systems or processes.
Answer Example: "I would first do some research online about the software and read through any documentation that came with it. I would then try to find someone in my company who has used this type of software before so I could ask them questions about how to use it. If I still had questions after that, I would contact the vendor who created the software and ask them for help."
