25 Apr What to Ask in a Tech Interview?

At Scion Technology—our technology & IT staffing division—we partner with candidates to ensure that they are ready and successful in their tech interview.

The tech industry is constantly evolving, and staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies is essential for anyone looking to succeed in this field. However, having the necessary tech knowledge is just one part of the equation when it comes to landing a tech role. A crucial factor in securing a job offer is your performance during the interview process. To make a great impression and demonstrate your interest in the position during the hiring process, it’s essential to ask relevant and thoughtful questions during the interview. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the top questions to ask during a tech job interview that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the company and the role and increase your chances of landing the job.

Some of the most common interview questions we’ve received from candidates are centered around their interview. Generally, job seekers will focus on preparing answers to questions for an interview but rarely do candidates remember to prepare questions for the interview as well. To ensure you are prepared, we’ve put together a list of our top tech questions you’ll want to ask an interviewer in a tech interview.

What are your goals for the next five years or where do you see the company in the next five years?

What this question implies: Depending on the size of the company and who you’re speaking with, asking a question such as this during your interview implies that you care about the goals and success of the company. It also shows that you are thinking long-term about the company and have the big picture in mind. This also lets management know that you’ll be looking for professional growth opportunities to advance within the company.

What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?

What this question implies: You’re looking to see where your problem-solving skills can come into play to solve a current issue that the organization or specific team you would be working with is facing. This shows the potential employer that you’re interested in seeing where your skills and contributions could make a difference in their projects. Instead of a hypothetical situation, you’re asking about real-world problems that you can use your expertise on.

What do you expect from team members in this position?

What this question implies: Yes, you have read the job description and know the soft skills required for the job, but likely hearing expectations from the mouth of the hiring manager will give you clear picture of what your job may entail. Additionally, asking a question like this implies that you desire to meet (and exceed) the expectations of your job by using your current skills or skills you plan to learn.

What does a typical day look like for this role?

What this question implies: Asking this question during your tech interview will help you envision a day on the job and see a better picture of expectations as well as the role. Hearing a typical day’s schedule from the manager, who is familiar with the role will give you insight onto how the role connects and interacts with other roles within the company for certain projects as well as with clients and vendors.

What does growth mean to you?

What this question implies: “Growth” is the magic word all managers and owners want to hear about their business. The fact that you, as a potential candidate, are interested in the growth of the company shows that you are serious about the goals, company culture, and mission of the organization as well as serious about your role and contribution.

What software do you currently use and want employees to master?

What this question implies: Chances are, if you are in a tech interview, your role entails you having a certain level of coding skills and being familiar with and using software as part of your job. It’s good to ask if there are any new software programs that the company will be incorporating so that you can either speak to your knowledge on it, or make a mental note to explore that software, should you move forward with the position!

While the above is not an exhaustive list of questions to ask during a tech interview, they are a fantastic start to add to your interview repertoire. As a bonus, we’ve included below three questions you shouldn’t ask in your tech interview.

What is the vacation policy?

What this question implies: asking about paid time off, personal time, or vacation during an interview shows that you are more interested in the perks of the job, rather than the job itself. Save these types of questions until after you are hired, or when you are negotiating your offer.

Anything related to the salary.

What this question implies: again, asking questions about the salary implies you are motivated by the dollar signs. There is a perfectly appropriate time and pace to discuss, negotiate and dive into the salary and benefits of the position, but that time is not during your interview.

Questions you could have researched on your own.

What this question implies: asking questions like, how large is the company, who is your competition or how did the company get started, could be answered through a quick internet search. Do your research on the company, position and interviewer beforehand to ensure you are well versed in the position.

Scion Technology can help you land your dream job!

Scion Technology is a national leader in tech staffing and recruitment, assisting qualified and experienced candidates in finding in-demand positions with some of the top organizations in the tech industry! Whether you are looking for a job as a software engineer, project manager, or other manager roles, we can help you with your career transition or assist you in finding your new career in technology. Additionally, we connect the top companies in the industry with the most experienced candidates available in our national network of candidates. Contact our award-winning team today or visit our website to get started on your job search today!