What are the most difficult questions to answer in an Information Architecture interview?

1 What is your IA process?

This question aims to evaluate how you plan, execute, and communicate your IA work. A good answer should demonstrate that you follow a clear and consistent process that involves research, analysis, design, testing, and iteration. You should also explain how you adapt your process to different contexts, goals, and constraints. For example, you might mention how you use different methods and tools depending on the scope, complexity, and timeline of the project. You should also highlight how you collaborate with other stakeholders, such as users, clients, developers, and content creators, and how you document and present your IA deliverables.

2 How do you conduct user research for IA?

This question assesses how you gather and use user data to inform your IA decisions. A good answer should show that you use a variety of user research methods, such as interviews, surveys, card sorting, tree testing, and usability testing, to understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of your target audience. You should also explain how you analyze and synthesize the data, such as by creating personas, scenarios, user journeys, and affinity diagrams. Additionally, you should demonstrate how you use the insights to define the information requirements, goals, and tasks of your IA project.

4 How do you deal with complex or dynamic information?

This question evaluates how you handle information that is large, diverse, or changing. A good answer should show that you use various techniques and strategies to organize, categorize, and prioritize information, such as by using hierarchies, facets, tags, metadata, and filters. You should also explain how you balance the trade-offs between breadth and depth, flexibility and stability, and granularity and comprehensiveness. Furthermore, you should demonstrate how you communicate complex or dynamic information to users, such as by using visualizations, icons, tooltips, and feedback.

5 How do you ensure consistency and coherence across multiple channels and platforms?

This question tests how you design IA for omnichannel and cross-platform experiences. A good answer should show that you use a holistic and user-centric approach to create a seamless and coherent information environment that works across different devices, contexts, and touchpoints. You should also explain how you use standards, guidelines, and patterns to ensure consistency and alignment of the structure, labels, and content of your IA project. Additionally, you should demonstrate how you use responsive and adaptive design techniques to optimize the information presentation and interaction for different screen sizes and resolutions.

6 How do you measure and improve the effectiveness of your IA?

This question probes how you evaluate and iterate on your IA project. A good answer should show that you use both quantitative and qualitative methods to measure the performance and outcomes of your IA, such as by using analytics, feedback, and usability testing. You should also explain how you define and track the key metrics and indicators of your IA success, such as by using goals, objectives, and key results (OKRs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and user satisfaction scores. Moreover, you should demonstrate how you use the data and insights to identify and prioritize the areas of improvement and implement the changes in your IA.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?