You're in a Technical Support interview and you're asked a tough technical question. What's your next move?

2 Clarify the question and the scenario

The next step is to clarify the question and the scenario. If the interviewer has asked a vague or ambiguous question, or has not provided enough details about the issue they want you to solve, you need to ask some follow-up questions to understand the context and expectations. For instance, you may inquire about the goal of the task or desired outcome, the steps or actions that have been taken so far, any symptoms or errors that are occurring, any tools or resources that are available or required, and any constraints or limitations that need to be considered. This way, you can gain more information, confirm any assumptions, and demonstrate your analytical and communication abilities.

3 Explain your thought process and approach

Explaining your thought process and approach is the third step. Even if you don't know the exact answer, you can still demonstrate your problem-solving and technical skills by talking through how you would approach the issue. For example, you could start by doing something based on the information provided, using a tool or method to diagnose or test the issue, looking for potential causes or factors that may affect it, trying potential solutions or alternatives to fix or improve it, and verifying or validating the results. This will show your logic, creativity, and knowledge.

4 Admit your limitations and seek feedback

The final step is to understand your limitations and seek feedback. If you can't solve the issue or answer the question within the given time or resources, it's important to be honest and humble about it. You can say, for example, that you don't know the answer but would love to learn more about it, that you're not familiar with a certain technology or tool but are willing to research or learn it, or that you need more time or data to solve an issue. Admitting your limitations and asking for feedback will demonstrate your integrity, curiosity, and eagerness to learn.

5 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?