What is the best way to answer a technical question in a System Administration interview?

When answering a technical question in a System Administration interview, first, make sure you understand the question well. Then, explain the steps you'd take to solve the problem or address the situation. Use clear language and break down your answer into simple steps. Share any relevant experiences or success stories to showcase your skills. Mention tools or methods you'd use, and talk about how you'd prevent similar issues in the future. Keep your response organized, and summarize the main points at the end. This approach shows your technical know-how and your ability to explain things clearly.

And don't fake your way through it. A good interviewer always knows the answer before they ask. I would rather hear that they will research it to figure it out, than the wrong answer.

Candidly. It also depends on the knowledge level of the interviewer. If the interviewer isn't an SME, answering in highly technical language can just annoy them. There a candidate is better off talking about services, causes, effects, and results delivered. If they're at a similar technical level, then a detailed technical answer can be appropriate. On top of that a STAR response is (in my interviews) preferable. Talk about a situation, task, action and result to give me a concrete idea of how you approach things. That helps me understand how you think and gives a concrete example of what you've done.

As a system administrator, I've learned that having a strong foundation in the fundamentals is essential for success in any interview setting. By thoroughly understanding the key concepts, tools, and terminology of system administration, I can demonstrate my technical knowledge and preparedness to potential employers. This includes a thorough understanding of essential networking protocols like DHCP, DNS, SSH, FTP, and TCP/IP, as well as proficiency in using the command line, configuring network settings, installing and updating applications, and monitoring system performance and security.

Answer the technical question based on who asked it. If the question came from a non-IT person, then try to answer the question at a high level and say, "I can go into more detail if you wish." Most of the time, the person asking wants to know if you know your stuff AND you know how to effectively communicate your knowledge to the rest of management or other employees.

Simula??o de Cenários: Em vez de sobrecarregar com termos técnicos, use simula??es para ilustrar situa??es. Por exemplo, ao falar sobre resolu??o de problemas de desempenho, descreva uma situa??o específica em que você otimizou um sistema, destacando os resultados alcan?ados.

Seja direto e evite detalhes desnecessários. Divida sua resposta em passos simples, explicando cada parte de maneira clara. Isso ajuda o entrevistador a acompanhar, mesmo sem conhecimento técnico profundo.

Conecte suas respostas aos objetivos do negócio. Explique como suas habilidades técnicas contribuíram para melhorias operacionais, eficiência ou seguran?a, mostrando a relevancia para a empresa.

My experience has shown that if you ask what tools the company currently uses, then explain your experience with that tool. If you haven’t used that tool, explain and relate your experiences with a similar tool that you have used. Explain that you are interested in learning and gaining experience with their tool. Don’t be afraid to explain that your experience will give you a head start on starting with the company. This not only accelerates the onboarding but also saves the company valuable time and resources, ensuring immediate contributions to efficiency and productivity.

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