Prepare for your DevOps 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 your experience with DevOps tools. If you have previous experience using configuration management tools like Puppet or Chef, share what you found most beneficial about these programs. If you don’t have any experience using these tools, consider mentioning another DevOps tool that you’d like to learn more about.
Answer: “I’ve worked with both Chef and Puppet in previous roles as a DevOps engineer. I found that Chef was easier to use than Puppet because it has a simpler syntax for writing recipes. However, I also appreciate the flexibility that Puppet offers when it comes to configuring systems. In my last position, I used both tools to manage our servers and cloud environments.”
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of a specific version control system. You can answer by explaining how Git helps developers work more efficiently and collaborate on projects.
Answer: “Git is a version control system that allows me to track changes in code over time. This is beneficial because it allows me to see what changes have been made, who made them and when they were made. It also allows me to revert back to previous versions of code if needed. Another benefit of using Git is that it allows me to work with other developers on the same project without causing conflicts. This is because it tracks changes made by each person and allows them to work independently without interfering with one another. Finally, Git also allows me to create branches where I can test out new features without affecting the main code.”
Debugging a broken deployment is a common task for a DevOps engineer. The interviewer may ask this question to see how you approach solving problems and whether your solutions are effective. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to debug a broken deployment.
Answer: “I would first check the logs to see if there are any errors or warnings that could help me identify the problem. Then I would check the configuration files to make sure they’re set up correctly. If those steps don’t work, I would look at the code itself to see if there’s anything wrong with it. Finally, if all else fails, I would redeploy the code to another server to see if the issue is with the current server or something in the code.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with a specific type of DevOps tool. Use examples from previous projects to highlight your knowledge of continuous integration tools and how they helped your team achieve their goals.
Answer: “In my last role, I worked on a team that used Jenkins as our continuous integration tool. We used Jenkins to automate our build process, which allowed us to quickly compile code changes and test them before committing them to the repository. This helped us ensure that any bug fixes or new features were implemented correctly before they were released to customers.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership skills and how you might interact with their team. Use examples from previous roles where you had to manage engineers, organized projects or led teams of developers.
Answer: “In my last role, I was responsible for managing a team of five engineers. We were all working on the same project, but each had different responsibilities. One engineer was responsible for coding, another was in charge of testing and so on. My job was to ensure everyone was working on their tasks and met deadlines. I also had to make sure everyone was communicating effectively so we could solve any problems that arose.”
This question is a great way to see how the candidate organizes his or her code. It also shows the interviewer what kind of attention to detail the candidate has when it comes to their work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of what the first thing would be and why it’s important.
Answer: “The first thing I would notice about my code is how organized it is. I always make sure to organize my code into separate files based on what it does. This helps me remember what each part of the code does when I need to make changes later on. It also makes it easier for other developers to understand what’s going on in the project.”
This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a challenging situation. Your answer should show that you are willing to take initiative, are willing to ask for help when needed and can solve problems on your own.
Answer: “If I noticed a problem in production, my first step would be to try and identify what was causing it. If I could not figure it out myself, I would reach out to my team members for help. If we still could not solve the issue, I would then contact our DevOps manager or another person in charge of production who could help us.”
This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of a specific skill that’s important for the role. Use examples from previous work or education to show how you’ve applied performance testing in your work and what you’ve learned from it.
Answer: “I have a deep understanding of the value of performance testing because I’ve used it in several projects at my current job. For example, I was recently tasked with creating a new server for our company’s website. After creating the server, I performed several performance tests to ensure the site ran smoothly for users. I discovered there were some issues with the code I wrote, so I fixed those problems before launching the server.”
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your experience with the staging environment. Staging is a testing environment where developers can test their code before deploying it to production. This process helps ensure that the code works as intended and doesn’t cause any issues in the production environment.
Answer: “Yes, I have extensive experience working with staging environments. In my current role as a DevOps engineer, I am responsible for creating and maintaining our staging environment. I also use the staging environment to test new code before deploying it to production. To ensure that all changes are safe, I test the code in different scenarios to make sure it works as intended.”
This question can help the interviewer assess your knowledge of when it’s appropriate to push code updates to production. Use examples from your experience to show that you know when it’s safe to update a company’s software and when it’s better to wait until certain conditions are met.
Answer: “It’s important to have a process in place for when it’s appropriate to push code updates to production. I always make sure to follow my company’s guidelines for pushing code updates, which include having multiple people review the code before it’s pushed to production. This helps ensure that there are no issues with the code itself or with any changes made to the system.”
This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you would apply them to the company’s current processes. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of the challenges you’ve faced with deployment in the past and how you overcame them.
Answer: “I would start by analyzing the current deployment process. I would look at the tools we use, the steps involved and the people involved. Then, I would create a plan for improving the process. This could include implementing new tools, training employees on new processes or changing the way we communicate with each other during deployments.”
Testing a new code update is an important part of the DevOps process. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your testing process and how you ensure that updates are safe for the company’s servers. Use your answer to highlight your attention to detail and your ability to troubleshoot issues.
Answer: “I start by reading through the code update to understand what it does. Then, I run multiple tests on the code to make sure it’s working as intended. I also use debugging tools to look for any potential issues with the code. If I find any bugs, I work with the development team to find a solution. Finally, I test the code update again to make sure it’s working properly.”
This question is a great way for employers to learn more about you and how you can contribute to their company. It’s important to show them that you have the right skills and experience for the job, but it’s also helpful to include some personal traits that make you unique.
Answer: “I think what makes me stand out from other candidates is my ability to work well with others. I’ve always been someone who enjoys collaborating on projects and solving problems together. In my last role, I worked on a team of five other developers who all had different skillsets. We relied on each other to complete projects and learned from each other’s mistakes.”
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise with programming languages. Use this opportunity to highlight any languages you are proficient in, including any that are unique to your industry.
Answer: “I am comfortable working with Java, Python and JavaScript. I’ve worked on several projects that required me to use these languages, including creating an automated system for customer support and developing an application for data analysis. In my last position, I also learned some basics of C++ and HTML to better understand how they work together.”
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful in this role. You can answer by identifying a skill from the job description, such as communication or problem-solving, and explaining why it’s important for a DevOps engineer.
Answer: “I believe the most important skill for a DevOps engineer to have is communication. DevOps engineers need to be able to communicate with other members of their team, including developers, QA testers and security experts. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders and customers about any issues that arise during the development process.”
The interviewer may ask this question to understand your testing process and how often you perform it. Use examples from past projects where you implemented a quality assurance testing process and how it helped improve the project’s overall success.
Answer: “I believe in performing quality assurance tests throughout the development process. I typically start with unit testing, which is when I break down code into smaller components and test each one separately. Then, I move onto integration testing where I combine the tested components into a single system. After that, I perform system testing to ensure that all components work together as expected. Finally, I do regression testing to make sure that any changes made to the system do not break existing functionality.”
This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach a problem and solve it. Your answer should include steps that you take to fix the bug, as well as any tools or software you use to complete the task.
Answer: “I would first identify the bug by running tests on the code update. Then, I would fix the bug using debugging tools or other methods. Finally, I would run additional tests to ensure that the code update is working properly.”
Monitoring systems are an important part of a DevOps role. The interviewer may ask this question to see how much experience you have with these systems and how you apply them in your work. In your answer, explain what monitoring systems are and what experience you have using them.
Answer: “Monitoring systems are tools that allow me to track the performance of a system or application. I’ve used several different types of monitoring systems in my previous roles, including New Relic, Zabbix and Nagios. I find that it’s important to use multiple types of monitoring so I can compare the data and find any discrepancies. This helps me identify any issues or problems with the system.”
Stakeholders are important people in an organization who have a say in how things are done. An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills and how you handle conflict. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully communicated with stakeholders or decision-makers about important issues.
Answer: “In my last role, I had to explain to our CEO why our website was down for several hours. He was not happy about the situation, but I explained what happened and how we were going to fix it. He appreciated my honesty and understanding of the issue. He also understood that sometimes things happen beyond our control. The conversation went well, and we continued to work together well after that.”
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with Windows Server and Linux systems. If you have previous experience with these types of systems, describe what you did and how it helped your organization. If you don’t have any experience with these systems, you can answer this question by describing your experience with other types of servers.
Answer: “I’ve worked with both Windows Server and Linux systems in my previous roles as a DevOps engineer. In my current role, I’m responsible for maintaining and managing our company’s Windows Server infrastructure. I’m familiar with installing and configuring both Windows Server 2016 and 2019 versions. I also use PowerShell to automate tasks and manage the network.”
This question can help the interviewer understand how you stay up-to-date on the latest technologies in the industry. Your answer should show that you have a passion for learning new things and staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technology.
Answer: “I am always looking for ways to improve my skills as a DevOps engineer. I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that cover the latest trends in technology. I also take advantage of free online courses offered by leading universities and companies. In addition, I attend conferences and seminars where experts share their knowledge on new technologies. Finally, I network with other professionals in the field to learn about their experiences with different tools and techniques.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with DevOps tools and platforms. Use examples from your past work to highlight your knowledge of these tools and how you used them to automate deployment processes.
Answer: “I have used several tools and platforms for automating deployment, including Chef, Puppet, Ansible and Salt. Each of these solutions has its own benefits, but I find that Chef is one of the most reliable for automating deployment processes. It’s easy to use and has a wide variety of recipes and cookbooks available for different systems and applications. In my last role, I used Chef to automate the deployment of new servers, applications and databases.”
This question is an opportunity to show your ability to plan and organize. You can answer this question by describing the steps you would take to create a development pipeline for a new project, including the software tools you would use and why you chose them.
Answer: “When designing a development pipeline for a new project, I like to start by identifying the goals of the project. This helps me determine what type of development pipeline will be most effective for meeting those goals. For example, if the goal of the project is to create an application that is easy for users to navigate, then I would likely choose a Continuous Delivery pipeline because it allows me to quickly test changes and deploy them to production whenever necessary.”
This question allows you to show the interviewer your problem-solving skills and how you apply them to your work. You can use your answer to highlight a specific project or situation where you used your creativity and critical thinking to solve a challenge.
Answer: “In my last role, I was tasked with creating a DevOps automation system for our company’s website. The website had several different features, including an online store, blog and social media platform. The goal was to create an automated system that would allow us to update all three platforms at once without having to manually do it individually.”
Monitoring performance metrics is an important part of the DevOps role. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how you use data to make decisions. In your answer, explain how you would use performance metrics to improve processes in an organization.
Answer: “I think about monitoring performance metrics as an important part of my job. I understand that it’s essential to track key indicators such as response time, error rates, and throughput to ensure that systems are operating at maximum efficiency. I also know that it’s important to use this data to make decisions about how to improve processes. For example, if I notice that there is an increase in errors on a particular application, I would investigate the root cause of the issue and develop strategies to prevent it from happening again in the future.”
