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DevOps is one of the hottest buzzwords in tech now. DevOps is a collaboration between the development and operations team, where they work together to deliver a product faster and efficiently. In the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in listings for DevOps jobs. Multinational companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon, frequently have multiple open positions for DevOps engineers. However, the job market is highly competitive, and the questions asked in DevOps jobs interview can cover a lot of challenging subjects. Here are some of the most common DevOps interview questions that can help you prepare for DevOps roles.
Tell me about your experience with DevOps.
DevOps is a highly technical field, requiring extensive knowledge of programming languages, cloud architecture, full-stack engineering, automation, and problem-solving. A computer science background is extremely helpful, though formal education isn’t strictly necessary and having comprehensive development and programming experience is equally valuable. Interviewers here look for, whether the candidate is well-versed in common web and cloud technologies, automation, and other DevOps systems. A great answer will highlight how the candidate have applied and expanded their skills, as well as any implementation experience.
What automation tools have you worked with?
Since streamlining processes through automation makes DevOps strategies repeatable and more successful down the line, DevOps engineers should be familiar with automation tools and software. However, automation can make companies vulnerable to security breaches, so it’s important that the candidate understands the risks as well as the benefits. Interviewers look for mentions of specific tools and why they are useful, along with concrete examples of how the candidate has used them in the past. An exceptional answer will acknowledge how to prevent security vulnerabilities when using automation.
What benefit do you believe DevOps brings to a company and why?
Top DevOps engineers have a strong sense of not only their individual tasks and responsibilities, but also how these impact the company as a whole. An ability to look at the bigger picture will be useful as they begin to spearhead long-term projects, allowing them to tailor projects closely to business needs. Interviewers here look for, candidate's ability to clearly articulate the value that DevOps brings to an organization. A great answer may demonstrate how the candidate has used automation to innovate workflows in past roles, showing a broader understanding of their impact.
How is DevOps different from agile methodology?
DevOps is a culture that allows the development and the operations team to work together. This results in continuous development, testing, integration, deployment, and monitoring of the software throughout the lifecycle. DevOps addresses gaps and conflicts between the Developers and IT Operations. Agile is a software development methodology that focuses on iterative, incremental, small, and rapid releases of software, along with customer feedback. It addresses gaps and conflicts between the customer and developers.
How will you approach a project that needs to implement DevOps?
The following standard approaches can be used to implement DevOps in a specific project:
Stage 1: An assessment of the existing process and implementation for about two to three weeks to identify areas of improvement so that the team can create a road map for the implementation.
Stage 2: Create a proof of concept (PoC). Once it is accepted and approved, the team can start on the actual implementation and roll-out of the project plan.
Stage 3: The project is now ready for implementing DevOps by using version control/integration/testing/deployment/delivery and monitoring followed step by step.
By following the proper steps for version control, integration, testing, deployment, delivery, and monitoring, the project is now ready for DevOps implementation.
How do you explain a complex DevOps process or strategy to someone who doesn’t have a technical background?
DevOps engineers frequently have to liaise with executives and other employees at the company to provide updates on ongoing projects. This requires them to distill technical information in a way that’s accessible to people from a wide range of background, so it’s important to get a sense of their communication style and interpersonal skills. Interviewers here look for, whether the candidate is able to convey information in a way that ensures key concepts are understood. A great answer will demonstrate strong verbal communication skills, as well as patience when sharing technical information with others.
How would you use DevOps skills or tools to move our company forward?
The function of DevOps within a company is constantly evolving, and great DevOps engineers are constantly looking at what comes next. Candidates should possess the insight to recognize opportunities to use automation or other DevOps programming to improve operations down the line. A great answer will demonstrate an innovative mindset and forward-thinking approach to their work. Interviewers also look for signs that the candidate is keen to use their knowledge of technology to positively advance the company’s operations.
What drew you to DevOps, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
When DevOps engineers are deeply passionate about their work, they will often go the extra mile for their companies and take proactive steps to develop their skills. This question helps the interviewer identify genuine passion for the field, and also provides deeper insights into the candidate’s background and interests. Interviewers look for signs that the candidate is deeply invested in growing their skills and advancing in the field.
These are some of the most common DevOps interview questions that you might come across while attending an interview. Having said that, DevOps is a vast topic and there is a lot to learn to be able to land a rewarding job in the field of DevOps — Git, Jenkins, Selenium, Chef, Puppet, Ansible, Docker, Nagios, and more. As a DevOps Engineer, in-depth knowledge of processes, tools, and relevant technology is essential. In addition, you must also have a holistic understanding of the products, services, and systems in place.
