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IT Manager Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top IT Manager interview questions and answers.

  1. Explain the steps for recommending new software for an organization as an IT manager. See answer
  2. How did you create IT policies for your previous organization to comply with new standards? See answer
  3. Why is it important to create a training program for staff when new systems are integrated? See answer
  4. What steps did you follow when finding new talent for past IT projects? See answer
  5. During the planning phase of a past project, how did you allocate a budget? See answer
  6. How would you persuade the purchase of new software for the company? See answer
  7. How would you describe your management style?
  8. What methods have you used in the past and found effective in motivating employees?
  9. What steps do you take to handle conflict among team members?
  10. Are you comfortable working with ERP and inventory management systems?
  11. What would you do to troubleshoot a user whose computer speakers are not working?
  12. What methods do you use to gather system and user requirements?
  13. In your opinion, what are an IT Manager’s most important duties?
  14. What is your view on employee professional development?
  15. How do you measure your IT department’s performance?
  16. Can you show any project management experience?
  17. What is your management style?
  18. What is the largest obstacle you have faced as an IT Manager?
  19. What do you do to ensure confidential data is stored securely?
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Hire your next IT Manager today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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6 IT Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Explain the steps for recommending new software for an organization as an IT manager.

An IT manager conducts reviews of the current software used by an organization and how it’s used. They use the answers to the questions to determine the exact type of software needed. A candidate should be able to recommend new software if the current installation is outdated and technology is available that would improve how your company completes daily IT-related tasks. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience evaluating IT systems and services
  • Understanding of when upgrades or changes are feasible
  • Commitment to staying abreast of the latest business software
Example:

“I would assess the accessibility, functionality and reliability of the existing software. Next, I’d review which services are connected to the systems and identify the type of software needed by the organization. My findings would determine if upgrades or major changes are required to streamline the organization’s IT services.”

How did you create IT policies for your previous organization to comply with new standards?

It’s the role of the IT manager to create new policies when IT standards, regulations or laws are changed. The policies show workers how to use information systems and IT-related business services according to the changes. A skilled candidate understands how important compliance with standards is to your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience developing and implementing IT policies
  • Skills in creating policies that enforce the latest standard releases
  • Commitment to staying updated about new IT laws and standards
Example:

“Upon reviewing new IT standards and practices, I developed company IT policies and controls to ensure compliance and prevent violations. I also provided training for the staff to implement the changes into everyday practices.”

Why is it important to create a training program for staff when new systems are integrated?

IT managers work with a team to create new systems and software. Each new service or system requires a training program for staff members that shows them how to use the new technology. An applicant should understand that training programs are important for new services to help your company avoid delays in services and save time. They should also be comfortable with setting up training programs for groups of all sizes. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience designing training programs for new systems
  • Ability to coordinate with clients to train employees
  • Understanding of the importance of training the staff on new systems
Example:

“I developed training programs for new software and systems I designed to prevent confusion and keep the staff trained properly. Productivity was higher once the staff understood how to use the new systems, and customer service improved too.”

What steps did you follow when finding new talent for past IT projects?

IT managers plan out projects and identify the exact skills sets required for each team member. Next, they post ads for new talent and conduct a screening process to find individuals based on the project’s needs. After hiring workers for the project, the IT manager assigns roles and provides specifics about the project and the duties required for each team member. A potential hire should be comfortable handling each step of this process. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with cultivating IT talent for new projects
  • Comfortable screening and interviewing prospective team members
  • Knowledgeable about assigning team roles
Example:

“At my previous employer, I reviewed each candidate’s credentials, evaluated their skill sets and conducted in-person interviews during which their skills were tested. I then assigned positions according to skill sets and the project’s demands.”

During the planning phase of a past project, how did you allocate a budget?

IT managers meet with clients to set up a budget for each project. The manager then reviews the requirements for the project and allocates funds appropriately to stay within the project’s budgetary constraints and control overall costs. The ideal candidate will understand how to complete tasks and avoid overspending when completing complex IT projects. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledgeable about defining a project budget
  • Experience allocating funds for project requirements
  • Efficient at managing projects according to budgetary constraints
Example:

“During the planning phase of a past project, I identified the client’s budget and reviewed changes to control costs. I then allocated funds for each project requirement to cover expenses according to its budgetary constraints. Any changes that required an increase in the budget were approved by the client before I proceeded with the project.”

How would you persuade the purchase of new software for the company?

It is important for an IT Manager to understand the technological needs of a company and seek out resources to help address those needs. An IT Manager must consistently review the current software a company uses and provide recommendations to replace any outdated technology. This question can help you understand the system a candidate uses to evaluate software and how well they understand the needs of your company. The candidate's answer should emphasize:

  • Experience in evaluating systems
  • Understanding a company's network and software needs
  • Expertise in their field
An answer to this question could look like this:
Example:

"Having up-to-date software that meets the needs of a company can help to save money and increase productivity. I would initially look at the current software to assess how functional and reliable it is. I check things like how often it crashes and even the frequency of use among employees. Next, I would identify the services connected to the system and review the types of available software that meets the needs of the company. Based on the performance of the current software and the company needs and usage trends I would report my findings and make my recommendation to help improve the company's IT services."

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Get the Guide

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