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IT Support Interview Questions

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7 min read

An IT Support Specialist, also known as an IT Support Technician, helps maintain the digital infrastructure that keeps an organization running, including devices, networks, software and cloud-based systems. Their responsibilities include resolving hardware and software issues, providing frontline tech support to employees, maintaining systems and ensuring minimal downtime across devices and networks.Effective interview questions for this role should assess a candidate’s technical troubleshooting skills, communication abilities with non-technical users, prioritization strategies, adaptability in fast-paced environments and ability to apply relevant skills regardless of formal credentials. Consider the following questions to identify candidates who can balance hands-on expertise with strong interpersonal skills:

  1. How do you communicate effectively with people who have limited technical knowledge? See answer
  2. What steps do you take when troubleshooting a technical issue? See answer
  3. Can you share an example of a time you fixed a challenging or time-sensitive IT problem? See answer
  4. Describe your experience using a support ticket system to manage and resolve technical issues. See answer
  5. How do you prioritize conflicting responsibilities, such as multiple support tickets or time-sensitive requests? See answer
  6. What are your strategies for working with people who are agitated or upset about a technical problem? See answer
  7. Have you ever implemented new technology across a company? What did you learn from the process? See answer
  8. How do you stay updated on technical skills and industry best practices? See answer
  9. Can you tell me about a mistake you’ve made when working with technology? What did you learn from it?
  10. What’s the most challenging support issue you’ve solved?
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Hire your next IT Support today.

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Hire your next IT Support 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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10 IT Support Interview Questions and Answers

How do you communicate effectively with people who have limited technical knowledge?

This may be one of the most important IT Support interview questions for employers. It helps assess a candidate's experience helping non-technical employees use technology. Their answer can indicate whether the person can adjust their communication style to support employees or customers effectively. It might also reveal their ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Awareness of varying technical abilities
  • Understanding of how to simplify technical language
  • Ability to remain patient and calm
Example:

"I listen carefully to how the customer or employee explains the problem to get a sense of how they understand the technology. Then, I adjust my responses accordingly and match my terminology to their level of expertise. If the person isn't familiar with the hardware or software, I use clear, plain language to help them feel empowered and confident."

What steps do you take when troubleshooting a technical issue?

Problem-solving is an important part of IT Support. This question reveals how the candidate approaches challenging technical issues, which is essential if your company relies on technology for daily operations. Strong responses often describe a logical process that helps resolve problems quickly and thoroughly. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Organized troubleshooting process
  • Understanding of how to approach unfamiliar technical issues
  • Ability to ask for further guidance
Example:

"First, I ask questions to understand the context. I'll ask the employee to replicate the issue so I can understand what might be causing it. Then, I rule out the most common causes, such as restarting the router for Wi-Fi problems. After that, I consider less common causes. Finally, I'll research the issue in the technical documentation and call the product support line if necessary."

Can you share an example of a time you fixed a challenging or time-sensitive IT problem?

This question reveals how candidates work under pressure, which is important for IT professionals managing critical company systems. The answer indicates if the person can apply their troubleshooting process effectively when time is limited. Some candidates may admit to mistakes, demonstrating self-awareness and the ability to learn. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Organized and thoughtful approach
  • Acknowledgment of difficult parts of the process
  • Honest self-assessment
Example:

"My previous employer's internet connection went down 15 minutes before a live online presentation from the CEO. I realized the timing was unusual, so I asked the coordinator what happened right before the outage. She explained that everything was fine until they brought in the projector cart, and I discovered that a wheel had cut through the router cable."

Describe your experience using a support ticket system to manage and resolve technical issues.

If your company uses a digital support ticket platform to manage IT requests, your IT Support employee will need to use it regularly. This question helps gauge the candidate's software experience. Even if they aren't familiar with your specific program, it's helpful if they understand the support ticket process. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Familiarity with the support ticket process
  • Experience using similar programs
  • Confidence in their ability to learn
Example:

"I know your company uses Zendesk. While I haven't used that program, my last company used HubSpot Service Hub, which has many similar features, including AI assistance and multichannel support, so I believe it would be a smooth transition."

How do you prioritize conflicting responsibilities, such as multiple support tickets or time-sensitive requests?

IT Support employees often manage multiple tickets simultaneously. This question reveals a candidate's ability to assess the relative urgency of each request in the context of company operations. They should be able to prioritize tickets and address the most important tasks first. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Understanding of factors that affect task priority
  • Willingness to adjust workflows
  • Familiarity with prioritizing tasks within a support ticket system
Example:

"I would measure each request against the company's priorities to determine which has the greatest operational impact. If a ticket is time-sensitive or impacts a core function, such as phone communication, for example, it's a higher priority."

Can you tell me about a mistake you've made when working with technology? What did you learn from it?

Mistakes are inevitable in technology, even for IT Support professionals. Asking about past mistakes helps gauge a candidate's ability to self-reflect and learn from errors. A strong answer demonstrates humility and self-awareness, showing that the candidate can admit where they went wrong and explain how they've changed. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Willingness to share past mistakes
  • Openness to growth
  • Self-examination
Example:

"In my first IT Support role, I wasn't always empathetic to employees' difficulties. Since then, I've learned to simplify my explanations and create a friendly support environment. This has allowed me to build positive and collaborative working relationships where all questions are welcomed."

What are your strategies for working with people who are agitated or upset about a technical problem?

Technical issues can be frustrating, so IT Support professionals often deal with individuals who may have strong negative emotions. This question may determine how a candidate manages tense situations and balances the emotional component of human interaction with technical problem-solving. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Emotional intelligence
  • Understanding of how to de-escalate situations
  • Empathy for others
Example:

"If I sense that someone is upset, I start by validating their feelings. This usually helps alleviate tension, allowing them to explain the issue. As I work, I explain what I'm doing and why the problem is happening to help them feel more in control. If I can't resolve it immediately, I offer a temporary workaround."

Have you ever implemented new technology across a company? What did you learn from the process?

IT Support professionals often assist in installing and implementing new technologies, from software programs to upgraded security systems. This question evaluates the candidate's understanding of the process and common roadblocks and assesses their experience and approach to projects that potentially affect the business as a whole. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Forethought and planning
  • Anticipating potential problems
  • Calm response to unexpected issues
Example:

"I helped my last employer roll out a new collaboration platform. I learned that the process begins well before implementation. We spent weeks holding training sessions with employees and answering questions to ensure they were comfortable using the platform. I also created a shared FAQ document and monitored a dedicated Slack channel to respond to real-time questions. As a result, we had just three support requests on the first day."

How do you stay updated on technical skills and industry best practices?

Because technology is constantly evolving, IT professionals might make a point to stay informed about the latest features, challenges and solutions. This question helps assess how the candidate maintains their knowledge and skill set. Their answer can also help evaluate whether the person can identify accurate and trustworthy sources of information. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Interest in updated information
  • Specific news sources
  • Skill development
Example:

"I subscribe to a range of tech industry newsletters and regularly scan for relevant headlines on TechCrunch and CNET. I also have a Google alert for news related to cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry. When a new feature or known issue arises, I test it out on the platform to ensure I'm prepared to answer employees' questions."

What’s the most challenging support issue you've solved?

This question encourages the candidate to walk through their technical support process during the interview. It allows you to assess their demeanor and communication style in a realistic scenario, so you can determine how they would interact with team members and customers. A good answer also highlights how they stay calm, troubleshoot effectively and follow through until the issue is resolved. Evaluate responses that demonstrate:

  • Respectful attitude
  • Clear communication and simple explanations
  • Technical understanding of common problems
Example:

"A software update caused several users to lose access to a shared database right before a company-wide meeting. I calmly walked each person through reconnecting, starting by checking login credentials, then verifying network settings and access permissions. I documented the fix and created a step-by-step guide for the rest of the team to avoid future confusion."

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