11 Common Network Engineer Interview Questions and How to Prepare

Getting ready for a job interview is an important step in the application process and essential in your career as a network engineer. Prepare by reviewing the job description, researching the company, and looking over common questions interviewers ask so you know how to best demonstrate your ability to succeed in the role.

Learn common network engineer interview questions you may get asked during a network engineer job interview to help you get ready and stand out from other candidates.

11 common network engineer interview questions

These questions serve as a foundation for the questions you may encounter in your next interview for a network engineer role.

1. What is your experience with network design and architecture?

What they’re really asking: Are you qualified for this position?

Interviewers ask this question to gain a foundational understanding of your experience in network architecture and design and what skills and experiences you can bring to a position. This is a good spot to discuss what motivated you to take on networking as a profession, your important skills, what sets you apart from other applicants, and relevant examples of your work experience.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Tell us about your background in network design.”

• “Can you tell us about yourself and your work experience?”

2. How do you troubleshoot complex network issues?

What they’re really asking: Can you find solutions to network problems?

Troubleshooting can be an important part of your daily workload as a network engineer when finding and diagnosing equipment that might not work properly. You may have to track down hardware issues, software bugs, and even security problems quickly and professionally. So, it’s important that you can explain your process for identifying issues and resolving them efficiently and accurately.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Can you give an example of when you had to fix a network problem at a previous job?”

3. What network protocols are you proficient in?

What they’re really asking: Do you have the fundamental skills for a network engineer role?

As a network engineer, you’ll need specific skills in your daily toolbox that are foundational to the field. You want to be well-versed in protocols such as TCP/IP, OSI, BGP, and others, so review how you’ve interacted with these network fundamentals in your professional life.

Also, come up with examples of this work that can help you stand out from other applicants. Discuss projects in which you were responsible for fundamentals and try to bring up other technical skills you utilized on these projects to illustrate how your skill set fits your everyday work environment.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Talk about how you’ve used network protocols in your professional life.”

4. How do you configure network devices (routers, switches, firewalls)?

What they’re really asking: Do you know how to do routine network engineering tasks?

Network engineering jobs can have a variety of responsibilities, and one of the more essential tasks is configuring network devices. Potential employers will want to know they can trust you with a primary responsibility like implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting network systems that manage communications and data exchanges.

Other forms this question might take:

• “How would you set up different devices for a network?”

• “Can you walk through your installation process for network devices?”

5. What is network security, and how do you implement security measures?

What they’re really asking: Can you protect our network?

Network security is a vital part of keeping networks up and running when threatened by security issues. Use this question as an opportunity to talk about your experience implementing security measures needed to protect sensitive information or proprietary data while also preventing unauthorized access to your networks.

Consider tailoring your response to specific rules and compliance requirements you may be familiar with based on your previous industry experience. Some examples include the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) in the financial industry and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the health care industry.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Can you give an example of how you reacted to a potential security breach?”

6. How do you monitor network performance and identify bottlenecks?

What they’re really asking: Do you know how to fix common issues?

Network engineers must ensure that network performance is running optimally without issues despite bottlenecks and threats of decreased performance.

Potential employers want to know that you have the skills to identify these common issues and can act quickly to reduce any downtime. This question gives you a chance to talk about your previous work optimizing router protocols and implementing delivery solutions to fix system bottlenecks.

Other forms this question might take:

• “What are some common issues you watch for, and how do you resolve them?”

7. What is network virtualization and its benefits?

What they’re really asking: Are you comfortable with common visualization tools?

Network visualization tools allow network engineers to monitor network and data performance, including components like routers and servers, by using visual depictions of networks and data flows.

Understanding visualization tools can help you find issues, simplify network planning, and complete other tasks that can reduce downtime or potential costs, so employers may want to ensure you have a grasp of visualization techniques.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Can you give examples of how you’ve used network visualization professionally?”

8. What is your experience with cloud networking?

What they’re really asking: Can you work in a cloud environment?

Cloud-based networking allows organizations to use virtual networks with a third-party provider to handle network computing rather than operating an expensive in-house network.

This is a good chance to discuss your skills with different cloud network environments, including certifications you may have earned that demonstrate your proficiency with these cloud platforms. Some of these certifications include:

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

• Google Cloud Certification

Other forms this question might take:

• “What skills do you have with cloud networking?”

• “Which cloud networking platforms do you have the most experience with?”

9. How do you collaborate with other IT teams?

What they’re really asking: Can you work with a team?

Networking teams are becoming more collaborative with other teams, such as development teams, with different team members working together toward a common project goal.

This question is a good time for you to talk about your teamwork skills and give examples of when you collaborated with other team members or other computer and IT groups in your company and what you achieved. Your previous experience is a good indicator of how you can work within a team environment when you join a new company or organization.

Other forms this question might take:

• “Can you give an example of working on a project with a team?”

• “What skills did you learn working on team projects?”

10. How do you stay up to date with the latest networking technologies?

What they’re really asking: Are you continually learning about the field?

This question tests your interest in and drive to stay current with changes in network engineering and whether you enjoy learning about new topics in the industry.

You can discuss topics you learned from additional professional coursework you’ve completed through different organizations or third-party platforms such as Coursera.

Certifications are also a good way to boost your skills and show potential employers your dedication to understanding different aspects of network engineering. Some relevant certifications include:

• AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty

• CompTIA Network+

• JNCIA-Junos

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate

Other forms this question might take:

• “Do you have any network engineering certifications?”

• “Have you completed any network engineering courses recently?”

11. What questions do you have for me?

What they’re really asking: Are you engaged and curious?

This is usually the last question of your interview, and it’s a good way to show your interest and knowledge of the company or organization you’re interviewing with.

Demonstrate your interest in the company by coming prepared with a few questions to ask or think about questions during the interview process that you’d like a potential employer to expand on. You may want to ask about how a network engineer fits into the company’s overall goals, what the company culture is like, or questions about the company’s role in its particular industry.

Preparing for a network engineer interview with Coursera

Boost your network engineering skills, learn more about specific network engineering topics, and make your resume stand out with specialized courses on Coursera.

You can also earn a certification with Akamai’s Network Engineering Professional Certificate, which covers skills such as data management and data analysis, implementing network technologies, and security management principles.