Learn what skills and qualities interviewers are looking for from a configuration management specialist, what questions you can expect, and how you should go about answering them.
As a configuration management specialist, you make sure that the products and services your company provides are up to date and compliant with industry regulations. This means you need to be able to stay on top of changes and updates to products and services, as well as coordinate with different teams to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Do you have what it takes to be a configuration management specialist? Before you can answer that, you need to ace the interview. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer common configuration management interview questions. You’ll also find a list of questions that you can expect to be asked, so that you can be prepared ahead of time.
The SDLC is a process that software developers use to create new applications. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working within the framework of an SDLC. Your answer should show that you understand how the SDLC works and can apply it in your work as a configuration management specialist.
Example: “Yes, I am familiar with the SDLC. In my last role, we used the SDLC for all projects. We started each project by identifying the business requirements and creating a plan based on those requirements. Then, we developed the application using Agile methodology. After development, we tested the application before releasing it to clients.”
The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of software development life cycles. This is a common concept in configuration management, so it’s important that you have a thorough understanding of the different types and how they apply to your previous experience.
Example: “There are several types of software development life cycles, including waterfall, V-model, rapid application development, incremental development and spiral development. Waterfall is the most common type of software development life cycle because it allows for clear phases of design, construction and testing. The V-model is similar to the waterfall model but with more flexibility. Rapid application development is an iterative process where developers create prototypes and test them before creating the final product. Incremental development is also an iterative process, however, each phase focuses on one part of the project until it’s complete. Finally, spiral development is another iterative process, however, it begins with a high level overview and gradually moves into greater detail.”
The interviewer may ask you a question like this one to assess your ability to make important decisions that affect the outcome of projects. Use examples from past experience to show how you analyze information and use critical thinking skills to make an informed decision.
Example: “I consider several factors when determining which software development life cycle is best for a project. First, I evaluate the goals of the project and determine whether they align with the objectives of each life cycle. Then, I look at the resources available to the team and decide if we have enough time and money to complete the project using the selected life cycle. Finally, I examine the technical requirements of the project and choose the life cycle that will allow us to meet those needs.”
This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the experience and knowledge needed for this role. Use examples from your previous work to explain what configuration management is, how it’s used in IT projects and why it’s important.
Example: “In my last position as a senior configuration manager, I was responsible for overseeing all of the company’s software development projects. This included creating project plans, managing change requests, ensuring compliance with standards and documenting all changes made during each phase of the project. It also involved working closely with developers, quality assurance teams and other stakeholders to ensure everyone had access to the latest versions of the software.”
Troubleshooting is an important skill for a configuration management specialist. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience with troubleshooting and how you approach it. Use your answer to explain the steps you take when troubleshooting software updates.
Example: “When I first started working as a configuration manager, I had to update a piece of software that was used by many different departments. The software update went wrong, which caused some computers to crash. I immediately began troubleshooting the issue. I worked with my team to figure out what went wrong and then fixed the problem. Afterward, we implemented new procedures so something like this wouldn’t happen again.”
This question helps employers understand your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific project or initiative that you would like to work on.
Example: “My primary area of focus as a configuration management specialist would be improving the efficiency of our software development processes. I have experience working with several different types of software development tools, so I think I could help my team transition from one platform to another more easily. This would allow us to spend less time managing projects and more time creating new products.”
This question can help interviewers understand how you use your problem-solving skills to address issues that may arise in the workplace. Use examples from past experience to highlight your ability to identify and resolve problems before they become major issues.
Example: “In my last role, I noticed a pattern of software updates causing system crashes for users. After investigating the issue, I found out that the company was using outdated hardware with new software. This led me to create a plan to upgrade all systems within six months so we could avoid any more issues. The project took longer than expected because it required additional resources, but I managed to ensure the upgrades were completed on time.”
This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to communicate with other IT professionals. Use examples from past experiences where you had to use technical jargon and explain what it meant in layman’s terms.
Example: “I understand that software development uses a lot of jargon, but I’ve always been good at translating it into something more understandable for my team members. For example, when working on a project for a client who wanted us to create an app that would allow them to track their inventory, we used a lot of jargon related to coding and database management. However, I was able to translate this information so that our client understood exactly what we were doing.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with writing technical documentation and how you use it to support configuration management. Use examples from past projects where you used technical writing skills to document processes, procedures or other important information for your team members.
Example: “In my last role as a configuration management specialist, I was responsible for creating all of the technical documentation for our project teams. This included documenting each step of the process we followed when managing software updates, identifying issues in existing systems and developing new solutions. I also created detailed instructions on how to implement changes within our organization’s IT infrastructure. These documents were essential to ensuring that everyone on the team understood their roles and responsibilities.”
Rollback is a common process in configuration management. Employers ask this question to make sure you know when it’s appropriate to roll back and how to do so safely. In your answer, explain the steps you would take to roll back software updates. Explain that you will only roll back if there are major issues with the update or if the rollout was not done correctly.
Example: “Rolling back is something I only do as a last resort. If an update has major bugs or causes system crashes, then rolling back is necessary. However, I always try to fix the issue before rolling back. For example, if I notice a problem during the rollout, I may pause the rollout until I can fix the issue. Rolling back should be a last resort because it can cause more problems than it solves.”
This question is an opportunity to show your expertise in the field of configuration management. You can use this question as a way to showcase your knowledge and experience by providing examples of how you would improve workflow efficiency for the company.
Example: “I recommend implementing a change control board, or CCB, which is a group of people who meet regularly to discuss changes that need to be made to the system. This helps ensure all stakeholders are involved in the decision-making process when it comes to making changes to the system. Another best practice I recommend is using automated tools to help manage the system’s configurations. These tools allow me to make changes quickly and efficiently without having to manually update each component of the system.”
The interviewer may ask you to describe your process for testing software updates as a way of evaluating how well you apply the principles and practices of configuration management. Describe your approach to testing software updates, including any specific methods or tools you use to ensure that systems are ready for deployment after updating.
Example: “I start by identifying all possible issues that could occur during deployment based on my knowledge of the system’s current state. I then create test cases for each issue to determine whether they’re likely to happen in real-world scenarios. If I can’t find a solution to an issue, I’ll consult with other specialists to see if there is a workaround. Once I’ve tested the update thoroughly, I deploy it to production.”
Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you compare to other candidates. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from the rest of the applicant pool. You can also mention any certifications you have or previous work experience.
Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which is why I love working in configuration management. In my last role, I was responsible for creating documentation for all IT projects. This helped me understand what information is important when documenting configurations. I also have three years of experience as a configuration specialist, so I feel prepared to take on this role.”
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise with various programming languages. Use this opportunity to highlight any specific language skills you have and how they’ve helped you in previous roles.
Example: “I have experience working with Java, C++, Python and Ruby. I find that these languages are some of the most common used for configuration management projects. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new system for managing software licenses. Using my knowledge of these four languages, I was able to create an automated system that reduced our license costs by 20%.”
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. You can answer this question by identifying a skill from the job description and explaining how it’s important in this role.
Example: “I think one of the most important skills for a configuration management specialist is communication, as it allows me to work with other team members and stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations. I also believe problem-solving skills are important because they allow me to analyze issues and find solutions quickly. These two skills help me be an effective member of my team and ensure projects run smoothly.”
Audits are an important part of a configuration management specialist’s job. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your audit process and how often you perform them. Use your answer to explain the steps you take during system audits, including what tools you use for each step.
Example: “I perform system audits at least once per year. I start by creating a checklist that includes all of the elements I need to check in my organization’s systems. Then, I walk through each element on the list with my team members. We discuss any changes we need to make or updates we should implement. Afterward, I create a report detailing our findings.”
This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to use a variety of tools. Your answer should include the steps you would take to investigate the discrepancy, as well as which tools you would use in your investigation.
Example: “I would first check the time stamp on each task record to see if there was any overlap between tasks that were completed at different times. If this doesn’t solve the issue, I would then compare the number of tasks recorded in the database with the number of tasks recorded by the company’s inventory system. This will help me determine whether the discrepancy is due to human error or a technical glitch.”