Top interview questions for Data Engineer
A Data Engineer is someone who sets up and maintains the data infrastructures that support business information systems and applications. They are responsible for designing, building, and installing the data systems.
According to reports, a data engineer is the fastest-growing job in technology, with over 50% year-over-year growth in the number of open position
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Hard Skills
Use these questions to identify a candidate’s technical knowledge and abilities
Soft Skills
Use these questions to assess a candidate’s personality traits and cognitive skills
What to look for while interviewing for a Data Engineer?
Since the required skills for Data engineer require expertise in data systems, programming languages among others. Therefore, look for a candidate who has knowledge of all these.
Here are some of the in-demand skills for a Data Engineer
Role-specific skills to look for: Data systems(SQL and NoSQL), Data warehousing solutions, ETL tools, Machine learning, Data APIs, Python, Java, and Scala programming languages, Understanding the basics of distributed systems, Knowledge of algorithms and data structures.
Soft skills to look for presentation skills, collaboration, communication, expository training, critical thinking, and adaptability.
Pro Tip: Always screen before you interview. Use Online Assessment to screen applicants for a Data Engineer position before blocking your time for an in-person interview.
Questions to ask while interviewing a Data Engineer
We have compiled a set of questions with the help of 70+ hiring managers at different organizations.
Top Role-based interview questions for Data Engineer
How would you validate a data migration from one database to another?
Purpose of this interview question:
This question can be asked to understand a candidate’s thought process on how validation of data would happen.
What to listen for:
- An ideal candidate would be able to speak about appropriate validation types in different scenarios.
How can you deploy a big data solution?
Purpose of this interview question:
By asking this question you can understand what are the steps the candidate follows to deploy a big data solution.
What to listen for:
- Top candidates would emphasize the three steps Data Integration/Ingestion, Data storage, Data processing.
How can data analytics help the business grow and boost revenue?
Purpose of this interview question:
Understanding how to help the business grow, achieve its goals, and result in higher ROI is important to this job position.
What to listen for:
- Top candidates would illustrate the advantages of data analytics to boost revenue, improve customer satisfaction, and increase profit.
How to screen Data Engineer for soft skills?
Why do you want to work at our company as a data engineer?
Purpose of this interview question:
This question is designed to know what kind of information the candidate has about your company culture and what has excited them to join your organization.
What to listen for:
- Listen for the detail about what has driven the candidate to work for your organization.
What challenges are you looking for in this position?
Purpose of this interview question:
The question is designed to understand and determine what the candidates are looking for in their next job and whether they would be a good fit for the position being hired for.
What to listen for:
- Top candidates would discuss how they would like to be able to effectively utilize their skills and experience if they were hired for the job.
What skills do you think are necessary for this job role?
Purpose of this interview question:
Since software developers rely on a combination of technical knowledge and transferable skills to be successful. Therefore it is important for an applicant for this role to show the required skills.
What to listen for:
- Look for evidence of the required skills for this job role.
Start Optimizing your Data Engineer Hiring today
Find and hire talent with confidence. If your candidate doesn’t know the answer to the above questions and you’re hiring for a Data Engineer position, then they’re probably not a great fit.
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