INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

Have you ever contributed to the development of IT policies or disaster recovery plans? If so, how?

Sample answer to the question

Yes, I've helped out with IT policies and disaster recovery at my last job. It was at a medium-sized e-commerce company, and I was part of the team that sat down and drafted our disaster recovery plan. We mainly focused on what to do if our primary data center went down, which involved setting up a secondary location as a backup. For the IT policies, I contributed ideas on access control and data encryption since those were areas I was really familiar with.

A more solid answer

Indeed, I've been directly involved with drafting IT policies and disaster recovery strategies in my previous role as a Junior Systems Engineer at TechSolutions, Inc. I collaborated in a team to develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that addressed potential scenarios, such as server failures, data breaches, and natural disasters. My focus was to script automated failover processes using PowerShell, ensuring minimal service disruption in case of an incident. Furthermore, I engaged in the revision of our IT policies with a keen eye on access management and secure configurations, leveraging my knowledge in database systems and SQL to propose encryption methodologies that safeguarded sensitive information.

Why this is a more solid answer:

This solid answer provides a much more detailed account of the candidate's involvement, directly tying in their scripting and database skills which are relevant to the Systems Engineer role. It also depicts the candidate's ability to work in a team and their hands-on approach to solving complex problems, as per the job description. However, it could incorporate more about the candidate's analytical skills and more examples of best practices followed in the development of IT policies and disaster recovery plans.

An exceptional answer

Absolutely, in my three years as a Systems Analyst at GlobalTech, my role encompassed a significant responsibility in formulating IT policies and disaster recovery protocols. During a company-wide initiative to bolster our IT resilience, I spearheaded a subgroup focused on server continuity and emergency response. My contributions involved designing automated scripts in Python to manage data replication across our main and auxiliary data centers. These scripts were integrated with our configuration management system to ensure real-time updating and compatibility with cloud services, which we used for incremental backups. Furthermore, my time management and prioritization skills were crucial during the tight project deadlines, allowing me to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams. I also championed updates to our IT policies, especially in access management and network security, bringing them in line with the latest industry standards and best practices, such as enforcing two-factor authentication across the company and establishing a stringent data encryption policy for our customer's sensitive data.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer includes a vivid description of the candidate's proactive and leading role in both IT policy formulation and the development of disaster recovery plans. It provides specific examples demonstrating the candidate's use of scripting and configuration management, and shows how they've applied systems engineering methodologies and best practices. Additionally, the response showcases the candidate's ability to work under pressure, manage time effectively, and coordinate with teams, which are essential for the Systems Engineer position. What sets it apart is how it ties the candidate's technical and analytical skills with the responsibilities required by the job.

How to prepare for this question

Research and understand the company's current IT policies and disaster recovery procedures, if available, to tailor your examples to show how you can contribute.
Think about specific instances where you effectively used automation tools and configuration management in developing IT policies or disaster recovery plans, as these skills are essential for the Systems Engineer role.
Reflect on past teamwork experiences, highlighting how your analytical and problem-solving skills played a role in successfully developing IT policies and disaster recovery plans.
Prepare examples of how you've updated your technical skills, which could help in staying ahead with the latest systems engineering methodologies, and mention these during the interview.
Consider any relevant certifications or qualifications you have, such as MCSE or CCNA, and how they've helped you understand and implement best practices in the field of IT policy and disaster recovery.

What interviewers are evaluating

Experience with automation tools and configuration management
Understanding of systems engineering methodologies and best practices
Participation in the development of IT policies and disaster recovery plans