Common UNIX Developer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
The UNIX operating system uses a suite of programs to help a computer work and is designed to complete multitasking and multiuser functions efficiently. Today, developers and engineers use this operating system to deploy multiple applications for businesses to achieve their goals. Therefore, developers need to understand the business goals of their coworkers to help their colleagues and customers execute projects. In this article, we outline the key questions you’ll need to know when interviewing for a UNIX developer position.
Common general interview questions
Not every question the interviewer asks will be related to UNIX. They will most likely ask you about your work history, your specific skill set and your professional goals. General questions include:
- How do you handle stress when interacting with customers?
- What type of management style do you prefer?
- What are the positive and negative managerial experiences you’ve had in the past?
- Why are you leaving your current position?
- Why should we hire you?
1. How do you handle stress when interacting with customers?
Stress is a multifaceted component to any position, and employers will want to know if you can perform the job responsibilities under pressure. This also gauges the interviewers’ viewpoint as to how you’ll fit in the company’s culture in addition to your situational analysis when interacting with customers.
Example: “Communication is pivotal in working as a developer because it’s dependent on getting codes and sequences correct the first time. In the event I have a question for my manager or senior developer, I’ll ask and double-check if necessary. In my previous position, my manager held weekly meetings so we could communicate key questions and talking points relevant to our projects. This helped us stay on track and prevented lags in our workflows. Overall, over-communicating and getting it right the first time is essential to meeting business objectives and keeping customers happy with our services.”
2. What type of management style do you prefer?
The interviewer needs to know how you would like to be managed to bolster communication, especially in crisis-management scenarios. Your response should complement how you want to communicate with your manager and how to get feedback on your work.
Example: “I’m a hands-on learner when it comes to mastering new concepts and applying them. Having my manager ensure that my work is done correctly the first time around gives me the go-ahead to repeat the process and troubleshoot when necessary. Once I have a better grasp of my work, then I feel more comfortable presenting and communicating with customers.”
3. What are the positive and negative managerial experiences you’ve had in the past?
This is an opportunity to elaborate on your answer to the question above to align it with a real-world example. This answer can help the interviewer decide if you’ll work well with the hiring manager for this role.
Example: “My previous manager typically gave direct answers to feedback, but there were no action items on how to improve my skill set. While he made our goals and objectives clear, I was looking for how the accomplishment of our goals tied with career development. Based on the job responsibilities, I think this opportunity presents a chance for me to work with a manager who prioritizes professional development in addition to reaching the company’s goals.”
4. Why are you leaving your current position?
Employers want to ensure they can offer what you’re looking for in your next position. Answer this question honestly, but don’t go into too much detail about the negative aspects of your previous role.
Example: “While I valued my previous company, I think there is a higher potential for growth when it comes to meeting my career goals. This position is in line with my skill set and with my interest in becoming a UNIX developer.”
5. Why should we hire you?
This is where you separate yourself from other candidates and explain the specific skills that make you the best fit for the job. Looking at the job description will help in tailoring your response to the interviewer.
Example: “You should hire me based on my passion for software development and collaboration with external clients from Fortune 500 companies. In my previous role as a junior software developer, I worked with companies to plan and organize their software strategies to meet their annual revenue goals. I saved this client 20% year-over-year on their software budget, and I’m excited to bring my efficiency to this role.”
UNIX developer interview questions and example answers
Here are some examples of specific UNIX developer interview questions and answers:
- What do you know about UNIX operating systems?
- What does Kernel mean?
- What does Shell mean?
- What is the role of a superuser?
- How would you delete a file in UNIX?
- What is the difference between a soft link and a hard link?
1. What do you know about UNIX operating systems?
Your role as a UNIX developer will be centered on knowing in-depth details about the operating system so you can solve complex issues with customers. The interviewer wants to ensure that you’re comfortable with the system and all its components. Thus, be clear and concise in defining this concept.
Example: “UNIX is one of the most-used operating systems in developing and deploying multiple computer applications. It was originally used as a convenient platform for programmers to develop software on and run on other systems, but it can now be used as plain text to store data as well as a hierarchical filing system to streamline inter-process communication.”
2. What does Kernel mean?
The interview may quickly pivot and begin to ask you specific questions about your experience. You need to be able to quickly come up with answers that meet the employer’s criteria. Don’t be afraid to showcase what you know about your industry.
Example: “Kernel is the master program of a UNIX operating system. Its purpose is to control the resources of a user’s computer. Kernels do not have direct communication with the user, and it starts up a separate, interactive program called Shell for each user when they login to a system.”
3. What does Shell mean?
Be sure to tie these concepts to the position you’re interviewing for. If you referred to the answers above, you can note your response as you see fit.
Example: “Shell acts as an interface between the user and the system. As a commander interpreter, the shell takes command and sets them up for execution. If I am speaking with a customer, then I would explain the differentiation between a Kernel and Shell as the difference between an operating system and the interface that they operate off of to make it more understandable to them, especially if they haven’t worked with a coding language before.”
4. What is the role of a superuser?
Some interview questions about technical terms may be easier to answer than others. Yet, you should study these concepts to refresh your memory and apply it to your interview response.
Example: “A superuser is a special type of user that has open access to all files and commands on a system. Also, take note that the superuser’s login is usually root, and is protected by a root password. However, a system administrator would be an example of a superuser that has full access and user privileges on an operating system.”
5. How would you delete a file in UNIX?
In cases of explaining a process, you can be more direct in answering these questions as long as it addresses the subject matter the interviewer presents. These questions are usually asked for the benefit of an intern or user that may be introduced to the process you already know for the first time.
Example: “The rm command can delete files that you no longer need. This command can remove multiple files within a single directory if needed, but you must have permission to have access to the directory that contains the file.”
6. What is the difference between a soft link and a hard link?
Elaborate as much as you can on technical questions during an interview to help the interviewer develop a full understanding of your knowledge. They may ask follow-up questions to confirm your expertise.
Example: “A soft link is a link to an original file like a PDF, whereas a hard link is a mirror copy of the original file. If you delete a soft link then there is no added value, but deleting a hard link still has data in the original file. You’ll want to be careful to not delete items on your computer accidentally.”
Some interview questions may still surprise you, but preparation can help you answer questions you aren’t expecting. Try to speak to other industry professionals about their experiences in interviews to get a better understanding of how you should approach difficult questions.
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