What’s the Interview Process Like for a DevOps Role?

Interviews can really vary! Often, they focus on technologies listed in your resume, so you should definitely prepare for questions on specific tools you'll be using in the role. Linux questions are nearly always part of the process. Some interviewers really care about your ability to set up systems and manage infrastructure rather than strictly adhering to an algorithm test. My own experience has echoed that!

DevOps interviews are more about the practical application of your knowledge rather than grinding through algorithms. Expect questions on infrastructure management, CI/CD processes, and cloud-based practices. You'll likely encounter situational problems that you need to solve rather than coding puzzles. Communication is also key since you'll need to work closely with both development and operations teams in most roles. So, brush up on those soft skills too!

The specifics can depend on the company size. Larger firms might still throw some LeetCode questions your way, but smaller companies often focus more on Linux and Kubernetes knowledge. In my experience, for one of my roles, I was asked to deploy a Node.js app using Docker—and I could reference tutorials, but I had to explain my commands. For another job, I was given a complex GitLab CI code snippet and asked to discuss what each part did. So, while some coding might be involved, it’s more about understanding how to use the tools than just pure coding skills.

The interview process for DevOps tends to be quite different from that of software engineering roles. You'll generally see a stronger focus on practical skills rather than algorithm-heavy questions. Key topics include system administration, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), CI/CD pipelines, and automation tools. You might encounter some Linux and networking basics too. Most likely, you'll have a technical screen, system design discussions, and hands-on troubleshooting scenarios, rather than a ton of LeetCode problems. It's a good idea to be prepared to explain your thought processes out loud while solving problems since interviewers love seeing how you approach issues. Also, be sure to brush up on Docker, Kubernetes, and basic shell scripting! Doing mock interviews with real DevOps engineers can really help too!

Exactly! LeetCode isn’t a focus in DevOps interviews. You need to be ready to tackle practical scenarios and show your real-world problem-solving abilities. Companies are typically more interested in your hands-on experience with implementing and automating processes than traditional coding interviews. If you prep based on your relevant experience in DevOps tools and actually discuss your past projects, you'll do great!