Interview questions for CTO

The role of CTO is an executive function, which means that it is a top senior role with lots of pressure and responsibility placed on the individual. While it is a technical role, it is not always a hands-on position — especially if the company is large and well-established. Smaller companies with smaller budgets may require their staff to perform many different roles, so be aware of the requirements of the CTO post that you are applying for ahead of time. Technical Questions and Final Questions. They start off with personal- and individual-styled questions and then move on to technical background and understanding. Finally the closing questions focus more on the running and planning of the technical side of a company and how the methodologies and techniques that the candidate has learned could be harnessed by the company if they were to be hired.

1. Tell us about our company. What do we do here?

This is quite curveball for a first question, but it does happen from time to time. If you have been considered for such a high-ranking position in the company, then you might have had some preliminary discussions with a company contact ahead of time, or with a recruiter if you have gone through an agency. Either way, they could help you with some key points that you should definitely have prepared for the interview.
The interviewer generally wants to gauge how well you know the business, as it shows that you have taken a key interest in how the organization operates, and what they need in terms of technological oversight from you. You must always do your homework about the company before the interview, so definitely be prepared for this kind of question. In your answers you can suggest that a company such as theirs that works in such a sector can benefit from A, B and C suggestions. This shows that you not only understand the technology that is required for the company to succeed,

2. How would you describe your management style?

You might not see yourself as a manager, especially if you have previously held senior technical roles that focus solely on dev and technical work. Some CTO roles don’t even have hands-on technical requirements. Instead, these roles may focus on policy, technological implementation and organizational culture relating to technology. But having said that, some smaller startup companies have multi-faceted roles that will require that the CTO still manages heads of departments and sometimes even key individual members on the team.

3. How important is the culture of technology to you?

This is an interesting question, especially if you haven’t sat around thinking about what culture has to do with technology in the first place. Well, if you think about an organization and the business culture that is fostered there, you can also draw conclusions about how technology is treated in the same way within that business.
Organizational culture encompasses things like open-door policies with management, the chain of command, security, transparency — basically, every aspect of the business. Think about how you prefer technology in the workplace, how it is implemented and how people engage with it.

4. What is important is cybersecurity to your role?

Cybersecurity generally falls under the domain of the Chief Security Officer, but there is sometimes a bit of overlap — the CSO ultimately reports to you. You will need to work closely with the CSO and the security department to ensure that the technologies that you are proposing are actually viable and secure for your operating environment and that compliance is maintained throughout.
This question is looking to see if you understand your role as CTO, and how it doesn’t necessarily exclude you from thinking about the security impacts of your decisions. Now is a good time to find out what the company feels is the right level of engagement between the CTO and CSO, as each company is different.

5. Have you ever had to let someone go? Why?

While the above will provide you with a good sense for the potential hire’s overall managerial ability, you’ll want to dive a little deeper in order to see whether the maybe-CTO was capable of following through on the uncomfortable act of terminating somebody’s employment.
What to look for: Somebody that was able to swifty do what was necessary for the company’s best interests.
What to avoid: Somebody that procrastinated over the job of firing somebody. There’s a chance that they might do the same if the issue crops up at your company.

6. Tell Me About A Time You Joined An Existing Codebase That Was In Bad Shape? How did you get acclimated to it? How did you improve?

In Startupland, QA doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. There are sprint deadlines to meet and resources can be constrained at the best of times. Will your potential hire balk at the site of a code jungle or get to grips with it? Finding out what the potential hire didin order to turn around a situation that was less than ideal can also give you valuable insights about the potential hire’s problem management skills.
What to look for: Somebody who’s pulled off the process of getting to work on a codebase that was in less than ideal condition.
What to avoid: If you need somebody who’s going to be comfortable diving in the deep end, then you probably don’t want a candidate that would freak out at the first sign of trouble. If that’s the case, look for somebody who has experienced getting their hands dirty with an ugly codebase.

7. Do you keep up with the latest trends and movements in the (insert name) industry? What changes do you see relating to tech in this space?

Part of your interview preparation for such a senior position should involve as much research as possible about the business and how it operates within the sector that it has been established. If you are joining a logistics company then you might want to look at how autonomous vehicles, both on the road and in the warehouse installations, could benefit the company technologically. If you are joining a financial institution, then blockchain might be a technology worth pursuing, as security and speed of transactions becomes more important over time. The examples are endless, so research as much as you can.

leave your comment


Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *