14 Cobol Programmer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various cobol programmer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Cobol Programmer Interview Questions
- What inspired you to choose Cobol as your programming language?
- What do you think sets Cobol apart from other languages?
- What do you think is the biggest advantage of Cobol?
- How would you rate your experience using Cobol?
- What do you think is the biggest challenge when learning Cobol?
- What do you think would be the biggest challenge when working with Cobol?
- What do you think is the best thing about Cobol?
- How would you describe your experience using Cobol?
- What do you think is the most difficult thing about working with Cobol?
- What do you think is the best thing about using Cobol?
- How would you describe your experience learning Cobol?
- What do you think is the hardest thing about working with Cobol?
- Do you have any advice for those considering learning Cobol?
- Do you have any tips for those who are already familiar with the language but want to improve their skills?
What inspired you to choose Cobol as your programming language?
There are a few reasons an interviewer might ask this question:
1. To get a sense of the Cobol programmer's motivations for choosing Cobol. This can help the interviewer understand how committed the programmer is to the language, and whether they are likely to stick with it in the long term.
2. To gauge the Cobol programmer's level of experience. If the programmer is inspired by the language's history or its use in specific industries, this suggests that they have a deep understanding of Cobol.
3. To assess the Cobol programmer's ability to sell the language to others. If the programmer can articulate why Cobol is a good choice for programming, this suggests that they will be able to convince others to use it as well.
4. To understand the Cobol programmer's overall attitude towards the language. If the programmer is positive about Cobol, this indicates that they are likely to be a good ambassador for the language.
Example: “Cobol was created in 1959 by a team of computer scientists from various US government agencies and private companies. The language was designed to be easy to learn and use, and it has been widely adopted by businesses and organizations around the world.”
What do you think sets Cobol apart from other languages?
Cobol is a very old language, and it is not used as much as other languages. However, it is still important for some businesses. It is important for the interviewer to know if the Cobol programmer knows the language well enough to be able to explain the differences between Cobol and other languages.
Example: “There are a few key things that set Cobol apart from other languages:
1. Cobol is designed for business data processing, and as such has strong support for working with large amounts of data.
2. Cobol is a very verbose language, which can make code more readable and easier to understand.
3. Cobol has excellent support for working with legacy systems.”
What do you think is the biggest advantage of Cobol?
There are a few reasons an interviewer might ask this question:
1. To gauge the Cobol programmer's understanding of the language. It is important for a programmer to have a good understanding of the language they are using, and this question can help to assess that.
2. To see if the Cobol programmer is familiar with the benefits of the language. It is important for a programmer to be able to sell the language they are using, and this question can help to assess that.
3. To get the Cobol programmer's opinion on the language. It is important for a programmer to have an opinion on the language they are using, and this question can help to assess that.
Example: “Cobol's main advantage is its portability. Cobol can run on a variety of platforms, including mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers. It is also easy to learn and use, which makes it a good choice for businesses that need to train new employees quickly.”
How would you rate your experience using Cobol?
There are a few reasons an interviewer might ask this question:
1. They want to know how comfortable the programmer is with using Cobol. If the programmer is not very experienced, they might not be the best candidate for the job.
2. They want to know how efficient the programmer is with using Cobol. If the programmer is not very efficient, they might not be the best candidate for the job.
3. They want to know how knowledgeable the programmer is with using Cobol. If the programmer is not very knowledgeable, they might not be the best candidate for the job.
Example: “I would rate my experience using Cobol as very good. I have been using Cobol for over 10 years and have found it to be a very powerful and reliable programming language. It is easy to learn and use, and has a wide range of features that make it suitable for a variety of programming tasks.”
What do you think is the biggest challenge when learning Cobol?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Cobol programmer. Firstly, it allows the interviewer to gauge the level of experience and expertise of the programmer. Secondly, it allows the interviewer to understand how the programmer approaches new challenges and how they think about problem solving. Thirdly, it provides insight into the programmer's ability to learn new things and adapt to new situations. Finally, it helps the interviewer to understand the motivation behind the programmer's career choice.
Example: “There are a few challenges that come to mind when learning COBOL. Firstly, the language is quite old and has been around for over 50 years. This means that there is a lot of legacy code out there which can be difficult to understand. Secondly, COBOL is not a very popular language nowadays so finding resources and people to help you learn can be difficult. Finally, the language itself is quite complex with a lot of different syntax rules which can be hard to remember.”
What do you think would be the biggest challenge when working with Cobol?
There are a few possible reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Cobol programmer. First, they may be testing the candidate's knowledge of Cobol and their ability to identify potential challenges that may arise when working with the language. Second, the interviewer may be trying to gauge the candidate's level of experience with Cobol and their ability to troubleshoot common issues that arise when programming in Cobol. Finally, the interviewer may be interested in the candidate's opinion on the future of Cobol and whether or not they believe it will continue to be a popular language for enterprise applications.
Example: “There are a few challenges that come to mind when working with COBOL:
1. First, COBOL is an older language and thus can be more difficult to learn if you are not already familiar with it.
2. Second, COBOL is not as widely used as other languages, so finding resources and support can be more difficult.
3. Finally, COBOL can be more verbose than other languages, so code can be more difficult to read and maintain.”
What do you think is the best thing about Cobol?
There are a few reasons an interviewer might ask this question. First, they may be trying to gauge your level of experience with Cobol. Second, they may be interested in your opinion on the language itself. Finally, they may be trying to determine if Cobol is the right fit for their needs.
Example: “There are many things to like about COBOL, but here are some of our favourites:
- It is a very readable and understandable language. This makes it easy to learn for new programmers, and also makes code maintenance simpler.
- COBOL is still in widespread use today, despite being over 50 years old. This means that there is a large community of experienced COBOL programmers out there, and plenty of resources available.
- COBOL is a very versatile language and can be used for a wide range of applications.”
How would you describe your experience using Cobol?
Cobol is a programming language that is used for business applications. It is important for the interviewer to know how the candidate's experience using Cobol because it will give them an idea of the candidate's ability to write code in Cobol.
Example: “I have been using Cobol for over 5 years now and it has been a great experience. I love the language and its features. It is very powerful and easy to use. I have never had any problems with it.”
What do you think is the most difficult thing about working with Cobol?
The most difficult thing about working with Cobol is that it is a very old programming language and it is not used very often anymore. This makes it difficult to find resources and people who are familiar with the language. Additionally, Cobol is not a very user-friendly language, so it can be difficult to learn and use.
Example: “There are a few things that can make working with Cobol difficult:
-The syntax can be confusing and verbose
-There is a lack of standardization across implementations
-It can be difficult to interface with other languages and systems”
What do you think is the best thing about using Cobol?
There are several reasons why an interviewer might ask this question:
1. To gauge the Cobol programmer's level of experience and expertise.
2. To get a sense of the Cobol programmer's opinions and views on the language.
3. To see if the Cobol programmer is familiar with the benefits of using Cobol.
It is important for the interviewer to ask this question because it can help them to better understand the Cobol programmer's skillset and knowledge. Additionally, it can give them insights into the Cobol programmer's work ethic and attitude.
Example: “There are many things that can be said to be the best thing about using Cobol, but one of the most important things is that it is a very stable and reliable programming language. It has been around for many years and has been used in a wide variety of applications. This means that there is a lot of support available for Cobol programmers, and it is usually easy to find someone who can help you if you have any problems.”
How would you describe your experience learning Cobol?
Cobol is a programming language that is over 50 years old. It is still used in many businesses, particularly in the financial sector. Therefore, it is important for a Cobol programmer to have experience learning the language. This question allows the interviewer to gauge the Cobol programmer's level of experience and expertise.
Example: “I started learning Cobol when I was in college and I have found it to be a very interesting and challenging language. It has been a great experience learning Cobol and I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned it.”
What do you think is the hardest thing about working with Cobol?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. First, they may be trying to gauge the Cobol programmer's level of experience. Second, they may be trying to determine whether the Cobol programmer is familiar with the challenges of working with Cobol code. Finally, they may be trying to assess the Cobol programmer's ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot issues that may arise when working with Cobol code.
Example: “There are a few things that can make working with Cobol challenging:
1. The syntax can be confusing and verbose, making it hard to read and write code.
2. The language is old, so there is not a lot of documentation or support available.
3. Cobol is not very popular, so finding experienced programmers can be difficult.”
Do you have any advice for those considering learning Cobol?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Cobol programmer. First, it shows that the interviewer is interested in the Cobol programmer's opinion on the best way to learn the language. This is important because it shows that the interviewer is willing to listen to the Cobol programmer's advice and take it into consideration. Second, it allows the interviewer to gauge the Cobol programmer's level of expertise. By asking for advice, the interviewer is implicitly asking the Cobol programmer to demonstrate their knowledge of the language. This is important because it allows the interviewer to determine whether or not the Cobol programmer is qualified for the position. Finally, it gives the interviewer a chance to build rapport with the Cobol programmer. By asking for advice, the interviewer is showing that they respect the Cobol programmer's opinion and are interested in hearing what they have to say. This is important because it helps to create a positive relationship between the interviewer and the Cobol programmer.
Example: “There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best advice for those considering learning Cobol will vary depending on their individual circumstances and goals. However, some general tips that may be helpful for those thinking about learning Cobol include:
1. Do your research and make sure Cobol is the right language for you. While it has a reputation for being outdated, Cobol is still used in a variety of industries and can be a good choice for certain applications. Make sure you understand the pros and cons of the language before making a commitment to learning it.
2. Start with a good tutorial or course. There are many resources available online and in print that can help you learn Cobol. Find a tutorial or course that covers the topics you're interested in and that is at the right level for your skill set.
3. Practice, practice, practice. The best way to learn any programming language is to use it regularly. Write small programs or complete exercises from your tutorial to help solidify your understanding of the concepts you're learning.”
Do you have any tips for those who are already familiar with the language but want to improve their skills?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Cobol programmer. First, they may be interested in the Cobol programmer's opinion on how best to improve one's skills in the language. Second, the interviewer may be seeking to gauge the Cobol programmer's level of expertise in the language. Finally, the interviewer may be looking for ideas on how to improve their own skills in Cobol. Ultimately, it is important for the interviewer to understand the Cobol programmer's thoughts on how best to improve one's skills in the language, as this can help them better assess the Cobol programmer's abilities.
Example: “There are a few things that can help someone improve their skills in Cobol:
1. Read the language reference manual and become familiar with the different features of the language.
2. Write programs to solve problems that you are interested in or that you encounter in your work.
3. Use a code editor that has syntax highlighting and code completion features to help you write code more efficiently.
4. Join an online community of Cobol programmers to ask questions and share ideas.”