18 Sharepoint Administrator 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 sharepoint administrator interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Sharepoint Administrator Interview Questions
- How have you become a Sharepoint Administrator?
- What are your top responsibilities as a Sharepoint Administrator?
- What makes Sharepoint unique compared to other platforms?
- How do you think about and manage Sharepoint content?
- What are your thoughts on governance for Sharepoint?
- What strategies do you use for managing and deploying Sharepoint?
- What are some of the most challenging aspects of your job?
- How do you stay current with new features and functionality in Sharepoint?
- How do you troubleshoot issues that arise in Sharepoint?
- How do you work with other teams to ensure smooth operation of Sharepoint?
- What are some of the best practices you follow as a Sharepoint Administrator?
- How do you plan and execute upgrades and patches for Sharepoint?
- What is your experience with using PowerShell for Sharepoint administration?
- What tips do you have for creating custom solutions on Sharepoint?
- How do you approach problem solving in Sharepoint?
- What have been some of your most successful Sharepoint projects?
- What lessons have you learned from your experiences as a Sharepoint Administrator?
- How do you see the future of Sharepoint evolving?
How have you become a Sharepoint Administrator?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question:
1. They want to know how you got interested in Sharepoint and what motivated you to become an administrator. This can help them understand if you have the necessary skills and knowledge for the job.
2. They want to know what kind of experience you have in administering Sharepoint. This will give them a better idea of your capabilities and whether you would be a good fit for the position.
3. They want to know what challenges you have faced in your role as a Sharepoint Administrator. This can help them understand how you handle difficult situations and whether you are up for the challenge of the job.
Example: “I have become a Sharepoint Administrator through hard work and dedication. I have worked with Sharepoint for many years and have gained a lot of experience in administering it. I am also a certified Sharepoint Administrator.”
What are your top responsibilities as a Sharepoint Administrator?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's understanding of the role of a Sharepoint Administrator. It is important for the candidate to be able to identify and articulate the key responsibilities of the role in order to be successful in the position.
Example: “As a Sharepoint administrator, my top responsibilities include managing the Sharepoint environment, ensuring uptime and availability of Sharepoint services, and providing user support. I also work closely with the Sharepoint development team to ensure that new features and functionality are properly tested and deployed. In addition, I am responsible for maintaining security and compliance within the Sharepoint environment.”
What makes Sharepoint unique compared to other platforms?
Sharepoint is a popular enterprise content management system, and its unique features include its ability to manage and collaborate on documents, its user-friendly interface, and its integration with Microsoft Office.
Example: “Sharepoint is a unique platform in a number of ways. First, it offers a complete set of tools for creating and managing web sites, including a powerful content management system, workflow engine, and collaboration features. Second, it is highly scalable and can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of an organization. Finally, Sharepoint integrates with a number of other Microsoft products and technologies, making it a key part of the Microsoft platform.”
How do you think about and manage Sharepoint content?
An interviewer might ask "How do you think about and manage Sharepoint content?" to a/an Sharepoint Administrator in order to get a sense of how the administrator plans and organizes Sharepoint content. This is important because Sharepoint administrators are responsible for maintaining the site and ensuring that users can find the information they need. If the administrator does not have a good system for managing content, the site may become difficult to use and users may not be able to find the information they need.
Example: “There are a few things to consider when thinking about and managing Sharepoint content:
1. Organization - How is the content organized? Is it easy to find what you're looking for?
2. Structure - How is the content structured? Are the items in logical order?
3. Metadata - What metadata is associated with the content? This can help with organization and searchability.
4. Security - Who has access to the content and what level of access do they have?
5. Retention - How long should the content be kept? When should it be deleted or archived?”
What are your thoughts on governance for Sharepoint?
The interviewer is asking for the administrator's thoughts on how Sharepoint should be governed because it is an important topic. Sharepoint governance is the process by which an organization defines and enforces its policies and procedures for using Sharepoint. It is important because it helps to ensure that Sharepoint is used in a way that is consistent with the organization's goals and objectives.
Example: “There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the governance model for Sharepoint will vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the organization. However, some key considerations for Sharepoint governance include defining who will have access to the platform and what level of access they will have, establishing clear guidelines and policies for using and managing content on the platform, and setting up processes for monitoring and auditing activity on the site.”
What strategies do you use for managing and deploying Sharepoint?
There are several reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Sharepoint Administrator. First, it allows the interviewer to gauge the administrator's level of experience and knowledge with Sharepoint. Additionally, it allows the interviewer to determine whether the administrator is familiar with best practices for deploying and managing Sharepoint. Finally, it allows the interviewer to get a sense of the administrator's overall approach to Sharepoint administration.
The answer to this question is important because it can help the interviewer understand how the administrator would approach managing and deploying Sharepoint in their organization. Additionally, it can help the interviewer identify any potential gaps in the administrator's knowledge or experience.
Example: “There are a few key strategies that I use for managing and deploying Sharepoint:
1. Use a dedicated Sharepoint server. This ensures that Sharepoint is not competing for resources with other applications and that it is always available when needed.
2. Use a staging environment for testing new deployments and configurations. This allows you to test changes before they go live, ensuring that everything works as expected.
3. Use automated tools and scripts whenever possible. This helps to speed up the deployment process and reduces the chance of errors.
4. Keep the Sharepoint farm well-documented. This makes it easier to troubleshoot issues and makes it clear what has been changed and when.”
What are some of the most challenging aspects of your job?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's level of self-awareness and ability to identify areas for improvement. This is important because it shows whether the candidate is able to reflect on their own work and find areas where they can improve. It also shows whether the candidate is willing to learn and grow in their role.
Example: “The most challenging aspects of my job as a Sharepoint Administrator are keeping up with the constantly changing technologies and ensuring that our Sharepoint environment is always up to date and compliant with industry standards. Additionally, managing user permissions and ensuring data security can be challenging, especially in large organizations.”
How do you stay current with new features and functionality in Sharepoint?
The interviewer is asking how the Sharepoint Administrator stays up to date with new features and functionality in Sharepoint because it is important for the administrator to be able to keep the Sharepoint site up to date with the latest features and functionality. This allows the users of the Sharepoint site to have the best experience possible.
Example: “There are a few different ways to stay current with new features and functionality in Sharepoint. One way is to follow the Sharepoint blog, which regularly posts about new features and updates. Another way is to attend Sharepoint conferences or webinars, which can provide insights into upcoming changes. Finally, it's also helpful to connect with other Sharepoint administrators to learn about what's new and what's coming down the pipeline.”
How do you troubleshoot issues that arise in Sharepoint?
Sharepoint administrators are responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the Sharepoint platform. As such, they need to have a strong understanding of how to identify and resolve issues that may arise. This question allows the interviewer to gauge the candidate's troubleshooting skills and knowledge of the Sharepoint platform.
Example: “The first step in troubleshooting any issue that arises in Sharepoint is to identify the source of the problem. This can be done by checking the Sharepoint logs, which can be found in the Event Viewer. Once the source of the problem has been identified, it is important to try and reproduce the issue in order to determine what is causing it. Once the cause of the issue has been determined, it is important to find a resolution and implement it.”
How do you work with other teams to ensure smooth operation of Sharepoint?
The interviewer is asking how the Sharepoint administrator works with other teams to ensure that Sharepoint is running smoothly. This is important because Sharepoint is a complex system and it is important for the administrator to be able to coordinate with other teams to ensure that it is running properly.
Example: “I work closely with the other teams to ensure that Sharepoint is running smoothly. I coordinate with the team members to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no issues with the Sharepoint installation or configuration. I also provide training and support to other teams as needed.”
What are some of the best practices you follow as a Sharepoint Administrator?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question:
1. To gauge the candidate's level of experience and expertise. Sharepoint administrators need to have a good understanding of best practices in order to be able to effectively manage and maintain a Sharepoint site.
2. To see if the candidate is up-to-date on the latest Sharepoint trends and developments. Sharepoint is constantly evolving, and administrators need to keep up with the latest changes in order to be able to properly administer a Sharepoint site.
3. To assess the candidate's ability to think critically about Sharepoint administration. The candidate's answer to this question will reveal their ability to identify and implement best practices in Sharepoint administration.
Example: “There are a number of best practices that I follow as a Sharepoint Administrator:
1. Keep Sharepoint up to date: It is important to keep Sharepoint up to date with the latest security patches and hotfixes. This ensures that your system is secure and running smoothly.
2. Perform regular backups: It is important to perform regular backups of your Sharepoint environment. This way, you can restore your system in the event of a disaster.
3. Plan for capacity: It is important to plan for capacity when designing your Sharepoint environment. This ensures that your system can handle the load of users and data.
4. Monitor performance: It is important to monitor the performance of your Sharepoint environment. This helps you identify any bottlenecks or issues that need to be addressed.
5. Maintain documentation: It is important to maintain documentation for your Sharepoint environment. This helps you keep track of configurations and changes made over time.”
How do you plan and execute upgrades and patches for Sharepoint?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the Sharepoint Administrator's understanding of how to properly upgrade and patch Sharepoint. This is important because if Sharepoint is not upgraded or patched properly, it can lead to security vulnerabilities, data loss, and other issues.
Example: “The first step is to identify which upgrades and patches are required. This can be done by checking the Sharepoint release notes or contacting Microsoft support. Once the required upgrades and patches have been identified, the next step is to download them from the Microsoft website.
The next step is to install the upgrades and patches on a test environment before applying them to the production environment. This will help to ensure that there are no problems with the upgrade or patch before it is applied to the production environment.
Once the upgrade or patch has been tested and found to be working correctly, it can then be applied to the production environment.”
What is your experience with using PowerShell for Sharepoint administration?
Sharepoint administrators are responsible for configuring, deploying, and managing Sharepoint server farms. PowerShell is a scripting language that can be used to automate and manage many tasks in a Sharepoint farm, including provisioning new sites, managing user permissions, and backing up and restoring data. As such, it is important for Sharepoint administrators to have some experience with using PowerShell.
Example: “I have experience in using PowerShell for Sharepoint administration. I have used it to manage user accounts, create and manage sites, and to automate various tasks. I have also used it to troubleshoot issues with Sharepoint.”
What tips do you have for creating custom solutions on Sharepoint?
SharePoint administrators are responsible for configuring, managing, and troubleshooting SharePoint farms. They also create custom solutions on SharePoint to meet the specific needs of their organization. Asking this question allows the interviewer to gauge the administrator's level of experience and expertise in creating custom solutions.
Example: “There are a few things to keep in mind when creating custom solutions on SharePoint:
1. Make sure to plan out your solution before starting to code. This will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
2. When coding your solution, make use of SharePoint’s object model and its many built-in features. This will help keep your code clean and maintainable.
3. Be sure to test your solution thoroughly before deploying it to a production environment. This will help ensure that it works as expected and minimizes the risk of any potential issues.”
How do you approach problem solving in Sharepoint?
An interviewer would ask "How do you approach problem solving in Sharepoint?" to a/an Sharepoint Administrator in order to gauge the Administrator's ability to identify and solve problems within the Sharepoint environment. This is important because the Sharepoint Administrator role is responsible for ensuring the stability and uptime of the Sharepoint environment, as well as providing users with support when they encounter issues.
Example: “When faced with a problem in Sharepoint, my first step is always to consult the documentation. The Sharepoint documentation is extremely comprehensive and usually provides a clear solution to the problem at hand. If the documentation does not provide a solution, I will reach out to the SharePoint community for help. There are many active forums and chat rooms dedicated to SharePoint, and the community is always willing to help solve problems. Finally, if all else fails, I will contact Microsoft support for assistance.”
What have been some of your most successful Sharepoint projects?
Sharepoint administrators are responsible for managing and configuring Sharepoint server environments. As such, they need to have a good understanding of how Sharepoint works and how to best configure it to meet the needs of their organization. By asking about successful Sharepoint projects, the interviewer is trying to gauge the administrator's level of experience and expertise.
Example: “Some of my most successful Sharepoint projects have been those where I have been able to help organizations streamline their business processes and improve their overall efficiency. In one particular project, I was able to help a company save over $1 million per year by implementing a series of Sharepoint-based solutions that automated their core business processes. Other successful projects have included helping companies develop custom Sharepoint applications that have greatly improved their productivity.”
What lessons have you learned from your experiences as a Sharepoint Administrator?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Sharepoint Administrator. Firstly, it can give the interviewer some insight into how the administrator has grown and developed over their career. Secondly, it can help to identify any areas where the administrator may need further development. Finally, it can help to assess how the administrator deals with difficult situations and whether they are able to learn from their mistakes.
Example: “I have learned a lot of lessons from my experiences as a Sharepoint Administrator. One of the most important lessons is that effective communication is essential for success. Good communication ensures that everyone understands the goals and objectives, and that tasks are assigned clearly. Furthermore, regular updates and status reports help to keep everyone on track and identify any potential problems early on.
Another key lesson is that organization and attention to detail are crucial. Sharepoint Administrators need to be able to manage a large amount of data and keep track of many different details. This can be a challenge, but it is important to stay organized and focused in order to maintain a high level of accuracy and avoid any mistakes.
Finally, I have learned that it is important to be flexible and adaptable. The Sharepoint platform is constantly evolving, and new features are regularly added. As a result, administrators need to be able to adapt their methods and procedures on a regular basis in order to keep up with the latest changes.”
How do you see the future of Sharepoint evolving?
In order to gauge the administrator's understanding of the product and its potential future uses. This is important because it allows the interviewer to get a sense of whether the administrator is up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in Sharepoint, and whether they are able to think critically about the platform's future direction.
Example: “The future of Sharepoint is very exciting. The platform has been evolving rapidly over the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down. Microsoft has made a strong commitment to Sharepoint and is continuing to invest heavily in its development.
Sharepoint is already a powerful tool for collaboration and information management, and it is only going to become more feature-rich and user-friendly in the future. We can expect to see more integration with other Microsoft products, as well as continued innovation in the areas of social networking, enterprise search, and business intelligence.”