40+ data architecture interview questions to ask interviewees

Data architects are vital employees in many businesses, especially within the computing industry. They design and construct data-management frameworks, which can be complex if you don’t have the right professionals on the team. 

Finding the right candidate is much easier when you run a data-driven skills assessment from TestGorilla. For example, our Data Science test can assess an applicant’s knowledge of the industry in just 10 minutes.

But what about once you’ve reached the interview stage? If you’re looking for the most suitable individual for your data architect role, you can use our list of more than 40 questions to help you to find out more about your candidates.

10 straightforward data architecture interview questions and answers 

Whether you’re deciding between just two candidates or have dozens to interview, it’s important to get the most out of the available interview time.  Here are some simple questions that can give you lots of information at the start of the interview.

1. Can you tell me about your background and experience?

This interview question is a great opener. It gives the candidate a chance to speak about their career and experience in their own words.

Although you will have some understanding of their experience and background based on their application, hearing it directly from the individual is much better. You can also ask them to elaborate on specific aspects you’re interested in. 

2. What made you interested in this role?

The interviewee has taken the time to go through your unique application process, so it’s clear they are interested in the role. However, this question enables you to ask for more information about why they applied, which can differ from candidate to candidate.

They could be eager to join the role as it’s an industry they’ve always wanted to work in or because the office is closer to home. Look for answers that show the candidate has done their research into your organization, such as referencing your company values or mission statement. 

3. Can you tell me about your qualifications? 

Although they may have mentioned their qualifications briefly when discussing their background and experience, this question will ensure candidates provide more detail. Understanding their qualifications is vital for choosing the right data architect for your business.

You could have two similar potential hires with equivalent work experience but different qualifications. Education vs experience is the ultimate debate, but it’s essential to get a well-rounded idea of the interviewee’s background and their education is often the base of this.

4. What are you most passionate about in this role and field?

As the chief executive, hiring manager, or any other position that has put you in the interviewer chair, you may lack technical data architect experience.

However, you should still try to learn why your candidates enjoy data architect work and are interested in this field. Consider applicants who answer with enthusiasm – their passion for the role will help you decide if they are a good match.

5. What do you know about our company? 

An interviewee doesn’t need to know everything about your company. Nevertheless, they should have a general understanding of what the business is about.

This question doesn’t just inform you about what they know in general – it gives you a glimpse into their research process and how interested they are in the role.

6. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a common interview question, and discussing a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses may feel overdone. However, the best way to use this question is to consider how they answer the question and focus less on the weaknesses.

If the candidate talks a lot about their strengths and is reluctant to go into much detail about their weaknesses, this could tell you something about them as a person.

Don’t hesitate to ask them to go into more detail. Doing so can help you pinpoint the information you’re looking for.

7. How do you tackle those weaknesses?

One of the most important reasons to ask the preceding question is that it can lead to a discussion of weaknesses. Weaknesses can be important if they will impact the role. However, what’s more important is how they tackle them.

If someone is honest about their weaknesses and handles them professionally, those weaknesses won’t affect the business. For example, some applicants may ask team members to mentor them and others might request training

8. What excites you about this role?

Apart from the financial incentive, there are a variety of factors that might bring them into the office every day. These vary from person to person but can give you a glimpse into their personality. 

Asking them what excites them about data architecture and the open role in particular will help you learn more about them as a person and a worker. While those in other fields might not see data architecture as an exciting topic, someone who has dedicated their work to the profession should.

9. What were your motivations for applying?

This question is an extension of the previous one but could encourage candidates to provide some answers about their personal life.

For example, they may explain that they enjoy their current role but that it involves too much travel, and they applied to your company because it’s closer to home. Maybe you offer flexible working and they’ve just had children. No matter the reason, a question like this can encourage the interviewee to provide more information.

10. Why are you leaving your current role?

Some candidates might find this easier to answer than others, but asking it is crucial to get an idea of their future with you as an employee. 

The answer to this will most likely be a good and valid reason, but talking about their previous employer in a negative light could be a red flag. People leave jobs all the time, and it’s normal in most people’s careers. Asking this question, though, ensures you know why.

16 experience-related and personal data architect interview questions

If you’ve had a chance to learn about the digital architect you’re interviewing but want to go into more detail about their professional life, ask them some of these questions.

Whether it’s their achievements so far as a digital architect or their plans to succeed in this role, there are a number of questions in this list to help you get the answers you’re looking for.

1. What is one of your proudest professional accomplishments from the past year? 

2. What did you learn from this experience?

3. What do you consider to be one of your greatest strengths in this field? 

4. What skills or qualities do you bring to the table?

5. What do you consider to be one of your weaknesses in this field? 

6. What have you done to improve on this weakness?

7. What are your goals for your first 90 days on the job?

8. What do you hope to achieve in your first year with our company?

9. What technology publications do you read to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry? 

10. What other resources do you use to help you stay informed?

11. Is there anything you would like to know more about this role in particular?

12. What do you like to do in your free time?

13. What are your hobbies and interests?

14. How do you define work-life balance?

15. How do you achieve the ideal work-life balance?

16. Outside of work, what drives you?

5 experience-related and personal data architect interview questions and sample answers

Ask candidates these personal data architect interview questions to learn about their values and personalities.

1. What do you like to do in your free time?

You may not think your applicants’ leisure time matters, but this can give you a great insight into them as an individual.

If they say they love to travel for long periods, consider that they may use their annual leave all at once. If you are a business that works on tight deadlines, this may not work for you.

2. What are your hobbies and interests?

Along the same lines as the previous question, this can show you what they like to do in their free time. In response to this question, candidates may tell you more about their skills or what they can bring to the role.

3. How do you define work-life balance?

Work-life balance is more important to businesses now than ever before, and hiring employees that mirror your values in this area is important. 

This question lets you explain more about the company’s practices and get an idea of your candidates’ expectations. Do they require more flexibility than you can offer? Maybe they are the sort of person looking for a four-day work week. If this is something you already offer, the candidate may be a good match for your role. 

4. How do you achieve the ideal work-life balance?

After they have explained what they feel defines work-life balance, asking candidates how they achieve this can be telling. Insights into how they deal with balancing day-to-day life can tell you much about their personalities and whether they can handle the pressures of the role.

5. Outside of work, what drives you?

Everyone has their motivators. From a decent salary and a nice lifestyle to family and time off, countless different factors can inspire candidates. Therefore, each candidate will have a different response. 

Listen out for responses that indicate your company incentives match candidates’ motivations outside of work.

16 data architect interview questions about challenging work scenarios and skills

Every job has its challenges, and a data architect role is no exception. These questions help you understand how applicants handle the pressure and challenges of the position.

1. Do you have any experience leading a team? What are your leadership style and strengths?

2. What operational improvements have you made in previous roles?

3. What is your process for approaching new development projects?

4. How do you solve problems that arise when working on projects?

5. Have you ever disagreed with a manager? How did you handle the situation?

6. What statistical and data-analysis tools do you prefer to work with?

7. What challenges have you faced when completing database assignments? How did you overcome them?

8. How do you display and present statistical information in a way that is easy for your audience to understand?

9. What is your process for creating and delivering presentations?

10. What programming languages are you familiar with?

11. Can you tell me about a recent project you completed using SAS?

12. What is your experience level with SPSS?

13. What are the advantages of working with SQL?

14. How would you create a model to describe our company’s sales processes?

15. What is your process for creating forecast models?

16. What is your process for creating sales projections?

7 data architect interview questions and answers about challenging work scenarios and skills

Although they may have touched upon various industry-related topics throughout the interview, putting any of these questions in your interview plan can help you find out more about their knowledge and skill set.

1. What programming languages are you familiar with?

There are several popular programming languages out there, of which Python is the most popular. But each has its unique benefits and pitfalls.

Developers design and use different programming languages in different industries. It’s good to know which ones your candidates are familiar with. 

Getting more information about the programming languages they use and are more comfortable with will let you know whether or not they are right for your company.

2. Can you tell me about a recent project you completed using SAS?

Many data architects will have experience with most or all of the popular programming languages. Questions like this can help you delve deeper into their knowledge of each.

SAS is a programming language used for statistical analysis. Although this will be useful to most data architects, it be more or less relevant depending on your projects and tasks.

3. What is your experience level with SPSS?

SPSS syntax was developed specifically for SPSS systems. If your business doesn’t require this in the day-to-day running of things, it may be one to skip.

However, those that use SPSS will want to know much more about the candidate’s knowledge in this area and how they can support the business.

4. What are the advantages of working with SQL?

SQL is a domain-specific programming language that many data architects will be familiar with. Because most will greatly understand SQL, asking a more specific question like this can encourage a more detailed answer. 

Working with SQL has many advantages, such as efficient query processing and its large user community. Consider whether your applicants can mention other advantages and how they match their working style.

5. How would you create a model to describe our company’s sales processes?

This question has two goals. The first is to understand the candidate’s working process and how well they will be able to complete their duties. It also gives you a good idea of how well they understand your company’s sales process.

6. What is your process for creating forecast models?

Forecast models give businesses a sense of future sales outcomes, supply and demand, consumer behavior, and much more.

A data architect will play a pivotal role in creating these forecasts, which can significantly influence the business. Therefore, knowing that your candidate understands the process is important.

7. What is your process for creating sales projections?

Many roles contribute to a business and, as the hiring manager, you may not understand the inner workings of creating sales projections. 

Answers to this question can help you learn how the interviewee would create a sales projection in the role. You can also learn how they would break it down to members of the company outside of their team.

When should you use data architect interview questions in the hiring process?

You should use our data architect interview questions after a skills assessment. This method helps you avoid unconscious bias when creating your shortlist of candidates – it just requires you to select five skills tests, wait for applicants to complete the assessment, and select the best performers.

Remember that these questions aren’t only suitable for hiring a data architect. You can also use them when hiring an information architect, UX or UI engineer, or a similar role.

Find the right data architect for your business with TestGorilla 

Finding the right person for any role can be difficult, but with TestGorilla you can ask candidates to complete a skills assessment to evaluate their experience and abilities. From programming languages to sales-process skills, you can assess them on a variety of aspects.

Once your candidates have completed the tests, you can compare answers and find the right person for your business.Try a free 30-minute live demo today to see how you can streamline your recruitment. We can help you create a simpler screening process which leaves you with the strongest potential data architects for your vacancy.