Question 1

How many years of network engineering experience do you have?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Below minimum = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: 0-1 / 1-3 / 3-5 / 5+.

Question 2

Do you hold any networking certifications?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'None = Knockout for cert-required roles'. The question type is MCQ: CCNA / CCNP / CompTIA Network+ / None.

Question 3

Have you configured and managed routers and switches in production?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Hard Knockout'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 4

Have you worked with firewall configuration and management?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for security network roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 5

Have you designed or managed VPN solutions?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for remote access roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 6

Have you worked with SD-WAN technologies?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for SD-WAN roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 7

Have you managed LAN/WAN infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 8

Have you worked with network monitoring tools? (SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 9

Have you troubleshot network outages in a production environment?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for senior network roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 10

Have you worked with BGP, OSPF, or other routing protocols?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for advanced routing roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 11

Have you configured VLANs and network segmentation?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 12

Have you worked with wireless network infrastructure? (WiFi 6, Cisco WLC)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for wireless roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 13

Have you worked with cloud networking? (AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for hybrid/cloud network roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 14

Have you implemented QoS policies for network traffic management?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag for enterprise roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 15

Have you worked with network automation tools? (Ansible, Python scripts)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag for modern network engineering roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 16

Have you documented network architecture and topology?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for senior roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 17

Are you authorized to work in [country] without visa sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 18

What is your expected salary range?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Out of budget = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: Range bands.

Question 19

What is your current notice period?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Mismatch = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: Immediate / 2 weeks / 1 month / 2+ months.

Question 20

Are you available for an interview within the next 7 days?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Deprioritize'. The question type is Yes / No.

Technical Screening Questions for Network Engineers

20 Knockout Questions for Network Engineers

Automate Your Network Engineer Screening

#	Question	Type	Knockout Rule
1	How many years of network engineering experience do you have?	MCQ: 0-1 / 1-3 / 3-5 / 5+	Below minimum = Knockout
2	Do you hold any networking certifications?	MCQ: CCNA / CCNP / CompTIA Network+ / None	None = Knockout for cert-required roles
3	Have you configured and managed routers and switches in production?	Yes / No	No = Hard Knockout
4	Have you worked with firewall configuration and management?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for security network roles
5	Have you designed or managed VPN solutions?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for remote access roles
6	Have you worked with SD-WAN technologies?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for SD-WAN roles
7	Have you managed LAN/WAN infrastructure?	Yes / No	No = Knockout
8	Have you worked with network monitoring tools? (SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios)	Yes / No	No = Red flag
9	Have you troubleshot network outages in a production environment?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for senior network roles
10	Have you worked with BGP, OSPF, or other routing protocols?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for advanced routing roles
11	Have you configured VLANs and network segmentation?	Yes / No	No = Knockout
12	Have you worked with wireless network infrastructure? (WiFi 6, Cisco WLC)	Yes / No	No = Knockout for wireless roles
13	Have you worked with cloud networking? (AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network)	Yes / No	No = Knockout for hybrid/cloud network roles
14	Have you implemented QoS policies for network traffic management?	Yes / No	No = Red flag for enterprise roles
15	Have you worked with network automation tools? (Ansible, Python scripts)	Yes / No	No = Red flag for modern network engineering roles
16	Have you documented network architecture and topology?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for senior roles
17	Are you authorized to work in [country] without visa sponsorship?	Yes / No	No = Knockout
18	What is your expected salary range?	MCQ: Range bands	Out of budget = Knockout
19	What is your current notice period?	MCQ: Immediate / 2 weeks / 1 month / 2+ months	Mismatch = Knockout
20	Are you available for an interview within the next 7 days?	Yes / No	No = Deprioritize