Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Interview Questions

Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) take charge of the technical efficiency of companies. They work to improve internal systems and implement the most current technologies. 

CTOs are the driving force that increases technical performance company-wide. 

Look for top executive hires with a solid technical background and the ability to translate strategies into tactical technological solutions. Ask candidates for specific examples of past experiences that identify the necessary skills to manage challenges and implement efficient systems.

Keep an eye out for candidates who have:

• Excellent communication skills 
• Strong presenters 
• A high level of professionalism 
• Solid leadership skills
  

Top tip: Diversity is key to a thriving workplace. Keep an eye out for management and exec-level candidates from varying backgrounds and aim to eliminate bias from your hiring process.

Problem-solving interview questions

• We need you to check in our legacy internal systems. What’s your step-by-step process for this?
• Where do you feel you should invest more of your time: ensuring all current systems run efficiently or researching new, innovative technologies?
• What internal communication system would you introduce to our company and why?
• You need to hire a lead Back-end Developer. What qualifications do you look for? 
• You see a sudden decrease in the performance of a team member. How do you approach the individual and what strategies do you offer to help them?
• If we asked you to create a company Internet usage policy for our employees. What key points would you include?
  

Role-specific interview questions

• What kind of software and hardware do you think an Accounting department needs?
• What guides and policies would you create to ensure the proper use of technology?
• How do you secure data and privacy in cloud computing?
• You need to prepare an IT department budget. How do you review expense requests, and where do you tend to cut costs? Why?
• Explain how to measure system performance. What metrics indicate malfunctions?
• What steps do you take to reduce the risk of external attacks on the company network?
  

Behavioral interview questions

• What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? How has it helped you better serve your team? 
• Tell me about a challenging project you completed. What were the obstacles, and how did you overcome them?
• What resources do you use to learn about the latest technological trends? Do you subscribe to specific publications or podcasts? 
• How do you handle conflicts on your team? Can you recall a specific time you had to resolve internal team conflict?
• How do you motivate your team in stressful situations? How do you help them stay on top of deadlines?