30 Applications Lotus Notes Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Applications Lotus Notes interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Table of Contents
General
1. What are some of the features of Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As the interview progresses, the interviewer will ask you more detailed questions about the job you are interviewing for. Many of these will be technical since the role involves managing a specific suite of software applications. The best way to prepare for these questions is to review the terminology, technology, processes, and procedures used for this job. This will keep the information front of mind and enable you to easily answer the interviewer's questions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
The best way to prepare for these questions is to review the terminology, technology, processes, and procedures used for this job. This will keep the information front of mind and enable you to easily answer the interviewer's questions. You can also bring notes to the interview that will help you with the more complex questions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus Notes provides users with an integrated set of collaborative applications which enabled them to quickly and easily perform a range of business tasks. It helps users communicate with each other, share documents and other materials, access both individual and shared datasets, and perform a number of other functions common to most business environments. It uses a client-server model, making it easy to operate and manage. It also integrates with other applications from IBM and third parties which extend its functionality."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
General
2. Can you briefly explain what Lotus Notes is?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewer will use this question early in the interview to begin the conversation, collect more information about your background, and experience your communication style. Early in the interview, you are likely to be asked general questions like this. Interviewers use general questions to help you relax and act more naturally. They want to get to know as much about the genuine you as possible since one of the major hiring criteria is how well you will fit into their organization's culture and working environment.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Your answers to these can guide the discussion in a direction that you are comfortable with. The information you provide the interviewer will be used throughout the interview and can determine the questions you will be subsequently asked. Utilize this opportunity to establish yourself as a credible candidate and engage the interviewer. Interviews should be conversations where you attempt to learn as much about the opportunity as they are trying to learn about you.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus Notes is part of a collaborative client-server architecture. It acts as the client, which supports several other integrated services. These services include email, contacts, SMS messaging, a calendar, and other collaborative tools. Lotus Notes also integrates seamlessly with Lotus Symphony, an office productivity suite from IBM. It can access databases and other applications of IBM's application server known as Lotus Domino."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
General
3. What are some of the features of the Lotus Notes Database?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Throughout the interview, you will be asked about the features, functionality, and other characteristics of Lotus Notes. Typically these questions occur early in the interview, but the interviewer can ask them if any time. Good interviewers will switch from using common general questions to more difficult ones at different times during the interview. This prevents both them and you from becoming complacent and provides opportunities for you to relax and refresh. Professional interviewers try to make the interview process as stress-free as possible to better understand your technical and professional capabilities versus your ability to function under pressure.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
While you can't know about every feature of the Lotus Notes database, you should be intimately familiar with the most common ones. You should also structure your answer, so the person interviewing you gets the information they are looking for. HR personnel only need generalities to confirm your qualifications and sample your communication style. Direct hiring managers expect more in-depth information and will want to dig deeply into your skills and experience to ensure that you are capable of performing the work required by this position.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus Notes is different from an RDBMS database in that it is a multi-value database system, dealing with files that are document-centric and supporting persistent multiple values in items. Other key features include built-in document-level access control and persisting Rich Text data. In addition to functioning as a standalone database, Lotus Notes can map an RDBMS by using DECS, JDBCSQL, or NotesSQL."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
General
4. What are some of the new features of version 8.5.3 of the Lotus Notes software?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Employers expect Lotus Notes support engineers to be on top of recent developments with the product and the environments within which it functions. Knowing about the features of the latest release of Lotus Notes indicates that you take the time to stay current on this and other topics. After answering this question, the interviewer is likely to ask you follow-up questions to better understand both your understanding of this and the methodologies you use to keep your knowledge current and up-to-date.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When asked about product features, avoid being over wordy or making your answer too long. Keep in mind that the interviewer either already knows about these features or really isn't interested in them. What they are interested in is whether you keep up to date on the technologies you deal with in this role. Look for visual clues your viewer may provide indicating that your answers are too long. These include fidgeting, looking at their notes, or other activities which indicate they are losing interest in what you are saying.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Some of the new features added to version 8.5.3 of Lotus Notes include:
- A pop-up notification and preview are displayed when new mail arrives.
- Improved sorting of mails by ignoring subject content such as Re and Fw prefixes
- Additional mail search options including by sender or subject
- Display of countered meetings in a unique color
- Notifications are sent to existing invitees when other attendees are added or removed from a meeting
- Adding geographic and time zone information in the business cards"
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
General
5. Are you familiar with Project Atlantic for Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
While no Lotus Notes support engineer can be familiar with every development and nuance within the Lotus notes environment, you should be familiar with key initiatives and other major developments with the product. This will demonstrate that you value continuous learning and self-improvement. The interviewer is probably less interested in your knowledge of this topic than they are that you take the time to keep yourself up to date.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Keep your answer short and to the point when responding to this question. The interviewer is likely to move on to a new set of questions once they have confirmed that you take time to stay on top of Lotus notes issues. If they continue to ask you follow-up questions about this, it indicates that the organization has a specific requirement or issue in this area. This is a signal for you to provide more in-depth information to the follow-up questions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Project Atlantic is a joint product developed by IBM and SAP. Its purpose is to allow Lotus Notes to access the SAP business suite. Some of its features include implementing the Lotus Notes client Interface, increasing the compliance of business process automation, and providing additional reporting, analytics, and workflows."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
General
6. What is Lotus iNotes, and can you describe some of its features?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
During an interview, you will be asked a wide variety of questions about the Lotus Notes environment. However, you should start to see a pattern developing about the types of topics the interviewer is asking about. This indicates which features, functionality, and operations of Lotus Notes are important to the organization. The interviewer may ask the same or similar questions several times throughout the interview to confirm that your answers are consistent.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
If you determine that the interviewer is asking you a question that you have already answered, don't become flustered. They usually have a reason for this. It may be to ensure that your answers are consistent, or it may be because they have a special interest in the subject. Once you recognize that an interviewer is spending time on a specific issue or topic, you should be able to start focusing your answers and addressing their concerns and the problems the interviewer is exploring. This will confirm your qualifications and convince them that you are the right candidate for this job.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus iNotes is a web-based version of the Lotus Notes client. It enables Lotus Notes users to access their contacts, emails, and calendar via any compatible browser. It leverages the Lotus Domino server to provide the client interface. iNotes offers integrated SMS messaging as one of its many features."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
7. Can you discuss Lotus Notes transactional logging?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
When applications involve communication between different components within the application, across the network, or between servers, the transaction log is typically created. This allows the administrators to trace, diagnose, and repair communication and transaction issues with an environment. Interviewers will ask you about this to confirm your understanding of the logs and discover how you use them.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
As an experienced Lotus notes administrator, these types of questions should be relatively easy for you to answer. In addition to discussing how you would go about logging transactions within Lotus Notes, you may want to include some of the tools and techniques you use. These can either be processes you learned in previous roles or ones that you believe will apply to this organization based on the research you performed before the interview.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus Notes transaction logging captures all the changes made to the documents in a database and stores them in a file known as a transaction log. Transactions are ordered sequentially in the log files, making it easy for administrators to trace and review them to discover any discrepancies or resolve any transaction-related issues."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
8. What troubleshooting steps would you take if replication between two Lotus Notes Databases fails?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This could be a standalone or a follow-up question to one that was last earlier in the interview. Interviewers will ask similar questions throughout the interview to either explore the topic in more detail or confirm you are being consistent with your answers.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Regardless of whether the question stands alone or is a follow-up, you should still answer it in the same manner. Keep your answer brief and to the point, use easy-to-understand language, and be prepared for a follow-up. Interviewers may ask several different follow-up questions about the same topic if they have a special interest in it.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"When troubleshooting a replication failure between two Lotus Notes database servers, I would first check the replication history and log. If the "Replicate With Server" command was not responding, I would check the network communication to ensure that the servers could communicate with each other. If this isn't the issue, I'd verify and check the Cross Certification for the database. I'd also examine the Miscellaneous Event Log to see if it indicated what the issue might be. If users received the error "Unable To Find Path To Server," it would indicate that there is a DNS issue, host entry, or connection document problem."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
9. How would you go about troubleshooting Lotus Notes transaction log problems?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Troubleshooting is a critical function of a Lotus Notes administrator's job. Interviewers are likely to ask you many questions about this because, in addition to configuring and supporting the system, they want to ensure you can quickly and accurately diagnose issues and resolve them. They are likely to give you specific situations that the organization may have already experienced to see if you can fix them. Some interviewers will prepare complex written cases which you need to solve using coding, diagnostic tools, or other methods much as you would if you are actually on the job.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When responding to this type of question, you may want to ask some clarifying questions. This will help you better focus your answer while demonstrating to the interviewer that you often seek out additional information before beginning to work on a problem. If you are presented with a case, your questions should center around the tools you can use, any alternative action the interview will accept, the time frame allowed to perform the task, and again any clarifying questions that will help you better answer the question or resolve the case.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"When faced with a Lotus notes transaction log problem, the steps I would take to resolve those, in order are to first check the log path. If the path is correct, I would restart the server to see if this resolves the issue. If the issue is not resolved, I would edit the TRANS LOG - PATH setting in notes.ini to point to a different log path and then restart the server again. If I see the error message "Transaction log damaged or corrupted "on the console prompt, I would then restart the server again. Finally, if the issue continues, I'd delete the transaction log file, restart the server, create a new log file, then load the fix-up. Finally, I'd perform a database backup to ensure the data was not corrupted or lost."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
10. What steps are required to download the Lotus Mobile Installer into an Android mobile device?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewer may ask you questions about specific operations or procedures used in the role. Often, they are less concerned about your ability to perform the operation than they are about how you respond to the question. Some questions may be legitimate and meant to determine your expertise or capabilities. Others are asked to gain insight into your communication style, the ability to act under pressure, or explore other qualifications required by the position. Since you won't always know the rationale behind the interviewer's question, the best response is to answer the best you can and demonstrate how you would respond to a similar situation while on the job.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Being able to download the Lotus Notes application on various devices will demonstrate your qualifications as a Lotus Notes administrator. When asked about the steps required to perform a specific action, you should systematically walk the interviewer through the process, breaking down each task into a series of steps. Communicating this clearly and completely not only demonstrates your ability to do this, but it also provides the interviewer with a sample of your communication skills. These are important because you will be interfacing with nontechnical personnel in other parts of the organization.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"There are several distinct steps used to install Lotus Mobile Installer on an Android device. You start by powering up the device and launching a browser. You then go to the Lotus Notes Traveler home page using the URL http://hostname/servlet/traveler. Open the application, choose the Android option, transfer the file to the device, and open it. You are now ready to install the various Lotus Notes modules on the device following the instructions within the launcher."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
11. Describe how you would sort contents in different languages using both Lotus Notes Standard and Basic versions?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
When applications come in different versions, the commands used to perform tasks may also differ. This is due to the user interface, platform, or other features of each software version. Knowing the differences between the versions and the commands specific to each one demonstrates your knowledge of the software and your qualifications for the administrator's role. Interviewers will ask you about these to confirm that you can support all the product versions that they are employing with their organization.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Knowing how to customize Lotus notes for different languages is critical for this role. Most organizations operate globally and need to deal with differences in languages and culture. Demonstrating these capabilities will differentiate you from other candidates and make it more likely that you'll be offered a role with the organization. As with any question, keep your answer brief and to the point and anticipate a follow-up.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The steps used to sort the contents within both Lotus Notes Standard and Basic versions in different languages are similar, with a few exceptions. In the standard version, you first click on the file preferences, followed by regional settings. In the basic version, you also begin by clicking on file and preferences, but you then need to select user preferences and the international option. Beyond this, the steps used are the same, including using the change button to sort, viewing the list of languages, using display all sort rules, selecting Unicode standard sorting, followed by the language you want to use."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
12. Walk me through the steps to create a clickable link in Lotus Notes email.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
When an interviewer asks you to walk them through the steps needed to complete a task, they are asking you an operational question. The purpose is to confirm that you understand how to complete the task and can describe the required steps. This confirms your capabilities and demonstrates your communication skills. The ability to explain technical topics in a clear, easy-to-understand manner is a key requirement for a Lotus Notes administrators position.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When asked to walk the interviewer through the steps required to perform an operation, you should take a minute to organize your thoughts before responding. Think about each step and the order they come in. Avoid the minor steps or the nuances of the major ones. As with any operational question, keep your answer brief and to the point. It is better for the interviewer to have to ask you a follow-up question than for you to ramble on about information they are not interested in.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The steps I would use to create a clickable link in Lotus Notes email are as follows:
- Select the URL and copy it to the clipboard.
- Start the Lotus Notes Client.
- Select the text that I want to add the link to.
- Click on the Create Hyperlink button.
- Paste the copied URL from the clipboard and click on OK."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
13. How do you set the reading order for paragraphs in a document?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewer is asking you an operational question. During the interview, you will be asked many operational questions. These help the interviewer understand your capabilities and confirm that you can do this job. Most of the questions should address commonly used operations, commands, and tasks within the application. However, some may be more obscure or unfamiliar.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Operational questions are similar to technical ones in that your answer should be brief and to the point. If asked about something you don't know about, tell the interviewer you are unfamiliar with this particular task, and then describe the steps you would take to learn how to perform it. You should also be ready for a follow-up question.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The reading order for paragraphs is set in Lotus Notes by enabling 'bi-directional' text. You start by ensuring that the document is in Edit mode. You then select the text that is to be specified in reading order. Next, you select the Text Properties menu item and click on the Paragraph Alignment tab. You can then select the left-to-right or right-to-left option next to Reading Order. You finish the operation by clicking OK."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Operational
14. Would you mind explaining the process for configuring Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
One of the key responsibilities for this role is properly configuring Lotus Notes. This includes the back-end server and the clients. This is a fundamental requirement for this job. Therefore, you should have experience doing this and be able to easily respond to this question. Once the interviewer is comfortable that you are capable of performing the basic requirements for the job, they will move on to questions about specific operations relevant to their environment.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When asked to explain a process or procedure, take a minute to organize your thoughts before answering the question. Think about the steps needed to perform the operation and the order they come in. Then describe each step briefly, using easy-to-understand language. Summarize the process and briefly describe the results at the end of your answer.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"To properly configure a Lotus Notes client, you first need some basic information. This includes the Lotus Notes Client Setup script, an Id File, the client setup's default password, and the Domino Server IP address and name. Once you have these, configuring a client involves installing the Lotus Notes client on a machine and browsing the id file after running a shortcut from the desktop. You then specify the IP address, the server's name, and the client IP address. After completing the steps, the client is configured and ready for use."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
15. Can you discuss the difference between manager access and designer access within Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is likely a follow-up question to one you were asked earlier in the interview. Interviewers will ask follow-up questions to gather more information or explore a topic in more detail. They also use follow-ups to confirm that your answers are consistent throughout the interview. Keeping your answers brief and to the point will encourage interviewers to ask a follow-up question or move on to a new topic.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Since a follow-up question is related to the answers you provided earlier in the interview, embellishing or making up an answer to a question may be problematic. This is because it is difficult to remember something that is inaccurate or untrue. The best strategy is always to provide an honest answer to the best of your ability. If you do not know the answer to a question, state this, and then describe how you go about locating the necessary information.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The key differences between manager and designer access within Lotus Notes are that manager can create a database, as well as delete, encrypt and compact the documents. Someone with designer access can access designer elements like view and forms and create the FT index. However, they can't delete the documents or perform other administrative tasks without manager access."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
16. Please describe the server tasks used for the Lotus Notes web application.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Since you are interviewing for a position in which you will support the entire Lotus notes architecture, the interviewer wants to assure themselves that you are familiar with the back-end server functionality of the Lotus Notes environment and know how to manage it. You can anticipate being asked many questions about this topic. Since these are technical questions, you should keep your answers brief and to the point and anticipate a follow-up question from the interviewer.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Knowing about the server tasks associated with Lotus Notes is a fundamental skill required for this job. You should be able to answer this question easily or be able to describe how you could find the answer in a specific reference guide. Since these are technical questions, you should keep your answers brief and to the point and anticipate a follow-up question from the interviewer.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Some of the common tasks executed by the server for the Lotus notes web application include HTML content and tag attributes, Web Query Open & Save operations, Java Script Headers, and Onload events, including OnUnload, OnClick, OnDblClick, and OnKeyPress events."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
17. What are some of the commands used to call an agent on the web using Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Different interviewers will ask you different types of questions. If you are interviewing with an HR representative, you are likely to be asked about your background, experience, career aspirations, and the types of environments you thrive in. These are general questions meant to determine how well you will fit into the company's culture. Departmental hiring managers are more likely to ask you technical questions directly related to the functions you will be performing and the job you will be doing. You need to be prepared for both of these in order to have a successful interview.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When responding to this type of question, it is best to create a list. This enables the interviewer to quickly understand your expertise. Again, they are less interested in your specific knowledge than your ability to respond to this question adequately. As with any technical question, you should be prepared for a follow-up.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"There are six common commands used to open an agent on web. They Include:
- @Command([RunAgent];' name-of-agent')
- @Command( [ToolsRunMacro] ; 'name-of-agent')
- WebQueryOpen,
- WebQuerySave
- server/databasename/name-of-agent?openagent
- @urlopen"
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
18. What Is Lotus Notes replication, and can you name the different types?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Since most Lotus Notes configurations are clustered, they run replication services. Knowing the different types of replication and being able to configure them properly will demonstrate your competency as a Lotus Notes administrator and convince the interviewer that you are capable of doing this job.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking you about the different types of replication. When asked this type of question, beginning your answer with a brief summary and then providing a list of items is the best way to structure your response. This makes it easy for the interviewer to understand your answer. As with any technical question, keep your answer brief and to the point and be prepared for a follow-up question from the interviewer.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Within a clustered Lotus Notes environment, replication is the process of synchronizing documents across different servers in the cluster. This provides high levels of reliability and availability to the users. Some of the different types of Lotus Notes replication include:
Server-to-Server Replication
Workstation-to-Server
Pull-Pull
Pull-Push
Pull Only
Push Only"
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
19. What server and client configurations are required for Lotus Notes Domino clustering?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Lotus Notes administrators must be able to manage the entire Notes environment, including the application, user clients, and back-end servers. Being able to configure the servers for clustering is a critical element of these requirements. This is especially true of small organizations with limited staff and whose support engineers have to multitask across the entire IT environment.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
It is well-advised that you review all the processes and procedures used to administer a Lotus Notes environment before the interview to refresh your understanding of these. Since clustering is a common practice, you should be familiar with it and able to answer this question. Also, don't be surprised if you are asked questions about non-Lotus applications and tools.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The server components of a Lotus Notes cluster include Domino 6.5 or Domino 6 enterprise servers or Domino 6 utility servers. Clients must run Notes release 4.5 or later. If clustering using a LAN or WAN running TCP/IP, It should be within the same domain and share a common Domino directory. The clustered servers need adequate CPU and Memory configurations to support the number of clients which have access to the database."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
20. Can you discuss the functions of Resource Reservation and Busytime databases used in Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As the interview progresses, the questions will become more challenging. This indicates that the interviewer is gaining confidence in your abilities and wants to explore your qualifications in greater depth. They may even terminate the interview early if they feel you're qualified for the position and do not need to ask you any more questions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Continue to answer both technical and operational questions using brief, direct answers and always be prepared for follow-ups. As always, if you don't know the answer to a question, admit this to the interviewer and give them an idea of how you would go about locating the information. Interviewers prefer candidates were honest about the limits of their knowledge to those who make up or fabricate answers.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus Notes' Resource Reservation database enables users to schedule and manage meeting resources. Users can select the resource and reserve the time for it. Busytime databases refer to each Lotus Notes server containing a database that includes scheduling information for all users who use that server as their mail server. This feature is overridden when the servers are clustered."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
21. Can you explain how clustering works within Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
When the interviewer asks you to explain a feature of Lotus Notes, they are less interested in your knowledge of the feature more interested in your ability to communicate it. As a Lotus Notes administrator, you will collaborate with individuals from across the organization, many of whom have no technical background. This requires you to communicate clearly and effectively, using common, easy-to-understand language. Your answers to these types of questions should demonstrate this.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
It would help if you had a pretty good idea of the interviewer's technical expertise when answering this question. This may be based on their job title, the nature of their questions, or the feedback you receive from them during the interview. Always frame your answer to the appropriate level of expertise of the interviewer. Oversimplifying an answer is just as bad as overcomplicating one.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Within the context of Lotus Notes, clustering refers to two or more servers providing the users with constant access. This creates a more reliable and available Lotus notes environment. Servers within a Lotus Domino cluster continually communicate with each other, so they are all updated on the status of the other servers and keep the replicas of the database synchronized."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
22. What permissions are associated with editor access and author access for Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Typically interviewers will ask you to compare and contrast some of the elements involved with the job for which you are interviewing. This demonstrates your knowledge of the elements as well as your communication style. Interviewers are interested in both of them when asking questions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When comparing two different elements, the best response is to first define each element and then talk about their differences. Answering the question directly and succinctly is the best strategy since it encourages the interviewer to either move on to the next question or ask a follow-up. Also, the longer your answer, the more opportunity to miss speak or provide inaccurate information.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Editor and author are access levels associated with the ability to manage features of a document. An editor can create, read and modify documents. They can only delete the document if they also have manager access. An author can create, read, edit and delete a document, but only if the author is also the owner of the document."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
23. What are the key elements of the Lotus Notes database?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is a bit ambiguous. The interviewer may be asking about either the components or the characteristics of the Lotus Notes database. Once you know this, you should be able to easily answer the question. However, proceeding without knowing exactly what they're looking for could lead to you providing the wrong answer.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When faced with an ambiguous question, the first thing you should do is confirm what the interviewer is looking for. The interviewer will respect that you took the time to clarify the question before answering. When sure about the question, you can provide the interviewer with the information they are looking for. This also indicates to them that you practice this behavior while on the job.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"There are four key elements of the Lotus Notes database. These include data, design, code, and security. The data is stored in the Lotus Notes database in individual records. These records are referred to as documents and consist of fields with various formats, including text, images, and attachments. Design refers to the way the data is accessed. Design elements include forms, visual interfaces, the Lotus Notes client, and web browsers. Code refers to how the data is manipulated. The Lotus Notes scripting language typically does this. The final element, security, refers to Lotus Note's use of the ACL, or access control list. The ACL enables administrators to grant or revoke access to individual users and various parts of the database."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
24. What does the acronym 'ACL' stand for in the context of Lotus Notes, and what are some of the different types?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Acronyms are used across all technical professions. Acronyms enable professionals within the industry to communicate more effectively, assuming they are familiar with the acronym. You're likely to be asked about many different acronyms during an interview for this job. You should be able to define these and discuss their use when asked.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
You want to avoid using acronyms when answering an interviewer's questions. Never assume that the interviewer is familiar with the acronyms or any other industry jargon or technical language. Frame your answers in clear, easy-to-understand language.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In the context of Lotus Notes, ACL stands for Access Control List. This defines the individuals who can access the application and the individual abilities to manipulate or use the application they have access to. From most to least, the individual access levels are Manager, Designer, Editor, Author, Reader, Depositor, and No access."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
25. What minimum server and device properties are required to install Lotus Notes Traveler on an Android mobile phone?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Knowing the minimal configurations for the server and devices using Lotus Notes Traveler is important for several reasons. First, you want to ensure that the server and devices are configured appropriately. Also, you do not want to indicate that a device can use the application if it is not configured properly. Interviewers will want to ensure that you are capable of this and won't waste the organization's time by attempting to use Lotus Notes on devices that are not configured correctly.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
Some candidates will take the opportunity when answering this question to demonstrate their wealth of expertise in this area. They will provide much more information than the interviewer is looking for. The danger with this is that interviewer begins to lose interest and may become distracted. They may also feel that your long-winded answer is an attempt to cover up something. This is why it is always advisable to keep your answers brief and to the point. The interviewer will always ask a follow-up question if they need additional information.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The minimum server requirements for Lotus Notes Traveler are 500 GB of free disk space, 512 MB of RAM, support for HTTP / TCP or HTTPS / TCP protocols on the network, and compatibility with GSM / GPRS / 802.11x and Wi-Fi devices. The minimum client device requirements include 2 MB of free storage space on the Android device, 2 MB of storage, and Android OS 2.0.1 or greater."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
26. Talk about the differences between a broadcast domain and a collision domain within Lotus Notes.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Throughout the interview, you will be asked a series of technical questions about Lotus Notes. These can involve terminology, processes, procedures, and other topics related to the work you do. Reviewing all of these before the interview will help you be prepared for these types of questions. This particular question asks you to compare two different features of Lotus notes.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When asked to compare two different technical terms, you should start by defining each term and then proceed to compare and contrast them. Keep your answer brief and to the point when answering a technical question. The interviewer will ask you a follow-up question if they need additional information or want to explore the topic in more depth.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Both broadcast and collision domains refer to the networking functionality associated with Lotus Notes. The broadcast domain is the nodes on the network that can be reached without using a router or other switching device. This type of domain is limited to a specific IP subnetwork. It is easily identified by having 255 at the end of its IP addresses. A collision domain refers to the devices where packet collisions occur. These devices can be spread across several IP subnetworks. Collisions occur due to data being broadcast across a single connection, which can include the cable, repeater or hub."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
27. What is the User ID file in Lotus Notes, and what are some of its contents?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Operational questions can be asked in a variety of formats. This is an example of an operational question that appears to be technical. The interviewer is asking you about a specific feature of Lotus Notes but expects you to describe the process for setting up a user ID within the application.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
During an interview, you want to be clear on what you are being asked and the information the interviewer is expecting you to provide. If you're not, ask the interviewer a clarifying question. This ensures that you provide the interviewer with the information they are asking you about.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The user ID within Lotus notes refers to how individual users are enabled within the application. User IDs are created by the administrators and contain information about the users and security measures to ensure that only authorized users are allowed access to the application. The security measures include certificates, public and private keys, passwords, encryption keys, and SSL connections. Taken together, these elements provide a safe and secure environment for both the individual users as well as the organization's enterprise version of Lotus Notes."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
28. Please identify the three modes of Lotus iNotes and discuss their characteristics.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is very likely a follow-up question to one you were asked earlier in the interview. The interviewer will ask follow-up questions to obtain more information or explore the topic in more detail. If the interviewer asks a series of follow-up questions about a specific topic, it indicates that this is important to their operations career.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
You should take more time responding to an interviewer's questions and providing greater detailed answers when you recognize that the topic of the question is important to the interviewer. Once you've identified the important issue to the organization, it is tempting to try to embellish your expertise in this area or immediately solve a problem you think they are experiencing. Try to avoid doing this. Hiring managers tend to avoid candidates who try to demonstrate that they have all the answers to the organization's issues on day one. Effective employees take time to learn about the organization, its practices, and challenges before offering solutions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Lotus iNotes includes three modes which enable users to access their Lotus Notes client. These include:
- Full Mode has integrated collaboration tools for accessing all the features of iNotes and is best suited for environments with broadband connections.
- Light Mode, which has key modules including mail, contacts, and calendar, and is designed for networks with limited bandwidth.
- Ultra-light Mode, which is a limited version of iNotes compatible with mobile devices."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
29. Can you describe the Image White List feature available in Lotus Notes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
During an interview for a Lotus Notes administrator's role, you will be asked about many of the product's features. As a Lotus Notes administrator, you should be able to easily answer most of these questions. Once the interviewer is comfortable with your expertise in this area, they will move on to more challenging questions. These can include situational and behavioral questions which address how you will respond to specific situations once in this role.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
While you should be familiar with most of the features of the Lotus Notes application, you may be asked about something you haven't used or are unfamiliar with. If you are asked about a feature that you are unfamiliar with, admit this to the interviewer and then describe how you would locate the information they are asking about. This not only enables the interviewer to verify your application knowledge and demonstrate your experience working with it, but it also demonstrates your willingness to admit that you may not know everything. It also shows your expertise in researching topics related to this role.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The White List feature available in Lotus notes enables administrators to control what images are displayed in the application and how they appear to the users. For example, some images may be displayed as a red cross mark rather than the actual image. Others may be hidden when specific operations or tools are open within the application, such as mail. The White List feature can also display the images as HTML links. This requires the users to click on the links or a separate 'show images' link to view the hidden images."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Technical
30. What is the purpose and some features of Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Lotus notes traveler is one of many variations of the Lotus notes application. Popular software applications like Lotus notes may have a variety of different forms which enable users to utilize the application and a variety of situations. Interviewers will ask you about these to confirm that you are familiar with Lotus notes' variations and the most recent versions.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
How to Answer
When preparing for an interview for this job, make sure you are familiar with each version and variation of the application. Even though you reviewed the job description and possibly even spoken with Lotus notes support engineers currently working for the organization, you should not assume which version of the product you will be supporting once hired. Therefore, take the time to brush up on your knowledge of each version available before the interview.
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The purpose of Lotus Notes Traveler is to extend the collaboration features of Lotus Notes to remote users. Some of the key features are strong encryption, Android compatibility, access to applications such as calendar, mail, and messaging, multiple line signatures, and others. This variation of the application is written specifically for Android mobile devices. The Traveler version of the software enables administrators to designate the type of devices users can connect to the Lotus Notes server."
Written by William Swansen on January 2nd, 2022