How to Answer: Can you describe the steps you would take if the performance of a website began to degrade?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Systems Engineer job interview.
28. Can you describe the steps you would take if the performance of a website began to degrade?
How to Answer
When an interviewer asks this type of question, they are seeking to learn the processes you use to resolve specific issues. This is known as an operational question. The best way to respond to an operational question is to describe the steps briefly, using simple, nontechnical language. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need additional information or explore the topic in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on August 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"When I recognize that a website's performance is beginning to degrade, I take some steps in a specific order to diagnose the problem. The first thing I look for is the load and whether the number of hits is within scope. If this is not the issue, I look at the hardware to make sure the network connections are optimized for this type of website. Once I confirm this, I begin to look at the components of the website. Steps I may take to resolve these issues include enabling compression, reducing redirects, enabling browser caching, optimizing the JavaScript, and ensuring that the images on the site are not causing the problem. Fixing these issues normally speeds up the website and brings it back to its performance window."
Written by William Swansen on August 6th, 2021