IT Job Interview Tips: Know Your IT Terminology
Last week I posted the top 77 interview questions that you need to be ready for when interviewing for an IT position.
To further help you with your job interview preparation, I decided to put together a quick IT terminology cheat-sheet.
The terms that are listed here are just your basic networking terminology, but they frequently come up during your typical interview with a prospective employer. That’s why it’s important that you know them backwards and forwards — and that you’re able to explain them well, even when you’re under pressure.
So if you’re applying for a position within the IT field — whether it’s an entry level job, a help desk position, or even a junior administrator or network administrator position — you should have a good knowledge of these terms and their definitions.
After all, you don’t want to blow your chances at a great job just because you forgot your basic networking terms.
As I did in my last post, I encourage you to contribute your key IT terminology in the comments and if you want, the definitions too. Let’s make this a living document that everyone can benefit from!
- Bandwidth – is a data transfer capacity or data rate measured in bits
- BIOS – means basic input output system
- Binary Number System – is a system that represents numeric values using two symbols: 0 and 1
- Bit – is a binary digit of value either 0 or 1
- Bridge – is an internetworking device used to help conserve the bandwidth on the network
- Broadcast – is where you simultaneously transmit a message to all computers on a network
- Byte – organizational unit for data consisting of eight bits
- Client – is a device or system that requires services from other device or system (known as server)
- Computer Network – is an interconnection of a group of computers
- CPU – Central Processing Unit, also called as processor is a class of logic machines that execute computer programs
- Data – is a digital representation of anything in any form
- Default Gateway – is a router that serves as an access point to another network
- DNS – Domain Name System translates names into an IP addresses
- Fault Tolerance – is an ability of a system to continue perform his functions when one or more of its components has failed
- Frame – is a data packed of fixed or variable length. It consists of header frame synchronization, payload, and trailer
- FTP – File Transfer Protocol is a network protocol used to transfer data from one computer to another through a network
- Full Duplex – is a system that allows communication in both directions at the same time. Example, land-line phone
- Half Duplex – is a system that allows communication in both directions by only in one direction at a time. Example, a "walkie-talkie" style two-way radio
- HTML – Hyper Text Markup Language for web pages
- HTTP – Hypertext Transfer Protocol – is a communication protocol that transfers information on the World Wide Web
- Hub – a device for connecting multiple twisted pair or fiber optic Ethernet devices together, making them act as a single network segment
- Internet – is a worldwide, public series of interconnected computer networks that transmit data using Internet Protocol
- Intranet – is a private computer network that uses Internet Protocol to securely share part of an organization’s information or operations with its employees
- IP Address – is a unique address that certain electronic devices such as computers use in order to communicate with each other on a computer network
- IP Telephony – Voice over Internet Protocol optimized for the transmission of Voice through the Internet
- LAN – Local Area Network – is a computer network covering a small geographic area (home, office, building)
- MAC – Media Access Control address, also known as hardware address is a unique identifier attached to Network Interface Cards
- RAM – Random Access Memory is a type of computer data storage where the information is lost after the power is switched off
- Multicast – is where you simultaneously transmit a message to a group of computers on a network
- OS – Operating System is the software that manages the resources of a computer
- OSI Model – Open System Interconnection Basic Reference Model is a layered, abstract description for communications and computer network protocol design; it’s 7 layers are: Physical Layer, Data Link Layer, Network Layer, Transport Layer, Session Layer, Presentation Layer, and Application Layer
- Protocol – is a set of rules that controls connection, communication, and data transfer between two computing endpoints
- Repeater – is a device that retransmits a signal at a higher level or power
- RJ-45 – Registered Jack – is a standardized physical interface for connecting computer networking equipment
- Routers – a device that controls data packets forwarding between different networks
- Routing – is a process of moving data packets from source to destination
- Server – is an application or a device that performs services for connected client
- Switch – is a device that connects network segments
- TCP/IP – Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol is a set of communications protocols that implement the protocol stack on which the Internet runs
- Telnet – it stands for Telecommunication Network; It is a network protocol used in Internet and LAN connections
- Unicast – is where you transmit a message to a single computer on a network
- VPN – Virtual Private Network is a communications network tunnel through another network, dedicated for a specific network
- WAN – Wide Area Network is a computer network that covers a broad area
Are there any important IT terms that aren’t listed here? Feel free to add yours in the comments below!
Related Posts:
- Top 5 Job Interview Tips for IT Professionals
- Get Your Dream IT Job! 77 Questions You Need to be Ready For
- Basic Networking Protocols Part 1
- 10 Tips to Writing an IT Resume that Sells
- Sweet Friday Link Love — IT Career Tips
- Basic Networking Protocols Part 2
- Networking Basics: TCP, UDP, TCP/IP & OSI models
9 Responses to “IT Job Interview Tips: Know Your IT Terminology”
Vicheka TAT Says:
April 25th, 2008 at 3:57 am
Thanks your for this tips, It is very important for us before go to interview. Simetimes we don’t think about these points.
Sahil Says:
April 26th, 2008 at 12:48 am
HI thanks it is really useful information . we all must brush up this terminology b4 we get for Any interview
Sahil
Jakirul Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Thank you very much for IT jobs interview tips. Really This tips very helpful for us.
Cosmin Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
C’mon, it’s ridiculous. If a candidate/aplicant for a IT job doesn’t know these very basic terms, I suggest to try applying in a different industry segment.
zainabu Says:
August 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I am so happy for you to remind us of these termininology once more. Thanks. God Bless.
dadiaus misiani Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 6:23 am
i am so grateful for your tips. I think these are some of the most basic tips we shuld know before rushing to an interview.
hey guys you should have all this at your finger tips
eshetu merid Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 6:31 am
some interviw words are like related to security to day on network system security is one of the basic things that any IT person to know term like firewall,voulebility threst, trojan, hardware firewall like cisco pix etc…,software firewall like ISA server,Antivirus type, what dose mean by perimetr network,DMZ zone etc
I will write more on the next time you don’t disapere
see you
Eshetu
Martin Ram Rattan Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
This is a wonderful site:
Please put as much info as possible: This is really great!
I really needed this kind of help from many years. My Resume doesn’t seam to get past most hiring agents and sometimes I blunder with the very few Interviews that i get.
I really need to study all these very carefully before getting an interview and possibly a job.
Thankx a million times.
Keep Up
Pete Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Good stuff, do one for protocols too. I went to an interview where they asked me what DNS, PPP, DFS, TCP/IP, DHCP……… meant. Crazy interview and it tee’d him off that I knew them all so when he said, “and finally, what does PPP mean?” I purposely got it wrong and that made him happy.