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!

5 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.

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