10 Interview Questions About PowerShell (With Sample Answers)
Systems administrators and IT workers usually take care of all of a company’s computers and other devices. IT professionals often use programs like PowerShell to automate important tasks on all the devices connected to a wide area network. This helps them do their jobs better and saves them time. If you want a job as an IT administrator or helpdesk support specialist, you might want to learn more about the program PowerShell so you can answer questions about it in an interview. In this article, we explain what PowerShell is, share 10 common interview questions and answers about this program, and give you tips to help you do well in your next interview.
How do you use PowerShell?
PowerShell is a popular open-source tool that can be used on many different platforms to automate tasks. This program has a command line shell, a way to manage configurations, and a scripting language that works on Linux, Windows, and macOS devices. IT professionals use PowerShell to save time and automate tasks they do over and over again. IT pros can also use PowerShell to make scripts and tools that work well without having to become experts in software design.
10 questions about PowerShell, with answers as examples
Here are 10 possible PowerShell interview questions and answers from professionals to help you prepare:
1. What are some of the biggest differences between PowerShell and other programs?
Every day, IT managers usually use more than one piece of software. You can show that you have worked with PowerShell before by explaining how it is different from other programs and what its main features are.
Example: “PowerShell’s use of objects instead of text is one of its most interesting features. This lets IT professionals use commands to get straight to the properties of an object. It’s also easy to change how commands work with PowerShell. Last but not least, this program is both a command line interpreter and a place to write scripts.”
2.How are PowerShell variables used?
Even though this question may seem simple, your answer tells the hiring manager enough about how comfortable you are with PowerShell and how well you can store data. Start by explaining what a variable is, and then list some things you can store in it.
Example: “A variable is like a piece of memory where information can be stored. I store values like strings, integers, and objects in variables so I can get to them quickly later.”
3.Can you explain what scripting in PowerShell is?
PowerShell scripting is important to understand. Explain what PowerShell scripting is and how IT professionals use it in simple, clear language.
Example: “In PowerShell, programming files are made up of separate lines with a list of commands. When you work with a script file, the file name ends in.ps1. IT professionals can run PowerShell scripts faster by typing commands in a text editor, saving the file with the.ps1 extension, and then running the file.”
4. What is a “while loop” in PowerShell?
IT professionals use loops when they want to run a group of commands more than once. Hiring managers might ask you this question to see if you know how to use loops and what each type of loop does.
Example: “A “while loop” is an entry-controlled loop that runs commands in order as long as a given condition is true. Many IT experts use “while loops” instead of “for statements” because the syntax is easier to understand.”
5.What kinds of brackets can you use in PowerShell?
IT pros use three different kinds of brackets in PowerShell: parenthesis brackets, braces brackets, and square brackets. Give a short explanation of why you might want to use each of these brackets.
Example: “PowerShell knows how to use three different kinds of brackets: parenthesis brackets, braces brackets, and square brackets. IT professionals usually use curved parentheses for arguments that have to be there and curly braces for arguments that can’t be there. Some IT pros use square brackets to define optional items, but they are not as common as parenthesis brackets and brace brackets.”
6. What is the biggest difference between CIM and WMI?
IT administrators and people who work at help desks deal with a wide range of devices and operating systems. Hiring managers may ask you this question to find out if you are comfortable working on both Windows and non-Windows platforms.
Example: “WMI stands for Windows management instrumentation, which is also known as WMI. WMI only works on Windows devices because Microsoft made it. A group called CMTF made the common information model (CIM). The WMI model doesn’t work on any platform, but this one does.”
7.Why would you use a hash table in PowerShell?
Data is stored in a “hash table,” which is an array. Tell us how making a hash table for a project can help you and make the way you work better in your answer.
Example: “Hash tables can be used as dictionaries, which makes them useful. In a hash table, I use a key-value pair to store information. This saves me time and makes it easy for me to find important information quickly at work.”
8. Why is it important to debug scripts?
Script debugging is an important part of PowerShell that you should learn how to use. This is a question that hiring managers might ask to see if you know how to use this process. Think about how script debugging can help your workflow and the project as a whole.
Example: “Scripting debugging is important because it lets IT professionals quickly look at scripts, commands, functions, and expressions as they run. This helps us find mistakes, keep model scripts up to date, and improve performance.”
9. Explain how you would make an array using PowerShell.
Arrays are important for IT professionals because they let them run scripts on computers that are far away. Hiring managers might ask you this question to see if you know how to make arrays and to find out how you think.
Example: “When I create an array, I always start by creating a unique variable. Then, I tell the array to use this variable by writing “@” in front of it. A good example is $abbmachine = @. Then, I store the names of the machines in a hash table that doesn’t have curly braces, like $abbmachine = @(“machine1”, “machine2″).”
10.Can you tell me about the different ways PowerShell can be run?
The execution policies of PowerShell tell it how to load configuration files and run scripts. A hiring manager might ask you this question to see if you know when to use different execution policies.
Example: “IT pros can do their jobs with PowerShell’s six execution policies. The first is called AllSigned, and I use it when I only want to run scripts that have been digitally signed by a publisher I trust. The second one is called RemoteSigned, and it lets PowerShell run scripts that were written on a local computer. The program can run single commands, but it can’t run scripts because of the restricted execution policy.
If I’m working on a PowerShell script that is part of a larger application, I might choose to use the bypass execution policy, which doesn’t show prompts or warnings. The default policy for most computers that don’t run Windows is to be open. Scripts that haven’t been signed are run by it. Lastly, if there is no set execution policy, the execution policy is not set.”
Tips for an interview
Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your next IT administrator or helpdesk support specialist job interview:
- Think about what you already know. It’s important to review the basic ideas and technical concepts behind PowerShell and other popular IT programs, whether you’re new to the IT field or have been a systems administrator for years. Get ready to talk about simple ways to set up different technologies and deal with problems when they arise.
- Click here to get the most recent version of PowerShell. Make sure you have the most recent version of PowerShell installed so you can understand how technology works today. Use this program a lot to get used to its new features and functions.
- Prepare to talk about changes over time. You can show that you have experience and make a good impression on hiring managers by talking about how IT systems and programs have changed over time. Think about how PowerShell is different from other programs you’ve used or learned about in your career.
- Provide examples. Even though it’s important to answer interview questions correctly, giving an example of how you’ve used your knowledge of different IT concepts at work can help you show off your skills and get more work experience. Think about some projects or solutions you’ve worked on or made using PowerShell and other popular IT programs.
