7 IoT Interview Questions for Freshers and Experienced Candidates

No matter what side of the process you’re on, these Internet of Things (IoT) interview questions can help you prepare for your interview. If you’re hiring an IoT architect, developer, or other professional, these questions can help you understand what to ask and what to look for in an answer. If you’re looking for your next job in an IoT career, use these questions to help you refresh your knowledge and practice well-reasoned answers. 

IoT interview questions and answers for freshers

Many IT careers involve a working knowledge of IoT, even if the job isn’t specifically in the Internet of Things technology field. These questions help candidates demonstrate a working knowledge of how IoT technology works and the benefits and risks associated with it. 

1. How does IoT work?

What they’re really asking

A basic question like this can open the conversation and reveal your knowledge level and communication ability. The ease with which you explain IoT may indicate how much of an expert you are on the subject. If you struggle to verbalise the answer, it may suggest to your employer that you’re still learning about IoT. 

How to answer

IoT allows any powered object to become a connected device, able to collect and share information using sensors and wireless signals. It works through applications built specifically to solve a problem in an Internet of Things platform, usually accessed through a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other devices. This allows for smart technology in a range of objects, such as window shades, microwaves, and lamps, that wouldn’t otherwise be able to collect or share data. 

Similar questions

• What is the Internet of Things?

• What makes IoT possible?

2. What are the components of IoT?

What they’re really asking

In asking this question, the interviewer wants to hear you verbalise the five pieces of technology that make IoT possible. But they want to know how confident you are about your knowledge of IoT. The answer lies in how proficient you are in answering these technical questions. 

How to answer

You will want to mention the components needed for Internet of Things technology to function. Examples of components to mention include: 

• Object: The “thing” in “Internet of Things”

• Gateway: The connection between the object and the cloud provides some security 

• Cloud: where The data is stored in a server accessible through the internet

• Processing: The ability to sort the data and find patterns powered by algorithms 

• User interface: The place where the user interacts with the data and object

Similar Questions

• How many parts does IoT require?

• What is required between the object and the user interface to make IoT possible?

3. What security risks does IoT introduce?

What they’re really asking

The real question is, do you understand how your work affects the company’s interests and how you will protect them? 

How to answer

IoT introduced a range of security risks for several reasons. First, any time you connect a device to the Internet, you expose another route for bad actors to get in. IoT devices lack robust security protocols, which makes them more vulnerable to attack. Further, the more connected devices in an environment, the more complicated the connections are, making it even more difficult to manage and protect all those devices. 

Remote work has also contributed to the security risks of IoT. A global push to work remotely happened without the luxury of time to consider best practices. This opened up secure information to a connected office and every connected device in every employee's home. Managing these security risks is an important part of an IoT administrator’s role. 

Similar questions

• How do you minimise security risks with IoT?

• How does IoT increase vulnerability?

4. What are the benefits and advantages of IoT?

What they’re really asking

What parts of IoT do you find exciting or challenging? This question offers insight into the sort of things you as a person find exciting or challenging, which in turn helps your interviewer decide if you’re a good fit for company culture. 

How to answer

The main advantage of IoT is that it collects data in places where it was impossible to collect data before. An example in a home might be a connected refrigerator that can create a shopping list for you based on items that have run out or are set to expire. In a commercial setting, IoT technology can help save money by turning off lights when areas aren’t in use or monitoring traffic patterns to maximise marketing efforts. 

Similar questions

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of IoT?

• How can IoT help companies?

5. What are some of the different types of sensors used in IoT?

What they’re really asking

Answering this question will give insight into your confidence in the subject matter. It will also allow you to discuss the projects you’ve worked on. 

How to answer

Go beyond a list of sensors and talk about which sensors were needed in past projects you worked on in uni, a job, or on your own to give your interviewer a better sense of your experience. Types of sensors include:

• Temperature sensors

• Motion sensors

• Chemical sensors

• Humidity sensors

• Gas sensors 

• Acceleration sensors

• Proximity sensors

• Infrared sensors

• And more 

Similar questions

• What kind of data can IoT collect? 

• How does IoT collect data from its environment?

IoT interview questions for experienced candidates

Candidates must demonstrate a higher understanding of the Internet of Things in a position above entry level. These next questions are designed to understand more nuanced skill levels and approaches towards IoT for experienced candidates. 

6. What challenges does current IoT technology need to overcome? 

What they’re really asking

An interviewer asking this question wants to know whether you have enough experience with IoT to have formed opinions about its adoption and current use. A well-reasoned answer can help demonstrate your experience with IoT technology. 

How to answer

An experienced Internet of Things professional should be able to name and explain some of the challenges and limitations of the technology. This could include security challenges, such as lack of encryption or the challenges arising from the rushed nature of releasing new IoT devices to the market. Security challenges also arise from the user end, partly due to how complicated connections can become in an IoT environment. 

Experienced candidates may also point to design challenges in IoT devices, such as how expensive they are to create or the sacrifices made to accommodate smart technology. A candidate may also discuss complications that arise from connectivity and data collection. 

Similar questions

• How could current IoT technology improve?

• What would you like to see improved in the future of IoT?

7. What are the latest trends in IoT?

What they’re really asking

This question is helpful for an interviewer to measure the applicant's knowledge of what’s happening in IoT right now. Keeping up with trends and the latest information helps demonstrate that the candidate is interested in becoming an IoT expert if they aren’t already. 

How to answer

Here are some of the trends that a candidate might mention:

• IoT and smart cities

• IoT and manufacturing 

• IoT and health care

• IoT and big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence

• IoT and customer service

• Security trends 

• Trends in consumer behaviour

• IoT and the global supply chain 

• IoT and remote learning

• IoT and blockchain

• IoT-enabled smart applications

Smart devices are becoming more common in India, with many individuals investing in household items such as smart locks, video doorbells, fitness trackers, and more. Knowledge of emerging trends and common examples of IoT may help you stand out to employers and show you are up-to-date with emerging technologies.

Similar questions

• How is IoT technology creating smart cities?

• What is the future of IoT and blockchain?

• How does IoT enable smarter applications?

Next steps

Although practising for an interview can help prepare you, the right education is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate your skills. If your resume lacks IoT credentials, a Post Graduate Certificate in 5G Technology and IoT from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee on Coursera will show employers you’re qualified for the job.