Before you apply

  • A government photo ID, and documents that show you can work in the US
  • Reliable transportation to the site (many are outside town)
  • Ready for a background check, and in many cases a drug test
  • Comfortable with nights, weekends and long shifts, at least at first
  • A phone that's on: employers often hire whoever answers first
  • One certificate started or done: CompTIA A+ for IT work, or OSHA 10 for site work

Résumé words that match data center job ads

Use the ones that are true for you. Retail, warehouse and military experience count more than you'd think.

Hardware troubleshootingRacking and stacking Cable managementFiber and copper cabling Ticketing systemsFollowing procedures OSHA 10CompTIA A+ Inventory and asset trackingSafety compliance Shift workLifting and moving equipment

Common data center technician interview questions

These are typical practice questions for entry-level roles, not questions from a specific company. Practice saying your answers out loud.

  1. Walk me through how you'd replace a failed hard drive in a server.
  2. A server won't power on. What do you check first?
  3. What's the difference between copper and fiber cabling?
  4. Why do data centers label every cable?
  5. Tell me about a time you followed a procedure exactly, even when a shortcut looked faster.
  6. How do you stay safe around live electrical equipment?
  7. Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work. What did you do next?
  8. Are you comfortable with night, weekend and holiday shifts?
  9. How do you keep track of several tasks during a busy shift?
  10. Why do you want to work in a data center?

Tip: for the "tell me about a time" questions, describe the situation, what you did, and how it turned out. Keep it under two minutes.

Getting ready for shift work

  • Plan your sleep before your first night shift, not after
  • Bring water and food; you may be far from anywhere open at 3 am
  • Ask what to wear. Many sites require closed-toe or safety shoes
  • Learn the site's safety rules on day one and follow them every time

Find training near you