We’ve reported plenty advice we’ve heard about how to interview for a job at a startup. There are even panel events devoted to the issue fairly often.
Expect things to get even tougher if you’re a tech-savvy person who wants to work on groundbreaking projects.
To give you an edge, we’re going to find the interviewers at Austin’s coolest companies and ask them straight out what the test will be about.
We talked to Raj Patel (shown below), who is the senior manager of software development, cloud orchestration, and ServerMill at
Interviews that happen on site always include the hiring manager and the developers of the team.
“The development team needs to be involved in the interviews so that we can see how well they fit in with the team and company culture, as well as their technical skills, aptitude, and passion, which is one of Rackspace’s core values,” Patel said. Rackspace also wants to make sure that every candidate has a good time during the interview and gets to know the people they will be working with. ”.
Question #1: How would you design an application or web page that allows visitors to get time of the day? You have to keep track of unique visitors.
Raj: We ask this question to understand a candidate’s thought process. Do they understand the problem we’re trying to solve? If they don’t, do they ask more questions? Do they think about the problem before coming up with a solution? The answer tells us how much thought they put into designing before they come up with a solution.
Our follow-up question about scale tells us about the size of the systems they’ve worked on.
Question #2: If you were given one day to hack on anything, what would it be?
Raj: We ask this question to see how current are the candidates with the latest trends in technology. It also gives us an idea about which domain is the customer passionate about working. Do you think the candidate would be better at working with front end technologies (like UI) or middleware technologies?
Raj: We want to know what kinds of problems they have solved in the past. The part called “identify” tells us about how good they are at analysis, and the part called “solve” tells us about how they make software.
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Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end multicloud solutions company known for its managed services and expertise helping customers optimize their cloud environments.
With a culture built on driving innovation and an emphasis on developing talent, Rackspace aims to enable businesses to realize the promise of the cloud and digital transformation.
If you have an interview for any role at Rackspace – whether in engineering, sales, project management or more – preparation will be key to stand out amongst top applicants. This comprehensive guide explores some of the most common Rackspace interview questions along with tips and sample answers to help you shine.
Why Do You Want to Work at Rackspace?
Rackspace looks for candidates truly excited by their mission of bringing expertise and Fanatical Experience to help companies navigate the cloud and digital transformation With this common opening question, interviewers want to gauge your genuine interest and fit
Tips
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Show enthusiasm for Rackspace’s values, culture leadership principles, and commitment to innovation.
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Avoid generic answers – go beyond just having heard they are a great employer. Demonstrate deeper knowledge.
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Highlight specifically how your background aligns to the role and company vision.
Sample Answer: I’m very excited by Rackspace’s mission to help customers realize the power of multicloud platforms, which perfectly aligns with my own passions around cloud technology. Beyond just infrastructure, I’m drawn to Rackspace’s emphasis on bringing deep expertise to enable digital transformation through cloud. The culture built on driving innovation and cultivating talent also resonates with me. I feel Rackspace would be an ideal environment to contribute my skills in cloud architecture and help customers innovate, which is fulfilling work. My values are a great fit with the Rackspace Way principles as well. I’m confident I would thrive here.
How Do You Stay Current on New Technologies like Cloud, AI/ML, and Digital Transformation?
Rackspace prioritizes candidates who demonstrate constant learning and growth mindsets when it comes to rapidly evolving tech. This question reveals how hungry you are to build your technical knowledge.
Tips
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Discuss reading industry publications, blogs, taking online courses, attending conferences, and more.
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Share examples of recent skills you’ve proactively developed as technology has shifted.
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Emphasize the importance of continuous education and intellectual curiosity.
Sample Answer: I make it a priority to continually expand my technology knowledge and skills, which is crucial in such a fast-moving field. I subscribe to several industry publications and blogs like TechCrunch to stay on top of emerging tech and trends. I also pursue relevant online courses and certifications – most recently, I completed an AWS machine learning course to expand my cloud expertise. My team also hosts regular knowledge sharing sessions to discuss new technologies and applications. Beyond self-learning, I actively network at industry events and conferences to exchange ideas with other experts. An inquisitive, growth-focused mindset has been key for me to stay sharp and add value as technologies rapidly advance.
How Would You Handle a Situation Where a Client is Dissatisfied with an aspect of a Project You’re Leading?
Customer centricity and service excellence are central pillars of the Rackspace brand. For any role interacting with clients, expect scenarios probing your judgment, empathy and problem-solving when navigating dissatisfied customers.
Tips
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Demonstrate professionalism, active listening, understanding the client’s perspective and finding solutions.
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Share an example of turning around a dissatisfied client interaction.
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Emphasize upholding Rackspace’s Fanatical Experience values.
Sample Answer: If a client expressed dissatisfaction, I would first listen closely to understand their frustrations and the issues at hand. I would then apologize sincerely for any disappointment and assure them I’m committed to finding a solution. My next step would be analyzing the situation to determine the best path forward – whether that involves reworking aspects of the project, adjusting timelines or providing concessions. I believe being responsive and keeping the client’s needs at the center is key. For example, there was a situation where a client was unhappy with a software integration we had completed. I worked closely with their team to reconfigure it to their specifications and provided a discount on the work. My aim was restoring satisfaction and rebuilding trust.
How Do You Handle High-Pressure, Fast-Paced Environments?
Rackspace maintains a fast-moving, performance-driven culture even as it scales. Interviewers want to know you can handle dynamic workloads and tight deadlines without compromising excellence. This reveals your work ethic, composure and ability to thrive under pressure.
Tips
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Share examples of successfully managing high-pressure situations while maintaining quality results.
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Discuss your personal work style – organized, focused, able to manage stress well, meeting deadlines, etc.
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Emphasize being a team player willing to put in extra effort when needed.
Sample Answer: I thrive in fast-paced environments. My background in software development has conditioned me to handle dynamic workloads, shifting priorities and tight deadlines. Being highly organized is crucial for me. I make disciplined schedules and task lists to ensure everything gets done properly amidst the chaos. I also communicate frequently with team members to identify dependencies and potential roadblocks early. Remaining focused on the end goal helps me from getting overwhelmed. Most importantly, I don’t panic but rather manage stress well through mindfulness techniques. I enjoy the rapid momentum as it energizes me to deliver excellence under pressure. My team knows they can rely on me in crunchtimes.
How Do You Handle a Situation Where You Disagree With a Supervisor’s Instructions?
Rackspace promotes open communication between team members, regardless of seniority. Still, you must demonstrate respect, emotional intelligence and professionalism when disagreeing with leadership. The interviewer wants to understand your working style, critical thinking and soft skills.
Tips
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Emphasize you would approach the situation politely and focus on solutions.
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Discuss asking clarifying questions first to understand reasoning, then making suggestions if needed.
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Share an example of successfully navigating a disagreement with a past supervisor.
Sample Answer: If I disagreed with a supervisor’s instructions, I would first seek to understand their rationale and perspective fully. I may ask clarifying questions respectfully or offer my thoughts on potential problems I foresee. However, if the supervisor gives a definitive direction after discussion, I believe it’s important to comply with grace even in disagreement. I understand they have more experience and vantage to see the larger picture. In a past situation where I disagreed with a supervisor’s technical approach, I discussed my concerns politely but ultimately followed their guidance. I gained more context on the constraints they were balancing. My working style emphasizes professionalism and teamwork, especially in scenarios involving conflicting opinions.
How Do You Go Above and Beyond For a Customer?
Rackspace distinguishes itself on providing exceptional service and support beyond expectations. Recruiters dig into your innate drive to delight customers. The best answers provide real examples of you exceeding expectations rather than just stating your commitment to doing so.
Tips
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Share 1-2 specific stories of when you went above-and-beyond for a customer or client.
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Highlight how you identify unmet needs and provide unique value.
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Discuss the importance of establishing trust through outstanding service.
Sample Answer: I have a passion for understanding customers’ pain points and bringing solutions that wow them. For example, I had a client who owned several restaurants seeking help improving their site performance and SEO. Beyond just completing the website overhaul they requested, I took time to study their business goals more deeply. I identified an opportunity to build them a custom tablet app to allow mobile order-ahead at the restaurants – something competitors lacked. Though out of scope, I pitched them a complimentary prototype. They loved it and ended up hiring us to develop the app, which boosted revenue significantly. Going above-and-beyond comes naturally to me. I aim to establish lifelong trust by overdelivering value.
How Do You Motivate Team Members and Foster Collaboration?
Rackspace maintains a highly collaborative team culture where leaders empower employees. Interviewers want to understand your people management style and ability to get the best from your team.
Tips
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Discuss techniques like setting clear goals, providing development opportunities, recognizing achievements, building relationships.
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Share examples of successfully motivating and unifying teams.
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Emphasize servant leadership and bringing out strengths in individual members.
Sample Answer: I believe a leader’s role is to empower team members to excel and grow. I start by getting to know each person and their professional aspirations. I then look for opportunities to develop their skills through training and stretch assignments tailored to those interests. For example, I had one analyst interested in eventually managing projects. I brought him on as my assistant PM for several pilots to build experience. I also make sure to recognize achievements publicly in team meetings. Fostering an open, trusting culture is critical – my door is always open. Employees know I care, which motivates them. Our teams consistently meet aggressive goals through these motivational and collaborative practices.
How Do You Prioritize Tasks When Everything Seems High Priority?
Ambiguity and shifting priorities are common at fast-scaling companies like Rackspace. Recruiters want to assess how you stay focuse
My interview with Rackspace wasn’t about skill | Stream Highlight – September 5th
FAQ
How many rounds of interview in Rackspace?
Why should we hire you?
What is common technical interview questions?
How long is the interview process at Rackspace technology?
I interviewed at Rackspace Technology One interview, got offer after one month. It lasts one hour. Two interviewers. It is not easy and they ask deep and detailed questions. But the questions are meaningful. And I received offer after one month. Detail of building an API. I applied online. The process took 3 weeks.
What questions did they ask during the interview at Rackspace?
I interviewed at Rackspace Technology Interviews were nice, they asked me couple of technical questions mostly related to Azure and general security topics. Next interview was with the hiring manager. No surprises, just the well known stuff.
How long does it take to get a job at Rackspace?
The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Rackspace Technology in Jan 2024 One small call with the recruiter. He arranged the interview after multiple reminders. One technical round which was over Zoom. Never got any reply from the recruiter post that – no feedback, no result.
