In the modern world, data is pervasive, and businesses are always looking for new ways to use it to guide their decisions. The need for experts who can handle and analyze big data has increased as a result. Big data positions are among the most sought-after in the tech sector, and getting hired there requires acing an interview.
However, the process of landing a big data job can be challenging, as interviewers will be looking to evaluate your knowledge and skills. A big data analyst certification can improve your chances, but you also need to prepare yourself with some questions for your interview. Therefore, if you have an interview coming up, don’t fret.
We are here to help you prepare for a big data interview, we have compiled a list of the most common big data interview questions and how to answer them.
Top Big Data Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
A typical interview may combine both technical and general knowledge questions to gauge your knowledge and skills. Here are some highly probable big data interview questions that you should prepare-
- What is Big Data and how does it differ from traditional data?
This question is usually asked to gauge your understanding of big data technology and how informed you are about its nuances. To answer it, you need to provide an articulated description of big data as a large volume of structured and unstructured data that cannot be processed using traditional data processing methods. You can then highlight the main differences between big data and traditional data, such as variety, volume and velocity.
- How relevant is Big Data in India?
This is one of those big data interview questions aimed at assessing your knowledge of how big data is being used in the country and how useful it is. To answer it, you can highlight some of the industries in India that are leveraging the unlimited potential of big data, such as healthcare, e-commerce, finance and banking. You can also talk about how Indian organisations are using big data to make data-driven decisions and acquire a competitive edge.
- What role does big data play in refining a company’s functions?
This question is aimed at evaluating your awareness of the many benefits of big data for companies. The interviewer wants to know whether you can channel the power of big data for their company. To answer it, you can discuss how big data can be used to improve customer experience, enhance decision-making and streamline business operations. You can also give examples of how big data can help companies optimize supply chain management, reduce costs and identify market trends.
- What innovations do you see happening in Big Data in the Indian context in the future?
This is one of the crucial big data interview questions aimed at assessing your knowledge of the future of big data in India. To answer it, you can discuss some of the emerging trends in big data, such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and machine learning. You can also talk about how big data is expected to evolve in the Indian context, such as the increasing use of big data for cybersecurity, fraud detection and social media analytics.
- How can data security and privacy be ensured in Big Data?
This question is aimed at assessing your knowledge of data privacy and security concerns related to big data. You must know how you can protect your company from any security risks. To answer it, you can discuss the various measures that can be taken to ensure data privacy and security, such as data encryption, access control, and data anonymization. You can also talk about the importance of adhering to data protection and privacy regulations, such as the Indian IT Act etc.
- What different components constitute the Hadoop ecosystem?
This is one of the technical big data interview questions aimed at assessing your knowledge of the Hadoop ecosystem. You can answer it by defining Hadoop as an open-source framework for storing and processing large datasets. Also mention the core components of Hadoop like MapReduce, YARN (Yet Another Resource Negotiator) and HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System).
- What is MapReduce and how does it work?
You need to know how to use MapReduce for your new company. To answer big data interview questions like this, you should explain how MapReduce is a programming model for processing large datasets. Mention that it works by breaking down a task into smaller sub-tasks, processing them in parallel, and compiling the results to produce the final output.
- What is HDFS and how does it work?
Your new company might need you to use HDFS. To answer this question, you should define it as a distributed file system used by Hadoop to store large datasets across multiple machines. Explain how HDFS works by breaking down large datasets into blocks and distributing them across machines in the cluster.
- How does Apache Spark vary from Hadoop?
You should tackle technical big data interview questions like this intelligently. To answer this question, you can explain how Apache Spark differs from Hadoop by highlighting its features like real-time and in-memory processing, and support for several programming languages. It is a good idea to begin by explaining both concepts first.
- What is a data warehouse and how is it different from a data lake?
You need to be prepared to answer technical big-data interview questions like these. To answer it, you can define a data warehouse as a relational and structured database that is optimized for reporting and querying. While a data lake is a storage repository that retains raw data in its original format until it is required.
The Bottom Line
Big data is a fast-developing sector and the need for qualified experts is rising with it. It can be difficult to prepare for a big data interview, but you can improve your chances of success by becoming familiar with the most typical big data interview questions and how to respond to them.
