Top 30 Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Interview Questions and Answers for 2019

Introduction  

Reaching the top in the world of technology is no mean feat, and technologically speaking, there aren’t many spots higher than that of Chief Technology Officer within an organization. Larger companies normally have this role open for senior executives that have the skills, knowledge and foresight to help them take the company to the next level on the technological front. Some smaller startups with a technological focus also have the role of CTO available, although this is likely to be more of a hands-on role with programming and coding duties.

The role of CTO is an executive function, which means that it is a top senior role with lots of pressure and responsibility placed on the individual. While it is a technical role, it is not always a hands-on position — especially if the company is large and well-established. Smaller companies with smaller budgets may require their staff to perform many different roles, so be aware of the requirements of the CTO post that you are applying for ahead of time.

The CTO also needs to be aware of all aspects of the company, including its financials. This is so that the forward planning for the organization’s technological needs can be catered for in all time horizons (Short, Medium and Long-Term).

The following sample questions are the kind you might find if you were to sit in on a CTO interview and listen to it play out. It has been divided into three different sections: Opening Questions, Technical Questions and Final Questions. They start off with personal- and individual-styled questions and then move on to technical background and understanding. Finally the closing questions focus more on the running and planning of the technical side of a company and how the methodologies and techniques that the candidate has learned (Read more...)