Top 20 Interview Questions & Answers for Incident Management – 2025

Preparing for an incident management job interview? This guide provides a list of essential questions and answers that will help you showcase your skills in handling and resolving unexpected incidents. Whether you’re applying for a role as an incident manager, incident responder, or crisis manager, these questions cover all key areas of the job.

General Questions

• 1. Tell us about your previous experience in incident management.
  Answer: I have been working in incident management for 5 years now. I started as an incident responder and have worked my way up to become an incident manager. Throughout my career, I have handled a variety of incidents such as cyber attacks, natural disasters, and system failures.
• 2. How do you prioritize incidents?
  Answer: I prioritize incidents based on their impact and urgency. I assess the severity of the incident, its potential impact on the organization, and the resources needed to resolve it. I then prioritize the incidents accordingly.
• 3. How do you communicate with stakeholders during an incident?
  Answer: During an incident, I communicate with stakeholders through clear and concise updates. I provide regular status updates, communicate any changes to the incident response plan, and ensure all stakeholders are aware of the current situation and their roles.
• 4. How do you handle high-pressure situations during incidents?
  Answer: I remain calm and focused during high-pressure situations. I rely on my training and experience to make quick and informed decisions. I also delegate tasks to team members to effectively manage the situation.
• 5. Can you walk us through your experience with conducting post-incident analysis?
  Answer: After resolving an incident, I conduct a thorough post-incident analysis to identify any weaknesses in the response plan and make improvements for future incidents. I gather feedback from my team and stakeholders, analyze data and incident reports, and implement any necessary changes.

Behavioral Questions

• 6. Tell us about a time when you had to handle multiple incidents simultaneously.
  Answer: In my previous role, I was the incident manager for a large financial institution. We experienced a cyber attack while also dealing with a natural disaster in one of our data centers. I quickly prioritized the incidents and delegated tasks to my team to efficiently manage both situations.
• 7. How do you handle conflicts within your incident response team?
  Answer: In my experience, conflicts often arise during high-pressure situations. I address conflicts by talking to the team members involved and understanding their perspectives. I am also open to suggestions and willing to compromise for the greater good of the incident response.
• 8. How do you handle incidents that involve external stakeholders?
  Answer: When dealing with external stakeholders, I maintain open and transparent communication. I provide regular updates, involve the stakeholders in decision-making, and ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.
• 9. Tell us about a time when your incident response plan failed and how you handled it.
  Answer: During a major IT system failure, our incident response plan was not able to resolve the issue. I quickly reassessed the situation, delegated new roles and tasks to my team, and came up with a new plan that successfully resolved the issue.
• 10. How do you handle incidents that require urgent attention outside of normal working hours?
  Answer: As an incident manager, I understand the importance of being available 24/7. I have a plan in place for after-hours incidents that involves having an on-call rotation among team members and providing them with all the necessary information and resources to handle incidents efficiently.

Situational Questions

• 11. How would you handle an incident that was caused by employee negligence?
  Answer: I would first investigate the incident to gather all the necessary information. I would then work with the HR department to provide additional training for the employee to prevent future incidents. In severe cases, I would take necessary disciplinary actions.
• 12. How would you handle an incident that involves a third-party vendor?
  Answer: I would work closely with the vendor to understand the cause of the incident and collaborate on a solution. I would also review the contract to ensure all responsibilities and expectations are clear in case of any future incidents.
• 13. What would you do if an incident occurs and you do not have the necessary resources available?
  Answer: In such a situation, I would first assess the impact of the incident and involve key stakeholders to find alternative resources. If necessary, I would also consider outsourcing for additional support.
• 14. How would you handle an incident that involves sensitive data or a security breach?
  Answer: I would first isolate and contain the incident to prevent further damage. I would then follow the organization’s incident response plan and involve the necessary teams and authorities to mitigate the impact and protect sensitive data.
• 15. How would you handle a situation where an employee is resistant to following the incident response plan?
  Answer: I would first listen to the employee’s concerns and try to understand their perspective. I would then explain the importance of following the response plan and provide them with necessary support and resources to carry out their role effectively.

Technical Questions

• 16. What are the key elements of an incident response plan?
  Answer: The key elements include identification and classification of incidents, communication and stakeholder management, containment and eradication of incidents, recovery and restoration, and post-incident analysis.
• 17. What tools and techniques do you use for incident management?
  Answer: I am proficient in using incident management tools such as ticketing systems, communication platforms, and project management software. I also have experience with incident response frameworks like NIST and ISO 27001.
• 18. How do you prioritize critical systems during an incident?
  Answer: I prioritize critical systems based on their impact on the organization and its operations. I also take into account the potential financial and reputational damage that could occur if the system is not restored.
• 19. How do you handle incidents involving cloud-based systems?
  Answer: I handle cloud-based incidents by working closely with the provider to gather information and assess the situation. I also have a contingency plan in place in case of outages or data breaches.
• 20. What steps do you take to prevent future incidents?
  Answer: I conduct regular vulnerability assessments and risk management exercises to identify potential areas of weakness. I also review and update our incident response plan regularly, provide training to employees on cybersecurity best practices, and stay informed about the latest security threats and solutions.