29 Lumen Technologies Interview Questions & Answers (2024)

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

1st Answer Example

"From the time I graduated high school I know that I wanted to pursue Systems Engineering. I was able to graduate with the undergrad degree in Systems Engineering and took the first role I landed right out of the gate with AT&T. My work there withing the NOC was so rewarding, and I was happy to be able to be promoted from an associate-level engineer, all the way to a Sr. Engineering Manager during my 15-year tenure with the company. In my search for new roles, I became interested in Lumen because your company is utilizing cutting edge technology and the growth opportunity within Cloud technology is exactly what I am seeking."

2nd Answer Example

"My job history is testament to the fact that it took me some time to determine what it is that I wanted to do long-term. I went from the service industry to cable laying to retail before finally finding my calling within telecom helpdesk. This career path has allowed me to combine my communication and interpersonal skills with my technical knowledge and I have greatly enjoyed my year within the industry. My current role is a contracted position, ending next month, and I am looking to join Lumen to continue my trajectory and begin to build some tenure and consistency within my career."

How to Answer

1st Answer Example

"I believe I could improve on some technical skills including Excel and PowerPoint. Currently I am at a beginner to intermediate level; however, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level. I have enrolled myself in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. We will see how stellar my skills are after that course!"

2nd Answer Example

"This is super cliche, but it's also true. I am not good at delegating to others. When I become submerged in a project, I don't like to give away any of the control. While this can be good, it can also definitely inhibit the outcome of the project and my growth as a team player and individual.
I am currently working on this, as I know it is a deficit."

How to Answer

Every employer wants to know that you would give the professional cutesy of proper notice to your current employer. Keep your answer short and sweet, avoiding going down any rabbit hole surrounding your notice period.

1st Answer Example

"I would like to give my current employer the professional courtesy of 2 weeks' notice. I can begin immediately after that."

2nd Answer Example

If you have a vacation booked, this is the perfect time to discuss that as well. "I am on vacation until December 27th and can begin immediately after that."

How to Answer

The interviewer wants to hear that you feel accomplished through teamwork. Talk about a time when you felt fulfilled through a team setting or project collaboration. An example may be a time when you worked on a team project in University, a recent work collaboration, or possibly an extracurricular experience such as coaching a little league team. Discuss the positive results of the teamwork and how you attained a positive outcome as a group.

1st Answer Example

"The most rewarding teamwork experience that I have had was in my last year of university. We were assigned a project in teams of 4 which accounted for quite a large part of our grade. I believe everyone pulled more than their weight because so much was at stake. Teamwork is very rewarding when everyone has something to win, or lose."

2nd Answer Example

"My current team is made up of 4 incredibly talented mechanics and three knowledgeable sales experts. I find every day to be incredibly rewarding because my team is like a well-oiled machine. I can count on them, and they can count on me."

How to Answer

It always puts a little bit of fire under the hiring manager if the are aware that you are actively looking for a new position. Tell the interviewer about your search so far.

1st Answer Example

"I am keeping an eye out for viable positions. Although I am not in final stages with any other company, I am actively seeking a new position."

2nd Answer Example

"I am actively seeking a new opportunity; however, will be choosy in my final decision. I am very excited about this opportunity with Lumen Technologies and look forward to next steps in the interview process."

How to Answer

Remaining level-headed and staying professional is what the interviewer is looking for in your example. Give an example of how your excellent communication skills allowed you to handle a difficult client. If you haven’t had an experience with a problematic client, explain how you would handle the situation.

1st Answer Example

"In my current position I am faced with challenging clients on a daily basis. I seem to always come to a good resolution by using my gift of gab. I ask questions and actively listen. A recent example would be when a very unhappy customer called in, wanting to speak with the manager. Our manager was away, and I was the next best person for her to speak with. By listening and accepting responsibility for the company's actions, I was able to calm her down. We came to a solution that was great for everyone, and I was sure to follow up with her actively."

2nd Answer Example

"I had a client call saying that we delivered a defective piece of merchandise valued at over $30k. Understandably, he was livid. He was threatening to not only stop doing business with us but also make sure no one else in his company or his contacts in the industry would give us the time of day. This was one of my best customers, previously, so it was a rough phone call. I immediately took responsibility and asked pointed questions to try to get to the root of what was defective about the item, and assured him over and over that we would make it right. I went into a conference room, bringing the COO and Director of Ops with me, and we all assured him how we valued his business and would be sure to make it right. Not only that, we would put steps in place to ensure this type of thing did not slip through QA again. Ultimately, we had a satisfied customer who went on to grow in business volume and praised how we remedied the situation."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

The best way to discuss your salary expectations is to use your current earnings as an example. Be open, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary based questions arise.

1st Answer Example

"Currently, I earn a base salary of $45,000 per year plus a potential 20% annual bonus. Last year my earnings were $52,000, and I would like to stay in the same range or slightly higher."

2nd Answer Example

"I am currently making $100,000 per year with two bonus opportunities. I am looking for compensation that is aligned with the role and provides an opportunity for growth."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

In addition to compensation, there are many other factors to a fulfilling career. Talk to the interviewer about other factors that are important to you when considering a new job.

1st Answer Example

"Salary is important to me because I know that I am skilled and well educated. With that said, I do look at the full picture which includes factors such as benefits, work-life balance, perks, and company culture."

2nd Answer Example

"Several factors are important to me when taking a job. Compensation is a driving component of that along with company mission, culture, benefits, and location."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

When a change occurs in the workplace, often problems arise due to new procedures being implemented, or unforeseen kinks needing to be worked out. Do you approach these problems positively or do you resist the change? Talk to the interviewer about how you can adapt to the inevitable issues that come with a change in the workplace.

1st Answer Example

"I fully understand that when a change occurs in the workplace, some new problems may arise because of it. I embrace workplace change because it often gives me the opportunity to learn a new skill or even teach a colleague a new skill."

2nd Answer Example

"I like to approach every day and situation as an opportunity to learn and grow, so even though it's uncomfortable, I like to think that there's something valuable to take away from the situation."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

Not everyone has a mission statement or personal mantra just off the cuff. In business, especially when entering leadership, this is an important question to ponder. Do you have a quote that inspires you or a saying that you grew up with that resonates with you?

1st Answer Example

"My mantra is that 'people who shine from within do not need the spotlight.' I feel that it is incredibly important to be a humble leader and I take this mission statement very seriously. I want my team to be in the spotlight rather than being the kind of leader that takes credit for good work."

2nd Answer Example

"My mission is to give my best 100% of the time. It's important to me that I have a great reputation in this industry through hard work and a positive attitude."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

Being in a management role is always a significant challenge. Share with the interviewer what you feel is the most challenging part of being a manager, and why. Also, discuss what you are currently doing to make this task less stressful in the future.

1st Answer Example

"As a manager, the most difficult task for me is to delegate the work evenly. You will always have team members who are absolute rockstars, then some who are a bit less enthusiastic or are lower producers. I have to remind myself to distribute the work and responsibilities evenly despite my natural inclination to give more work to the high performers. I am currently working with my underperforming team members to prepare them for a larger workload."

2nd Answer Example

"Working with people and being responsible for business operations are two of my favorite things. It can be easy to get caught up in these important aspects and forget to carve out time regularly to develop - myself and my team. I have set reminders and triggers to help me stay focused on doing this in the background."

How to Answer

Culture fit is a significant factor when looking for a new position. Talk to the interviewer about the types of personalities that you best work with. Be sure to remain positive and avoid using this as an opportunity to speak poorly of previous colleagues.

1st Answer Example

"I best enjoy working with individuals who are driven, positive, energetic, and take accountability for their work. I do have the ability to work with a large variety of individuals; however, these are the ideal traits I would see in future colleagues."

2nd Answer Example

"I enjoy working with people who are driven to succeed, but not at the expense of others. I want to be around people who pick each other up and keep the team moving."

How to Answer

Ethical dilemmas in the workplace will come up from time to time. Assure the interviewer that you can handle these types of difficulties with professionalism and poise.

1st Answer Example

"I have never been told to lie to a fellow employee or supervisor on the job. If I were to be asked to lie, I absolutely would not do that. I am not the type of personality to be pushed around on the job. I will always be myself and keep my integrity first."

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I have been asked to lie on the job before. In a previous role, our inventory count was off. My co-worker wanted to go home, and he suggested that I lie about our count. I refused to lie, and we stayed late. I would always choose honesty over lying, any day."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

1st Answer Example

"I have been a part of individual terminations and group lay-offs throughout my career. I am comfortable with these types of tasks."

2nd Answer Example

If you do not have the experience: "I have not been in a position to perform terminations or hold corrective discipline meetings; however, I would be willing to perform these types of tasks with a small amount of training and research."

How to Answer

A genuinely creative minded person will have outside activities aside from what's happening in the workplace. Tell the interviewer about the variety of ways in which you express your creativity.

1st Answer Example

"Outside of work I like to attend dance classes and I also attend the odd paint and sip wine nights at a local wine shop. I also enjoy reading as a way of nurturing my creative side."

2nd Answer Example

"I love to explore my creative side. I practice photography for fun and dabble in the arts. As an avid reader, I also explore writing. Cooking is also an art for me, and I try to incorporate creativity into the fun meals I prepare for family and friends."

The Goal

As this is the core purpose of this multinational technology company, it is important to be able to give your interviewer a good idea of how your skillset and strengths would align with the team's larger purpose. The goal in answering this question is to give your interviewer a sense of confidence in your understanding of the importance of this purpose and ability to champion this cause for Lumen.

Example: Example

"In researching Lumen, something that stood out to me profoundly was your team's commitment to delivering simple solutions, so that your customers can focus on innovation, not their IT. As a part of this team, I would utilize my expertise in offering creative IT solutions, troubleshooting, and providing exceptional customer service, in order to help contribute to advancement of technology as a whole."

Example: Example

"This core purpose is a large part of the reason that I wished to pursue a role with Lumen. I believe that your company's core purpose aligns with my own goals in equipping every with the most efficient technology possible, allowing them to streamline productivity."

Focus Your Answer On

1st Answer Example

"I haven't often had roles which require a large amount of written communication, but when I have had to write professional emails or create notes on customer accounts, I have always been professional, concise, and respectful."

2nd Answer Example

"My written communication skills are very strong as I have had experience within technical writing and have needed to communicate via email with customers. I have always prioritized professionalism and ensure that I always review anything I send before sending."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Part of the interviewer's job is not only to determine if you are a technical fit for the team, but also if you are a culture and personality fit. The interviewer will ask you this question with the knowledge of his expectation for his team already in mind. Honesty is the best policy here, but you can also show adaptability in your answer.

1st Answer Example

"My experience is that open communication and mutual respect are usually key to any disagreement within a team. If I find myself in a conflict with a coworker, I try to calmly explain my perspective while also prioritizing listening to theirs. If there is no compromise that can be reached, I would lean into whatever team standard is in place for escalating an issue, while still prioritizing the respect of my colleague,"

2nd Answer Example

"In mediating conflict between other employees having a disagreement, I ensure to set the expectations that the conversation be calm and respectful and that we prioritize mutual respect. I ensure that each employee has a chance to describe their perspective and follow up with the team standard and a course of action that ensure that the needs of the team are met while also meeting the employees' needs as closely as possible."

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your answer to this question will tell your interviewer two things:
1. How creative and confident you are in problem solving and solutioning
2. The type of management involvement and dynamic you expect

Sends the right message: Example

"I received a call from a customer who our team has just completed an installation for the week prior. The customer indicated that there was a TCP/IP issue that they could not rectify. Though this was an IT client, the network was very large which can create some difficulty in pinpointing the exact location of the connection. I was able to quickly send the tech the network diagram and walk them through the process of fixing the connection issue."

Sends the wrong message: Example

"I was the asset coordinator on my last team and received a call from an install team complaining that hadn't received their scheduled delivery in the window quoted and that the customer was now frustrated. I ended up forwarding the call to my direct supervisor because I realized that I had make a scheduling error and didn't really know what to do to fix it. My supervisor was able to offer a solution and the on-site team smoothed it over with the customer. Teamwork!"

What You Need to Know

Workloads will increase and decrease as the market demands. How do you adapt to these changes?

1st Answer Example

"In my current position, my workload changes depending on the team and their needs. I can adapt to those needs quickly and effectively. Just last week I had two team members who were sick, and my workload increased significantly. I worked overtime and met my deadlines."

2nd Answer Example

"My workload changes by the minute. I keep a to-do list every day and push unfinished items to the next. Then, the next day I come into 150 emails and have to completely re-prioritize yesterday's to-do leftovers with today's emergencies."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

How to Answer

This question provides a dual opportunity to show your strength within time management as well as show your interviewer that you are proactive in seeking new tasks once one is complete. Companies prefer hiring candidates who they know will take initiative and prioritize productivity.

1st Answer Example

"I was scheduled for an 8 hour shift to complete a Fiber installation in an office building. We needed to set up the Optical Network Terminal and ensure that everything was connecting smoothly for the customer. I had a talented group working with me, and we finished ahead of schedule. Rather than leave early, I asked the customer if there was anything else that they wanted us to take a look at while we were onsite. They mentioned having some difficulty integrating certain printers into the network and myself and one other employee were able to stay on and diagnose the connection issues causing this problem."

2nd Answer Example

"I have learned as I become more skilled in this space that the instances where I finish ahead of schedule become opportunities to help others on my team who may need an extra hand. When everyone's goal is the overall happiness of the customer and success of the team as a whole, we all win."

Focus Your Answer On

A great answer here will put emphasis on the continuation of a recently implemented company initiative along with an idea that could take that offering to the next level. You want to show the interviewer your ability to commit to team goals and decisions, while also showing that you bring creative or thoughtful ideas to the table to increase efficiency or effectiveness.

1st Answer Example

"Your recent collaborate with Finastra in consolidating their networks and then modernizing their contact center and how they deal with customers, was a brilliant project and one that I would love to see the company expand upon. This model worked extremely well for the financial technology sector, and I believe could also greatly benefit other Lumen customer markets like the automotive industry or some of the less-advanced spaces we service."

2nd Answer Example

"The recent sale of local fiber networks that Lumen made in order to leverage a larger scale focus of Quantum was a strategic move that increased its ability to become more focused. I think that continuing to narrow our scope of expertise will allow them to excel in a few areas rather than be decent in most."

Focus Your Answer On

Lumen has aimed a huge part of their marketing strategy towards sustainability within the tech and telecom industries. Because this is such a huge piece of Lumen's brand as a whole, it is important that you display an understanding of the importance of sustainability as well as share any of your own passion surrounding the topic.

1st Answer Example

"Lumen's commitment to sustainability is incredibly important to the future of our environment and it is one of the biggest reason's I'd like to join your team. Lumen being capable of reducing their Carbon Footprint in 2020, along with being listed on top 100 lit of Sustainable Companies, speaks volumes to the company's dedication to this sustainability commitment and I would love to be a part of that."

2nd Answer Example

"Sustainability is important to me because of reduction of finite resources that will eventually greatly impact our environment as well as our industry. Resources like Cloud networks make the need for physical components to be produced fewer and further between, reducing the impact to our environment."

How to Answer

1st Answer Example

"I recently obtained my Cisco CCNA Certification in pursuit of a stronger knowledge and understanding of Network Security. I am also currently enrolled in an undergraduate program for Network Engineering."

2nd Answer Example

"Though I do not have any additional education at this time, I did notice that your team would like someone for this role who is CCNA Certified. I have looked into the test and would be willing and interested in pursuing this Certification. I believe that my current knowledge and experience would help me to be able to study for and pass the CCNA exam."

Ask this if offering certification: Example

"Does Lumen offer reimbursem*nt for any technical certification that I might pursue to strengthen my expertise in this field? If so, how are these reimbursem*nts offered?"

The Goal

Show knowledge of Lumen's business and be confident about the trajectory of your career. Be prepared to discuss how you would like to see your career grow and be willing to concede the areas which you may need growth and learning opportunitoes in order to reach. This shows the interviewer that you are engaged in this process and interested in becoming a long-term fixture at Lumen.

Answer Example

"I have pursued employment opportunities with Lumen because of the career growth opportunites offered by a company with such numerous offerings. My experience has been primarily within network instillation, but I am pusing my degree in Network Security, and eventually I would like to be able to grow into an Analyst or Engineer role within NetSec."

A question you can ask your interviewer: Example

"Is there potential for an employee with my skillset to be able to grow into Network Security from the physical installtion side of things? If so, what does that trajectory usually entail and how will Lumen partner with me to achieve career growth?"

Focus Your Answer On

As with any company you wish to work for, you should do research on Lumen before your interview. Some of what you will find regarding Lumen's advantages, however, pertain more to stock and market price/performance than actual difference in service. In your answer, you will want to stay away from talking stock cost, instead focusing on the key differences between Lumen its key competitors.

1st Answer Example

"Assuming that competitors are companies like Cox Communications and Massergy, I would say that Lumen's advantage is a much larger fiber-optic network as well as the adoption of the Lumen Cloud Platform. This platform is much more advanced than that of your competitors and allows Lumen to offer IaaS to its customer base."

2nd Answer Example

"Because Lumen's array of services is so broad, they have a leg up on any competitor in a given industry as that industry is not their only service offered. For example, companies like Spectrum may compete in terms of telecommunications, but are unable to offer the Managed and Professional services that Lumen does. a competitor like Oracle has a strong Cloud Platform and IaaS offerings but is not in the market of fiber optics like Lumen."

How to Answer

Your answer should focus on two aspects:
1. The difference that sets Lumen apart from its competitors
2. How your strengths align with this difference

1st Answer Example

"My specialty is leading large installation projects. My 6 years of experience in fiber-optic installation and troubleshooting would lend well to the expansion of Lumen Fiber+. I think that Lumen's decision to pivot away from the broadband services space was a very strategic and wise decision as we've seen the decline in this industry for broadband within offices and larger buildings and I would like to be a part of growing the fiber-optic market."

2nd Answer Example

"I consider my specialty to be in sales and marketing of internet services. Though a great deal of my experience lies within selling and marketing home internet services, I have spent some time in the business marketing space and would like to continue to grow my skillset in that arena. With Lumen's focus shifting from Broadband to Fiber, I think this would be a mutually beneficial opportunity to lend my sales and marketing skillset to this role while also gaining a great understanding of large group and company internet sales."

The Goal

About the business as a whole: Example

"I was familiar with Lumen prior to your transformation from CenturyLink. I was happy to learn that with a name change and a brand change, also came a refocused mission to lead businesses through technology challenges. As a Fortune-500 company operating in the North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, I was impressed to learn that Lumen is the #6 telecommunication provider in the US and continues to grow,"

Specific technology: Example

"I've had an eye on Lumen Technologies for quite some time and have worked for one of your competitors, Spectrum, in the past. I am familiar with the majority of telecommunications services offered by Lumen including network services, security, cloud solutions, voice, and managed services."

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your ability to differentiate between managed services and professional services and best categorize your background and experience will be important to the interviewer in determining where you will best fit in the company's service offerings. Ensure that you understand the difference between both and do not refrain from stating where you think your skillset lends itself most adequately.

Managed Services example: Example

"Most of my professional experience falls in line with managed services. Working at Rackspace, I was able to assist our customers with managed Cloud hosting and managed Network Security throughout my tenure. I feel as though my skillset lends well to the ability to work directly with the customer, understand their needs, and provide creative solutions, making me a strong asset in this arena."

Professional Services example: Example

"As a Network Security Consultant, I am most familiar with providing Professional Services to customers. As a SME in the field, I have lead multiple Network Security implementation plans, liaising both functional and technical aspects according to each customer's need. I enjoy this aspect of services greatly as it allows me to assist a team with a large challenge, set them up for success, and then move on to the next team in need of assistance."