Technology is ever-present nowadays. Doesn’t matter whether we like it or not. We simply cannot avoid working with it, and it impacts us heavily in anything we do. What’s more, technology evolves quickly, almost at a scary pace. A ground-breaking application or hardware this year can become completely obsolete by the end of the next year. What can we do to keep up with the trends? We can either adapt, or pack our stuff and leave to live alone in the mountains in some hermitage. And while I fancy the second option at times, I am pretty sure you don’t. So what to say in the interviews, in order to impress the hiring managers with your attitude, and to eventually get the job?
Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. I tried to include both longer and shorter answers on my list (shorter may work better for job applications, since you typically have a limited space to express your thoughts on the application form), answers for people without previous working experience, and also some unconventional answers that may make the hiring managers think–should that be your goal in the interviews. Do not forget to check also text below the sample answers, for additional hints on how to make the most out of your answer to this interesting question.
7 sample answers to “How quickly do you adapt to new technology?” interview question
- Based on my experience from the last job in a smaller web hosting company, I can adapt quickly, and I actually enjoy the process. The company I worked for before tried to stay on the top of the pack, and hence they were always testing new things and applying new technologies on the servers. I can honestly say that I enjoyed the process, and didn’t mind learning something new every day. It actually made the job more interesting. Judging by this experience, I do not think I will have any problems adapting to the technologies you use in your business.
- To be honest I don’t know, since this is my first job application. Of course I’ve had a smartphone since I was 12 years old, and worked and played with plethora of applications. It helped me to build my computer intelligence, and I typically do not struggle to find my way around some new app or game. But I do not know what technologies you use here, and it can happen that I find them difficult to handle, at least from the start. Having said that, I want to ensure you that I do not give up easily. I am ready to devote my time to learn to work with any technology that I need to use in the job with you.
- It takes me time to adapt, since I do not belong to the generation that grew up with a tablet in the cradle. Having said that, I realize that computers are everywhere nowadays, and we cannot avoid working with them, unless we live in monastery perhaps, or in prison. Therefor I attend an evening course, and I also devote a lot of my free time to practice with various software, to make myself ready for my new job. I honestly believe that I can bring a lot onboard, a variety of strengths. Maybe I do not adapt easily to new technology, but I believe it shouldn’t be a showstopper in this interview.
- In my opinion, most of the new technology is over-rated. Just look at a typical workplace nowadays. People use Slack, Monday.com, and what not. We have online chats and meetings, and everyone tries to make the processes more effective. Yet do we really get more done as before? I do not think so. For me, email, MS Excel, and quick face to face meeting are still the best “tools” out there. No need for fancy apps that are supposed to help us save time, or collaborate better. Having said that, no doubt I can quickly learn to work with any new technology. I just feel that it isn’t the most important thing, and perhaps we put too much value on it.
- To be honest I do not like to adapt to the pervasiveness of technology in our daily life. Are we still human beings, or are we slowly changing to robots? Do we still use technology, or is the technology using us, controlling us, conditioning us, without us being aware of it happening? That’s a question most people prefer not asking themselves, for a good reason… Anyway, I try to limit my use of technology, and put emphasis on human contact, and soft skills. And I honestly believe each team needs such a person, and hope you will give me the chance to prove my words in the job.
- I’ve worked as an accountant in a middle-sized company before. During three years we changed three different software solutions, simply because the managers were looking for the most cost-effective way of running the business. Each of these accounting software packages had different interface and functionality, and I always had to learn to work with it from scratch. And I always did it, and adapted quickly to the changes. Do I think it was necessary, or beneficial for the company, to change the software often? I don’t. But it wasn’t my responsibility to make decisions. Hence I did what I could from my position, which means adapting to the software, and learning to work with it as quickly as I could.
- Based on my experience, it depends on my effort and attitude. Most people oppose changes and hate to learn to work with any new technology. And I had the same attitude in the past. However, I quickly realized that if I wanted to stay at the front of the pack, and to get the most out of my professional career, I had to change my attitude. And that’s exactly what I did. Now I can say that I adapt well and quickly to new technology, simply because I am open to such changes and give my best effort to learn to work with new technologies, instead of opposing them.
Practical example of a quick adaptation from the past is the best answer
Saying that you adapt quickly to changes, or new technologies, without elaborating on it, won’t take you far in the interviews. You should say something that demonstrates your ability to do so. For example, you can narrate a story from your last job. The company decided to get a new software, or implemented a new technology, and you had to adapt to it quickly. So you gave it your best effort, read tutorials, went to the course, and eventually learned to work with it, and applied it successfully in your work.
Unconventional answers can sometimes win you a job contract
As a rule of thumb, when they inquire about your ability to adapt to something in your new job (for example new technology), it means that you will face such situations at work. Perhaps they innovate a lot, or they simply use some unique custom-made software or technology each new employee in the department has to learn to work with, without having any previous experience. Hence you should try to convince them that you have such an ability, or at least want to give it your best effort.
Having said that, you can also opt for an unconventional answer. You can either say you do not like the pervasive role technology plays in our life (sample answer no. 5), and prefer to focus on “human touch” instead. Or you can claim that most new technology and applications are overrated, and employees who want to get the work done manage to get it done with the tools we’ve known for decades–email, Excel, etc (check sample answer no. 6 for a good example). Such answer will help you stand out, and may even lead to an interesting discussion with the hiring managers, which is always a good thing…
Ready to answer the question? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions:
- Give an example of a time when you delivered on your commitment.
- Tell us more about your skills with MS Excel.
- How well do you adapt to new situations?
