Parata Systems Interview Questions
& Process

I got connected with this job through an agency, and it took about two weeks to get scheduled for a face-to-face interview. I went to the interview, met with the district manager and supervisor, and we discussed their products and what they do. Then, they started asking me questions about my past work experience, specifically what my field responsibilities are in my current role. I answered those, and they also asked me technical and customer service questions, which I handled. I also asked them quite a few questions about the job, and they provided answers. They had me perform an IT troubleshooting task on their computer, which I successfully completed. The whole thing lasted almost two hours in the hotel lobby. After I got home, they called me with an offer, which was decent, but I declined because they couldn't accommodate a specific day I requested off. Through the process, I realized it wasn't a company I wanted to commit to. Overall, it was a pleasant interview, and I wish them luck finding the right person.

About a week after I applied, I got a call from an external company doing the initial screening. They chatted with me about the job and asked if I knew how to use hand tools and other diagnostic stuff. A few days later, HR called me. They went over more job specifics and then sent me an email with a map of the area I'd be covering, along with some general info on health insurance costs. They also told me the starting salary and we talked about negotiating a higher pay if they decided to offer me the job. They asked about my past work experience and what skills I'd bring. A few days after that, HR called back and wanted to schedule an in-person meeting. I met with the hiring manager a week later at a hotel lobby. He asked the usual job interview questions; it was pretty relaxed and went for a bit over an hour. Three days later, they offered me the job.

I applied, then had a Teams call with 3 Parata employees (HR, Tech Support Lead, and another person). They were all nice and professional. The technical person asked me some sample tech questions about troubleshooting and command line usage. The HR person asked about what I value in a job. I liked that it was a panel interview, unlike other jobs that take 2-3 weeks and multiple rounds. They combined everything into one interview, which was great because I didn't want to wait weeks to find out if I got the job. I got an offer the very next day! I was a little worried it was so fast, but it seems like an okay company. I had to decline though because I had other interviews I wanted to finish. Also, I'm on the west coast and the job was eastern hours, meaning I'd have to start at 5 AM. The pay was okay, $23, but could go up to $26 with A+ and a few other certs. There was good earning potential, and a promotion could happen in 6 months, plus work hours could change to western hours, so no more 5 AM starts. I just wish the flexible hours weren't 6 months out. I kinda regret declining, but oh well.

I only had one interview, and I didn't prepare much for it. It was actually pretty easy, with a mix of basic technical questions and a few about my past work. Make sure you know your Software Engineering fundamentals and be ready to ask them questions. The interviewers are nice and will help you if you get stuck.