Who works in IT?

pault123

Ive got an interview tomorrow. A field engineer, car, laptop, mobile, good basic, great hours, and repairing pc's. This is the break I need and would be my PERFECT job, I would be so happy to get out of my current sales office which is still driving me more crazy by the day

So you guys have all seen my experience from earlier posts, can you offer me any interview tips? This is my first IT related interview for over 5-6 years.

I'm used to sales job type interviews a lot of probing and throw you off the mark/put you on the spot questions. What kind of questions can I expect for a role like this?

I've done plenty of research on the company its just not knowing what to expect thats making me nervous!

Wish me luck

thewizard

I cant offer you any advice but good look

albertross_2

Is this a hardware fixing role, or software. If you could give us any clues about to the role/company, it might help us predict possible questions. Are you fixing one companies equipment, or many companies.

Health and safety is a hot topic at the moment, they may ask you about risk assessments, precautions etc.., especially if you are going to be on many client sites.

They may ask, you have a dead laptop in front of you, what steps would you take to diagnose the problem

pault123

"Is this a hardware fixing role, or software. If you could give us any clues about to the role/company, it might help us predict possible questions. Are you fixing one companies equipment, or many companies."

Hardware and software role. Generally though I get the impression it will be servicing, faultfinding and repairing pcs they have supplied that run their software for companies accross the UK.

It is a software house that supplies specific solution software and hardware to companies accross the UK.

The job description asked for a good knowledge of windows and pc hardware. Both of which I have lots of! Just don't know what to expect since i'm used to "sell me this pen" style interviews :rotfl:

Smooth_Operator_2

byb3 - hats off to you for a masters in Mathmatics.

I totally agree with Wolfman here. Mathmatics is an extremely dynamic degree. It proves you are numerate and have a logical mind. There are hardly any jobs which don't involve numeracy.

Do you really want a career in IT? With a degree like that you're at a serious advantage for applying for jobs in the city. All the wiz kids that do trade in derivatives and financial engineering have math type degrees. There's good money to be made there, if you're good. It's not for everyone though.

Have you done much financial modelling? Chao's Theory? Have you considerd applying non-linear dynamics for the prediction of stock prices? If so you should send your CV to the (investment) banks.

hefty

_What_do_you_do? wrote:

I currently work as a software developer. Primary web \ database applications using microsoft technologies.

_What_qualifications_have_you_got? wrote:

I recently passed the MCAD qualification and am close to completing the MCSD shortly. To be honest don't get to carried away with the vendor certs too much as most of them can be passed just by memorising books etc. The most useful exam is the solutions architecture. You will not pass this unless you have experience in designing solutions.

_How_did_you_get_into_the_industry? wrote:

I was a late starter at 26 years old. My previous job was as an engineer for a sheet metal company for 13 years. It was only when I rose through the ranks to a desk based supervisory type role that I discovered computing. Primary the software programs (VB) which controlled the machines I managed. I just decided to 'have a go' and the rest is history.

I left the company two years ago when they relocated. I now work in the financial services industry. Although I had no relevant industry experience, I think they were impressed that I managed to 're invent' myself and learn new skills.

Todays I.T professional needs to have excellent business acumen. the days of the humble programmer are gone (prob to INDIA!) or soon will be.

Unfortunaltey the old adage, can't get experience without a job and can't get a job without experience very much applies.

You should concentrate your efforts on the larger companies as they tend to be more focused on the bigger picture rather than pure tech skills as they will send you on any training courses necc. Smaller companies, tend to go for the 'hit the ground running' type.

Good luck in the search.

mentat_2

I've been in IT for 10+ years, have an MCSE, 2 diplomas, ITIL and have worked as helpdesk, desktop support, team leader, change coordinator, package migrator, project manager and remote support.

But I'm fed up with it and am currently retraining (part time) to become an English teacher. But back to the point in hand...

There are bucket loads of IT jobs available, if you have no commitments go contracting as on average you will learn and earn more much more quickly. If you have commitments get a helpdesk job (if you can find one) as you will learn a lot very quickly and then decide where you want to go from there. I chose the desktop engineering role as you can then apply what you learned on the phone and increase your customer interaction skills, which are transportable to all sorts of jobs.

Employers to expect longer hours now unfortunately and there is a lot of shift work too, but there are still plenty of good roles out there and remember at interviews - Are they good enough for you? (Not the other way around).

So if you are starting out I'd contact an agency or check the IT/Business papers to see which companies are gaining new support contracts - they will need staff for those contracts.

Good luck and Good night.

loobs40

mentat wrote:

There are bucket loads of IT jobs available, if you have no commitments go contracting as on average you will learn and earn more much more quickly. If you have commitments get a helpdesk job (if you can find one) as you will learn a lot very quickly and then decide where you want to go from there. .

My partner has taken voluntary redundancy at the age of 43 and is moving down to the south to live with me. He has no formal qualifications in IT, but he builds his own PCs and spends a lot of time 'tweaking and playing'.

I have been looking around to see if I can find him any helpdesk jobs, don't mind the low pay, but all without exception insist on experience if not qualifications.

Bit of a vicious circle me thinks, to get the job you need experience but to get experience you have to be in the job. Is there any way around this ?

BTW, I am a very bored contract tester who has been in IT for a million years and if it wasn't for the good money and the huge mortgage I would have retrained as something else years ago

mr_fishbulb

loobs40 wrote:

My partner has taken voluntary redundancy at the age of 43 and is moving down to the south to live with me. He has no formal qualifications in IT, but he builds his own PCs and spends a lot of time 'tweaking and playing'.

I have been looking around to see if I can find him any helpdesk jobs, don't mind the low pay, but all without exception insist on experience if not qualifications.

Tell him to have a look at doing the A+ qualification. That's what I'm thinking of doing.

It's a basic professional qualification to say he knows how to fix PCs (both software and hardware).

Can get a cheap study book around £25 and the exam costs ~£100 (not sure if you need to pay that twice as there is a hardware exam and a software one).

pault123

Well the interview didn't go too well :wall: :think:

It wasn't like any other interview i'd been to, no structured questions more like what if? what would you do if? give me some ***** commands, explain ***** to me, what if this happened?

Got bombarded with questions about networks, VPN, routers stuff the job didn't even ask for in the advert.

I was just like i don't know! It was stuff without training I would never know the answer to.

I really like this qoute "Are they good enough for you? (Not the other way around)."

Think helpdesks may be my best starting point.