Graduate Networking Engineer Interview Questions?

DieselDonkey

Hey guys, I'm fresh out of university with an IT degree and I've managed to score myself an interview with an IT services provider for next week. The job spec says the role is for a graduate network engineer within their NOC. On the spec's list of skills it simply states "Knowledge of networked environments (support, implementation or theory)" with no specifics as to technologies. Besides this it's just the usual team player, problem analysis, communication etc.

I'm starting to get a bit nervous as to what kind of questions they'll ask me. I'd like to think my knowledge of networks is sound based on how exams went (I know real life scenarios are a whole different ball game). I'm slightly worried they'll be asking things that are way out of my depth and I'll end up sitting there looking like a fool. Does anybody have any insights in to what kind of questions I can expect?

linuxabuser

Sounds like an entry-level NOC job. I wouldn't be too worried. Know the basics down pat! Do your best to think through a question like "What happens when I go to Google.com?", or something similar, beforehand.

kohr-ah

Since it is a NOC they will ask you basics. Maybe some basic troubleshooting commands. If you saw xyz how would you go about finding what is wrong.
Is this a layer 2 or layer 3 issue.. Etc

Good luck and let us know how it goes

DieselDonkey

Thanks for the advice guys. Had the interview at the beginning of the week, nothing out of the ordinary and as you mentioned just basic networking and troubleshooting questions. The only thing I wasn't able to answer was calculating subnets but I've gone over it and I'm pretty comfortable with it now. Anyway, they called me back yesterday evening and I've got the job!

networker050184

Congrats!

kohr-ah

Congrats!

Also don't feel bad at all about the subnet thing. I work with senior engineers that can't do it without a subnet calculator.