weird IT job interview; a great lesson.
I just had a weird job interview. i need people advice.
first of all, i got a phone call regarding an available network support position. The guy basically asked me whether or not I know about active directory, firewall, email, cabling, xp, hardware, and my current job conditions. Based on the " phone interview", he would ask me if I could meet him in the office for furthermore. I replied him yes.
When I headed to his office few days later, I was asked to fill out the form, about my personal info, interesting position, etc. I waited like 15-20 mins. Then the guy came out. After greetings, he invited me to his office.
In the office, he asked me what kind of job roles I m working, what type of works I am doing there, salary, and benefits, etc. Then he evaluated me about my IT knowledges, from program, hardware, to networking. I was graded by answering like this, " do you know about active directory, can u describe it?". after I answered him for 30 questions, he asked me to wait. He went out for a while.
When he came back, I was told that my knowledge still has a gap. However, that company offered a sponsorship so that I could further attain more cerfications for my career advancement. He asked me if I was interested. I replied him yes because I thought he offered a free training. At that time, I was like, "with a free training and more salary for my career advancement, why not?" After my reply, he went out again and came out a couple of minutes later.
When he came back, he gave me a list of details about a loan application, career advancement (course materials), plus a bunch of papers about his company rating that they definitely get u a job, etc. I was told that a bunch of courses cost for total $xxxxx (5 digitals), and by their grant sponsorship, you get 50% discounts, so you only have to pay $xxxx. You could choose to pay $xx a month for xx years or full balance. Within 3 months, you are guaranteed that you will become xxxx certified. After you become xxxx certified, our company then would get you a job. Because our companies' rating is good like this, more than 90% of jobs landed, you are worried-free about getting a job, and when you are landed a job, you need to take 20% of your annual salary for companie's commission, both the new job and this company.
I told him that I don't need that training courses because I am working on myself and asked him if he could land me a job first. Then he attempted to justify. "By our certified trainers, you are guaranteed that you learn a real world hands-on experience. They have their real world skills plus the labs for you to practice. On the other hands, you are studying yourself. Hence this is a PAPER CERTIFIED. Will you want to become paper cert? No, right? So if you participate this training courses, you would become different in the world". I was like "full of bullshit".
Then I justified. "NO, sorry, even tho I study on myself. That doesn't imply that I am paper cert. Based on my job currently, I install, manage, administer windows xp, 2000 and 2003 domain environment. I started using computers since DOS. By reading the book myself, it means that I would like my knowledges to become more constant in a professional way. You may say my skills are not that advanced. However, you can't say I am a paper certified. Sorry, I don't need that training right now. I really need to think about it."
Then he said, "Oh well, this is your decision. You may take our materials home and read over the weekend. If you are interested afterward, you may give me a call. But I remind you one more time, our training courses are far more advanced with our certified trainers and its materials. And your studying may not learn what we offer you.
After this job interview and greetings, I got out the company. Then I called my friends about it. They all said "FULL OF BULLSHIT" because I am looking for job. They suppose to focus on the job's roles, the salary, benefits, etc. However, it is obvious that they ASK YOU for YOUR $$$$$ than the job availability. So don't fall into a trap.
Sorry people, this is a long story. But I would like all of our people here know how dark our outside world is. What happens is that you are looking for a job, but you have to pay x amount of money before you will be landed to a job in x% of rating. This is bullshit. Please remind, people.
