Things Not to Say in an IT Interview

ClaymooreClaymoore Member Posts: 1,637
in IT Jobs / Degrees
We are interviewing candidates for a Help Desk position here, and if the rest of the candidates are anything like the first this is going to be a very entertaining process. In fact, I may have to open another tread about things not to do in an IT interview...

Things Not to Say in an IT Interview:

'I don't really like TCP/IP'

'I still live with my mother'
Clay Moore's Blog
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  • undomielundomiel Member Posts: 2,818
    What was their follow-up to not liking TCP/IP? Espousing the greatness of IPX/SPX?
    Jumping on the IT blogging band wagon -- http://www.jefferyland.com/
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  • KGhaleonKGhaleon Member Posts: 1,346 ■■■■□□□□□□
    "I enjoy hacking as a hobby."

    Anything ****-related.
    Present goals: MCAS, MCSA, 70-680
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  • TryPingingTheServerTryPingingTheServer Member Posts: 51 ■■□□□□□□□□
    "I've never really grasped subnetting"
    "His GPA is a solid 2.0. Right in that meaty part of the curve - not showing off, not falling behind."
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  • bertiebbertieb Member Posts: 1,031 ■■■■■■□□□□
    Had one guy who said

    'I'm not interested in learning anything new' icon_eek.gif

    *Dr Evil voice* riiighhhhhtttt..........
    The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they are genuine - Abraham Lincoln
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  • MishraMishra Member Posts: 2,468 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I interviewed for a expert level admin before. I had to interview in front of 7-8 people, mostly HR and the entire IT crew at that location. Well they had 1 title but multiple job duties for each person.

    They were basically telling me that they don't support many of the enterprise stuff. And that a woman who had been there for about 3 years was the last one hired. They told her and I can almost quote, that they gave her all the crap jobs because she picked up the slack that needed to be done. And that they were looking to move a lot of those jobs to my position....

    So at this point I'm shaking my head and they are TELLING me they are trying to stick it to me. So I asked.

    Me: "So what kind of jobs are these?"

    Them: "Well like print problems and file server permissions and stuff."

    Me: "Yeah? I don't like printers really that much"

    Them: "hahahahaha yeah. So you would be doing other things like cleaning up user accounts and assigning computer accounts."

    Me: "I see. I don't really like creating user or computer accounts anymore."

    lol
    My blog http://www.calegp.com

    You may learn something!
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  • ClaymooreClaymoore Member Posts: 1,637
    undomiel wrote:
    What was their follow-up to not liking TCP/IP? Espousing the greatness of IPX/SPX?

    Well, the candidate was in his mid to late 30s and his resume listed experience with a few versions of Novell. No certifications though - not even A+.
    Clay Moore's Blog
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  • dynamikdynamik Banned Posts: 12,312 ■■■■■■■■■□
    I knew I posted this before:
    dynamik wrote:
    Here's a Family Guy clip (probably NSFW as well)

    I'm surprised you didn't pimp your old thread Mishra. It's relevant!
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  • Kevin10686Kevin10686 Member Posts: 67 ■■□□□□□□□□
    claymoore can the candidate work remotely? or do you all have an office in maryland to work from?
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  • cacharocacharo Member Posts: 361
    Kevin10686 wrote:
    claymoore can the candidate work remotely? or do you all have an office in maryland to work from?

    Interesting question to come out of the woodwork after 3 years with...
    Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.
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  • cacharocacharo Member Posts: 361
    jryantech wrote:
    I won't say neither of those things... icon_lol.gif

    Striiiike one!
    Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.
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  • Kevin10686Kevin10686 Member Posts: 67 ■■□□□□□□□□
    yeah I would only read the forums and than I forgot my password and finally had them send me a new one.
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  • cacharocacharo Member Posts: 361
    Kevin10686 wrote:
    yeah I would only read the forums and than I forgot my password and finally had them send me a new one.

    Welcome! Nice to finally hear from you!
    Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.
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  • dynamikdynamik Banned Posts: 12,312 ■■■■■■■■■□
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif
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  • jryantechjryantech Member Posts: 623
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif
    "It's Microsoft versus mankind with Microsoft having only a slight lead."
    -Larry Ellison, CEO, Oracle

    Studying: SCJA
    Occupation: Information Systems Technician
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  • gojericho0gojericho0 Member Posts: 1,059 ■■■□□□□□□□
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.
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  • jryantechjryantech Member Posts: 623
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    Well I try much harder in an office setting, plus I care more about the red lines underneath my words. But on a tech forum. Not so much. icon_cool.gif
    "It's Microsoft versus mankind with Microsoft having only a slight lead."
    -Larry Ellison, CEO, Oracle

    Studying: SCJA
    Occupation: Information Systems Technician
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  • snadamsnadam Member Posts: 2,234 ■■■■□□□□□□
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    but its so hard with places like icanhascheezburger!!! to view at will!!! icon_lol.gif

    you should probably avoid any or all references to lolcats during an interview, imo icon_cool.gif
    **** ARE FOR CHUMPS! Don't be a chump! Validate your material with certguard.com search engine

    :study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
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  • gojericho0gojericho0 Member Posts: 1,059 ■■■□□□□□□□
    spelling also counts too :) I used "as" above instead of "an"
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  • jryantechjryantech Member Posts: 623
    Wonder why I'm saving Freshman Comp 2 until my LAST semester...

    Boy nothing demoralizes me more then spending 20 hours on a paper and not being certain of an A.

    I mean if I spend 20 hours on a math problem, I KNOW I'M RIGHT.

    In English the teacher is bascially dictating when it comes to an Essay.
    "It's Microsoft versus mankind with Microsoft having only a slight lead."
    -Larry Ellison, CEO, Oracle

    Studying: SCJA
    Occupation: Information Systems Technician
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  • cacharocacharo Member Posts: 361
    jryantech wrote:
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    Well I try much harder in an office setting, plus I care more about the red lines underneath my words. But on a tech forum. Not so much. icon_cool.gif

    Yeah, I was just giving you a hard time. icon_wink.gif

    Seriously though, this forum (and forums in general) can be a great place to fine tune your text-based communication skills. There are a lot of very well spoken people to learn from. I for instance, have learned on several occasions that my dry sense of humor does not always translate the best. It again has been proven that it still needs work. I think I may have to start using /sarcasm tags.
    Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.
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  • scheistermeisterscheistermeister Member Posts: 748 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I wouldn't say, "I farted." in an interview... I would just let them find out themselves icon_lol.gif
    Give a man fire and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
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  • AnonymouseAnonymouse Member Posts: 509 ■■■■□□□□□□
    snadam wrote:
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    but its so hard with places like icanhascheezburger!!! to view at will!!! icon_lol.gif

    you should probably avoid any or all references to lolcats during an interview, imo icon_cool.gif

    I can haz job?
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  • snadamsnadam Member Posts: 2,234 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Anonymouse wrote:
    snadam wrote:
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    but its so hard with places like icanhascheezburger!!! to view at will!!! icon_lol.gif

    you should probably avoid any or all references to lolcats during an interview, imo icon_cool.gif

    I can haz job?
    icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif that was good.

    dont wurriez, Iz call u bak in fu dayz
    **** ARE FOR CHUMPS! Don't be a chump! Validate your material with certguard.com search engine

    :study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
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  • Vogon PoetVogon Poet Member Posts: 291
    "I hate it when users ask dumb questions."
    "I just went to Defcon and learned some really cool tricks."
    "Dress code? Really???"
    "A priest and a rabbi walk into a bar..."

    other examples: one word answers, no sense of humor, no smile, poor body language
    No matter how paranoid you are, you're not paranoid enough.
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  • AnonymouseAnonymouse Member Posts: 509 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Another one you shouldn't say:

    Interviewee: "Drug test? Ooooh that's gonna be a problem..."

    Or:

    Interviewee: "Wow that receptionist is smoking hot!"
    Interviewer: "That's my daughter."
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  • networker050184networker050184 Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
    Anonymouse wrote:
    Another one you shouldn't say:

    "Drug test? Ooooh that's gonna be a problem..."

    I was just about to post something along those lines like...


    Durg test? Can you give me a few weeks before I have to take it?
    An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made.
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  • oo_snoopyoo_snoopy Member Posts: 124
    Anonymouse wrote:
    Interviewee: "Wow that receptionist is smoking hot!"
    Interviewer: "That's my daughter."

    Interviewee: Nicccccccce
    I used to run the internet.
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  • mengo17mengo17 Member Posts: 100 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Anonymouse wrote:
    Another one you shouldn't say:

    Interviewee: "Drug test? Ooooh that's gonna be a problem..."

    Or:

    Interviewee: "Wow that receptionist is smoking hot!"
    Interviewer: "That's my daughter."


    HAHAHAHHHAHAHAH icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif
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  • BradleyHUBradleyHU Member Posts: 918 ■■■■□□□□□□
    oo_snoopy wrote:
    Anonymouse wrote:
    Interviewee: "Wow that receptionist is smoking hot!"
    Interviewer: "That's my daughter."

    Interviewer: Nicccccccce

    lmaoooooo...
    Link Me
    Graduate of the REAL HU & #1 HBCU...HAMPTON UNIVERSITY!!! #shoutout to c/o 2004
    WIP: 70-410(TBD) | ITIL v3 Foundation(TBD)
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  • sharptechsharptech Member Posts: 492
    gojericho0 wrote:
    jryantech wrote:
    dynamik wrote:
    I think you got called out on your double negative icon_lol.gif

    I hate English grammar. icon_redface.gif

    And since I'm in the peer group of the "internet age" it is quite hard to grasp anything related to grammar.

    But still, I will not say anything like "I dislike TCP/IP" or "I live with my mother" even though both might be true. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

    You need to make sure you have good grammar in as office setting. Especially when it comes to emailing employees and presentation. When you first start out in a job, everything you do (good or bad) is under the microscope. Not saying you should be fretting about it, but something to be conscious of.

    Very true, - one of the first days of the job I am at now (been there two years now, moving on though) I sent an email to the staff and I had a grammar mistake - one of the directors emailed me and told me to make sure I had it right the next time - she was really nice about it, but they do look for these things!
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