Strange Interview....

So I had a weird interview yesterday.

I get to this interview expecting a jr network or network admin type of position available. It was listed as network engineer so I was like ok that's fine. They had no IT guy and the two guys interviewing me read off tech questions downloaded from the web. I did about 50/50 but they said I did one of the best which is sad. I asked if they were looking for a CCIE even though i'm at a ccna almost level and they said yes. Once again they repeated the range of salary back to me at 45k-55k and just said they had fired their last network engineer not long ago.

My question is has anyone ever been to an interview where you thought it was one thing and it ended up being another? Side question why would you try get a CCIE for the price range of 45k-55k.... Maybe i'm wrong but don't CCIE's get paid more than that?

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Comments

Bl8ckr0uter

loxleynew wrote: »

My question is has anyone ever been to an interview where you thought it was one thing and it ended up being another? Side question why would you try get a CCIE for the price range of 45k-55k.... Maybe i'm wrong but don't CCIE's get paid more than that?

I have had several like that. As far as the CCIE thing, that guy probably didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground and said the first Cisco cert he could think of. CCIE's don't get paid 45k, in America anyway. When are you going to hear something back?

loxleynew

They said Id hear back end of the week but in all honesty I think this would be the first job I would turn down if got offered a position. Based on the price range and what they would be asking me to do along with not knowing what I do since they don't know anything about IT. I imagine that's why the last network guy got fired a few weeks ago.

thenjduke

Don't take that it is a road towards disaster.

za3bour

Even in Syria this is really low for a CCIE position.

erpadmin

za3bour wrote: »

Even in Syria this is really low for a CCIE position.

In <name of any third-world-country>, this is low for a CCIE.

@Loxleynew, that guy that interviewed you was probably talking out of his ass. My guess is that the last guy left on his own and there was bad blood. Try to find something else.

chmorin

This is an issue with technical interviews being held by non-technical people. If you get called back, ask if you can talk to someone else on their IT team about the position before accepting.

za3bour

chmorin wrote: »

This is an issue with technical interviews being held by non-technical people. If you get called back, ask if you can talk to someone else on their IT team about the position before accepting.

That's a major issue indeed.

loxleynew

chmorin wrote: »

This is an issue with technical interviews being held by non-technical people. If you get called back, ask if you can talk to someone else on their IT team about the position before accepting.

Haha that's the thing there is only one other guy on their IT team and he knows nothing about networking. He's like the software guy that installs software stuff for them that's all.

Either way it seems shady and I think Id pass on this job even if offered rather than be forced to quit or fired in 2 months.

loxleynew

To add to that I just got a call from them 2 minutes ago (didn't answer was working) and they asked for me to call them back right away. Pretty sure they are gonna offer me the job but I don't want it. Damnit should I just not call back or send an email or something?

networker050184

Just call them back and let them know you aren't interested.

thenjduke

Call them back might be a good offer see what the offer is?

erpadmin

networker050184 wrote: »

Just call them back and let them know you aren't interested.

@loxley, call them back, hear what they have to say, and then politely decline. If they're calling back they're most likely gonna offer, but from what you stated, it probably isn't worth pursuing.

BradleyHU

thenjduke wrote: »

Call them back might be a good offer see what the offer is?

yeah...and you dont have to accept/decline right then and there...ask them how long before they need an answer, or even better, let them know when you'll let them know your answer.

chmorin

I'd ask them to show you around what you are going to be doing before you accept. I know it seems bad, but I would hate to throw away a good job just because the hiring people are stupid. You need to make sure its a bad job before you just say no. Maybe you could actually do it, and maybe it is easy. Maybe the last person really was a moron. You never know.

I vote to keep asking questions. If they really want you, they will help answer them. If they don't, no loss.

loxleynew

chmorin wrote: »

I'd ask them to show you around what you are going to be doing before you accept. I know it seems bad, but I would hate to throw away a good job just because the hiring people are stupid. You need to make sure its a bad job before you just say no. Maybe you could actually do it, and maybe it is easy. Maybe the last person really was a moron. You never know.

I vote to keep asking questions. If they really want you, they will help answer them. If they don't, no loss.

Alright i'll call back on my lunch break.

They did show me around and from what it seems they use brocade routers/switches. Ive never heard of them and they don't even have a firewall. I would have to set up an entire new network basically and do that for all their new sites they are working on for their clients. All this with a sub par CCNA level knowledge if that lol. Maybe it's possible but Ive never even been a jr.network admin to know the answer to that. I imagine it would be a lot of 12-14 hour days.

ScottFern

I know this is reckless and risky, but I say fake it til you make it. In other words, if they offer take it and see if you can get the experience through trial and error to learn this stuff. It's much better to be a Jr. Network Admin/Engineer than a Help Desk type role.

In my current role, I had to learn lots the first couple months and finally got the hang of it now.

loxleynew

ScottFern wrote: »

I know this is reckless and risky, but I say fake it til you make it. In other words, if they offer take it and see if you can get the experience through trial and error to learn this stuff. It's much better to be a Jr. Network Admin/Engineer than a Help Desk type role.

In my current role, I had to learn lots the first couple months and finally got the hang of it now.

I get your point and I totally would if I wasn't getting married in 8 months and with the possibility of getting fired looming not sure the fiancé would like that too much....

ScottFern

loxleynew wrote: »

I get your point and I totally would if I wasn't getting married in 8 months and with the possibility of getting fired looming not sure the fiancé would like that too much....

Well that changes things for sure, but I just got married also recently. June 20th, 2010 to be exact and because of my risk taking I was able to buy our first house this past June as well. So it is a gamble, but for me it paid off in the end. It feels nice to be 27 and have my own 3 bedroom home with a 2 car garage.

garv221

Isn't there a learning curve with all jobs? If you flat out don't know the stuff, don't take it.

loxleynew

garv221 wrote: »

Isn't there a learning curve with all jobs? If you flat out don't know the stuff, don't take it.

Yea there is but this would be going into CCIE material stuff as a CCNA with no help so I decided to tell them thanks but no thanks yesterday.

After that randomly I got another interview and last night had a phone interview for a job more closely suited for me. That went well and now I have an in person interview next week. So things are looking up

chmorin

loxleynew wrote: »

Yea there is but this would be going into CCIE material stuff as a CCNA with no help so I decided to tell them thanks but no thanks yesterday.

After that randomly I got another interview and last night had a phone interview for a job more closely suited for me. That went well and now I have an in person interview next week. So things are looking up

Good to hear!