Failing to get the job again

I attended an interview for a 1st Line Helpdesk role this week and during the interview was told I came across really well and they also said they were worried I might get bored and leave because I came across as being very technical. The role was 12 months only contract working in 1st Line so would be dealing with things like password resets, AD but not switches and routers. Also putting software on laptops and readying them for deployment. Some on-site work involved. They use XP and 7. I explained to them why I had chosen to do my Cisco certs and that I intended to do a MCTS in win 7. I also reiterated to them that I would not get bored at all and that I had little 1st Line experience and am looking to build on it.
They seemed very impressed with the fact I managed to learn so much on my own as this showed I was a fast learner. They also told me they were not going to ask me any technical questions because I seemed "technical enough". I was surprised at this. They were aware of the fact that I have about 10 years customer service and sales experience (I had been a sales account manager once) so am very good at communicating with people and have used many types of call logging systems.

I found out today I did not get the job and that it was a very close run thing (their words via email) between me and another candidate. The other candidate had more experience.
I am confused by this because experience wise...i'm in my mid 30s and they admitted that their current team is made up of 20 somethings. Admittedly I don't have much 1st line experience but they did also said I was overly technical for the role and were worried I was going to get bored. But the other candidate was more experienced? wow...and I thought they said I was too technical.

What should have been my answer when they asked me about getting bored? this is not the first time I have been asked this in a recent interview.I always explain to them that I want to keep contributing to the company and my immediate goals are to do my first line position to the best of my abilities. Obviously If I was going to get bored then I wouldn't have bothered applying for the job in the first place.

Any suggested strategies?

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Comments

RouteMyPacket

Concerned Water wrote: »

@RouteMyPacket

If that's the case, why would they have interviewed him? They had to have known this before they interviewed him, they called him. Personally, it sounds like someone that doesn't know what he or she is doing. Also, for someone starting in IT, all he or she has is certifications. I was certified before I got my first IT job.

To be honest, most companies use their clueless HR person to get candidates in the door. I didn't say it was impossible to land a job only having certs but it certainly isn't a guarantee like so many tend to believe.

RouteMyPacket

MrXpert wrote: »

Without anyone's advice i'd be stuck with the same boring ideas so thanks

Has anyone come across interview questions such as
"What is your greatest weakness?
and "how do you deal with difficult situations?"

Those are easy to answer if you have no ego and are honest and confident with yourself. I hated those questions early on because I saw them as me having to say how horrible I am as an employee which now I can see they are legitimate questions.

I can answer both of those questions immediately without even thinking about it, and answer them in such a way that it shows my strengths and my thought process.

CodeBlox

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

Certification has got to be the #1 problem in IT, too many people getting certifications yet have absolutely no experience. I even see that all over this very site.

I cannot stress enough that certifications are "SUPPLEMENTAL" to your experience.

I don't agree with this... I think at least the entry level stuff should be fair game. How else would some people get started? I obtained the CCNA before I had any actual work experience with it and it's opened a door for me.

LowTech

CodeBlox wrote: »

I don't agree with this... I think at least the entry level stuff should be fair game. How else would some people get started? I obtained the CCNA before I had any actual work experience with it and it's opened a door for me.

Which ever the case is, I hope I can finally get a job after I get my A+ certification. I have been building PC systems since I was in high school(2001). Supporting, upgrading, and building POS system for a small family shop for the last 8 yrs. and a B.S. in IT, I can't even get a 2 weeks contract for installing PC hardware for an agency for $14/hr. Is the economy really that bad? And job seekers resume really not that trust worthy? What I find really funny from HR interview was that they ask if I have experienced in an enterprise environment for an entry position. If I do, would I be seeking for an entry position in an enterprise? So how does one get in an enterprise environment in the first place? Apparently, internship is only for college student which I don't qualified because I graduated a year ago. Volunteering position is hard to find too. All we all can do is just keep trying. Interview after interview

MrXpert

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

Those are easy to answer if you have no ego and are honest and confident with yourself. I hated those questions early on because I saw them as me having to say how horrible I am as an employee which now I can see they are legitimate questions.

I can answer both of those questions immediately without even thinking about it, and answer them in such a way that it shows my strengths and my thought process.

I have no ego but answering them is difficult for me because I often find it hard to think of which weakness to give as a reason and one which will be relevant and not make them think I could be a liability in the future.

All said I listened to the earlier posts about converting it into a positive but not focussing too much on the weakness. Confidence was my issue but I resolved it by going into sales in order to get me that much needed experience. It is a weakness but something I am constantly improving on.