My first IT Job interview

Well, I managed to get the gumption up to actually apply for a position and they have responded very quickly. Tomorrow I have an interview for a level one computer support technician.

I am slightly nervous. I have my pants pressed and a nice tie selected. I have my resume and my certs printed and ready to present. I actually haven't received my real Security+ one but a copy will do I am sure.

Are there any questions anyone thinks should be asked? What are some experiences during entry level interviews? Anything I should look out for?

I am somewhat worried my past will prevent me from getting clearances as it is on a military installation. They are two misdemeanors, one from 2008 and one from 2009.

Hope 2011 is a getting off to a good start for everyone.

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Comments

JoshD779

Good Luck!!!

jtoast

Congratulations on the interview!

Things to remember:
1) If they ask you technical questions, don't overthink them. Years ago I didn't get the job I applied for because I missed the basics. When I was asked to describe my process for troubleshooting printers, I started with "check add/remove printers" and got all the way to "Stopping and restarting the spooler" when they stopped me and said "no, the problem was that it was out of paper and unplugged."

2) Have an answer in mind when they ask you to "tell me a little about yourself." That answer should probably not include your arrest record or any other reason they shouldn't hire you.

3) If they offer you a drink, decline it. They are just being polite and really don't want to go find change to buy you a soda from the vending machine or send the secretary to the convenience store next door to get you a bottle of water. Even if they do have it handy, it sucks to have to say "umm yea I can answer that, but do you mind if I pee first?"

More later but my wife wants me to sit down with her and watch something on tv. Will be back..heh.

BradleyHU

you dont need your certificiations printed.

futurethat88

BradleyHU wrote: »

you dont need your certificiations printed.

They requested it.

I went today and interviewed with three separate people. It went well I think. Its a military contractor so afterwards I was then introduced to the OIC who was friendly and positive regarding my credentials. My criminal background did come up again and I tried to be as forthcoming as I could possibly be.

All in all I think it went okay. It would be a great opportunity to learn the application of IT work on a larger scale. It will all hinge on whether or not I can get clearances. I can only hope for the best, and if I can't get there I will just try to the next job available.

futurethat88

Well its been two weeks + 2 days with no word. The only phone number I ever got was one when they called my cell, I tried to contact there and no one picked up. I've emailed the HR person who set up and conducted the interview and have received no response. Are they telling me something in their own special way?

Its very disappointing to not even get to here "Nice try, better luck next time."

In addition, a job which I put a resume in for has not contacted me, but instead chose to scout around my job, asking questions to an acquaintance of mine who works there. They didn't decide to email or call or even ask my managers about me. They chose to speak to a 17 year old high schooler.

This particular youth is the boyfriend of their HR rep's niece. He was talked into creating a resume and actually had an interview this week! WTF....

You are going to post for candidates with A+ required and then recruit your niece's boyfriend into applying? I am really feeling down. Southwest Oklahoma is not a hotbed of IT jobs and I am not feeling very positive.

Is it possible the place I interviewed with on the 12th is still working on my security clearances? Or am I likely never to hear from them again?

RouteThisWay

First off, we are roughly the same age (if 88 is the year of your birth.. I am 87

) so I am trying to come at you as a peer

And if you are not that age, well.. this still applies lol.

You will learn many times it isn't about what you know, it is about who you know. That will more than make up for lack of experience in almost any situation. I have never found a job that way, but many people have. In life, you will find you are not owed anything. You can study your brain out, earn degree after degree, cert after cert... and there is absolutely no promise or expectation of a job. You will lose out to unqualified or lesser candidates. It could be a relationship they have, it could simply be the person and the hiring manager both like the Cowboys. There is A LOT more intangibles that go into hiring than simply what you put on a resume.

Second off, I would go ahead and cross off the job on the military installation. I currently work in a nuclear weapons facility where a security clearance is required (my last day here), and honestly.. if anything ever came up on an arrest record, 9 times out of 10 they are not going to hire that person. Clearances are EXPENSIVE to process. They are not going to put one in for someone who has a questionable past- plain and simple. No, they are not processing a clearance for you. Typically you would accept a job offer first, work under an interim clearance while yours is being processed and may be limited in some work areas, and then get your clearance. I hate to tell you this man, but any job requiring a clearance... you have probably already messed that chance up with not one but two entries on your criminal record.

I don't want to sound harsh at all. I don't mean to be. But the reality is... life isn't fair and move on. I had to work my way up through a computer company starting as a shipping/receiving clerk. It was hard. I wanted to quit. I stuck through it, worked my few years in help desk/desktop support and I am obviously much better off for it now starting a sys admin job. But do you know how many jobs I was turned down for? Quite a few. A couple of them I was one of the final candidates. You simply need to keep trying until you find a place that fits for both you and them.

Good luck and keep working at it. Something will happen. Just need to stay positive and persistent

jtoast

futurethat88,

Sent you a PM