Specific TECHNICAL Interview Questions/Answers

Hey all. I've been a lurker around here for some time now, what an excellent resource. I've been working in IT for five years now primarily with investment banks (as an IT vendor). I've recently started interviewing for Desktop type positions directly in the banks and I've done very poorly on the tech side due to the nature of my current position.

I'm A+ and CCNA certified, great with computers in general, but my job affords me no hands on with anything Server related - Exchange, Active Directory, etc. And since my position has very limited desktop support for the traditional end user I see very few problems with things like Excel, Outlook, Bloomberg (IB application for those who aren't aware). These things seem to be absolutely necessary to land a desktop support role.

In my most recent interview the guy I was speaking to was very cool and upfront. He said straight up to just go home, looks for these types of questions/answers on Google and gain experience that way. I've been poking Google but most of the stuff is nearly useless. Mostly your generic interview questions, not all that specific.

I thought it would be a great idea for everyone if we could compile a long list of these types of questions/answers for the rest of us (myself especially) to read over. Basically all of most common the level 1/2 questions you'll hear from users and the answers we'd provide them as IT professionals.

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Comments

the_Grinch

Perhaps you need to interview for positions within you're skill set. While we could compile question that relate to server issues that arise, if you aren't working on it every day then you are almost brain dumping for interview questions. You're other option would be to begin studying for desktop/server related certifications. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you'll be doing yourself and your future employer a disservice if you lack the needed skills for the position for which you applied. Truly desktop related position should for the most part not require a lot of server related work and any company worth working for would train you in that aspect if everything else matches up. Just my two cents.

RouteThisWay

You don't gain experience by reading things on Google. If I watch a pornographic film tonight on the internet that included some kind of orgy- that does not mean I was taking place in it! I still don't know what to do, what it is like to be there, what goes on behind the scenes, etc.

I am with the Grinch on this one- if you are focusing in on desktop roles, go for some certs that will help you in that area (MS stuff). Many interview questions can be solved just by knowing the material and basic troubleshooting skills. You have your CCNA- if you don't mind me asking, was there a reason you chose that over application/system certs? If you are attracted to the neworking game, why not look for one in that field?

Qord

Someone has already compiled a list like that:
MCSE and System Administrator Job Interview Questions - Part 1 - Networking
If you start digging around to figure out exactly what all the answers are as well as why, you'll be surprised to see just how much you've learned. The next step would be to build a simple lab (even one VM would do) and play with it. e

RouteThisWay wrote: »

If I watch a pornographic film

Oddly on topic: In the Navy we called these "training films".

RouteThisWay

Qord wrote: »

Oddly on topic: In the Navy we called these "training films".

Haha! Nice! Maybe I need to join the Navy

BigMevy

I'm a little confused that you're interviewing for a desktop support position, and they're asking you questions about AD, Exchange, and servers? Seems to be a disconnect there. If you're A+ certified and good with basic computer stuff, you should be a shoe-in for a desktop support role. I can see maybe beefing up a bit on specific application training, such as MS Office apps, and you can take a class or buy a book that should help you with that.

nxsteven

I'm sure job descriptions and qualifications vary by location. I currently work in the financial sector in NY. A "Desktop Support" position here is help desk and desktop support all balled in to one. Building the new machines with department specific applications, deploying them, and servicing them. They're advanced positions where a simple A+ wouldn't be enough to get you in the door and on the trading floors.

Just the knowledge usually isn't enough, they want the hands on. I guess it's about the repetition to answer and fix issues ASAP so the traders can get back to work?

Qord wrote: »

Someone has already compiled a list like that:
MCSE and System Administrator Job Interview Questions - Part 1 - Networking
If you start digging around to figure out exactly what all the answers are as well as why, you'll be surprised to see just how much you've learned. The next step would be to build a simple lab (even one VM would do) and play with it. e

This is a great list and is similar to what I'm actually referring to. What I'd wonder here is how many of these a hiring manager would actually be interested in asking a potential employee? Some ask questions just to ask questions while others have an actual method to their madness.

Anything more troubleshooting related would be great rather than just concept and definition though.

Either way I'll be looking through those questions and researching the answers on my own and creating my own list. Maybe even turn them in to flash cards. Also good to know that the MCSE, although it has changed, is not all that foreign to me at all. Just needs to get my hands on more troubleshooting questions/answers as that's my ideal learning method. Thanks again!

nxsteven

the_Grinch wrote: »

Perhaps you need to interview for positions within you're skill set. While we could compile question that relate to server issues that arise, if you aren't working on it every day then you are almost brain dumping for interview questions. You're other option would be to begin studying for desktop/server related certifications. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you'll be doing yourself and your future employer a disservice if you lack the needed skills for the position for which you applied. Truly desktop related position should for the most part not require a lot of server related work and any company worth working for would train you in that aspect if everything else matches up. Just my two cents.

It's a Catch22. I've been working in IT for five years and know a ton but what I know is within the confines of my position and company. It's mostly hardware with desktop support but not at the enterprise level - no Server anything. In case you're wondering, it's a lot of KVM technology and Multi-Protocol keyboards that connect to investment baking systems. Sadly, what I do is within a very niche market and the positions are few and far between - it's actually a dying breed at this point. So the idea is to take my experience and get a desktop support job within the same industry. On the same trading floors I already work on, with the same people I work with, supporting the same users I support just in a slightly different capacity.

My belief is having a certification is you telling an employer that you're a trainable individual - I have them. It doesn't make you an expect on that subject or field, it usually means you'll still have a ton of questions once you start a job. I'd strongly recommend to everyone to cram information relative to the job they're hoping to interview for - which is exactly what I'm trying to do. I'm looking for specific questions and answers to relative day to day on the job application whereas a lot of certification material is NOT application whatsoever. I still remember reading about Dr Watson on my A+ only a few years ago.

I hope this helps clarify my objective a bit. I think it would be a great resource for those who are in similar positions.

VAHokie56

You have a CCNA? with some desktop experience I would at least my a try for an entry level networking gig...if your interested in going that direction.