IT people

[Weasel]

Well I got nominated to sit in on the panel for the new IT supervisor. And i'm suppose to come up with some question or scenarios to ask. Well I was just going to sit back and let others ask the questions and branch of that but now I need some things to ask. I'm not a IT guy but handy enough with computers around the office so thats why I got nominated.

So anyone have any helpful hints on stuff I should ask? It's basic networking troubleshoot and computer IT help for a IHS hospital. Are there standard IT interview questions :laugh:

 

[RichP]

Well I got nominated to sit in on the panel for the new IT supervisor. And i'm suppose to come up with some question or scenarios to ask. Well I was just going to sit back and let others ask the questions and branch of that but now I need some things to ask. I'm not a IT guy but handy enough with computers around the office so thats why I got nominated.

So anyone have any helpful hints on stuff I should ask? It's basic networking troubleshoot and computer IT help for a IHS hospital. Are there standard IT interview questions :laugh:

Have him do a cold install on a cisco router using a laptop and serial cable and if he's a H1 type take his cell phone away oh, and keep the blue cisco cable out of sight, just stick a standard serial cable on the table, make him ask for it
Too hard ? wipe a pc and let him do a full install including bringing it up on the network.
When I used to interview and hire for one company I ignored certs, my victims had to cold install a HP9000, Novell 6 server, win2000 pro ws, usually took 4 hours from start to finish but I could usually spot the testing genius's within 20 minutes. The good ones would have all 3 going at the same time. I also had a no cell phone rule
I considered them trainable after that.

 

[Coastie]

Have him do a cold install on a cisco router using a laptop and serial cable and if he's a H1 type take his cell phone away oh, and keep the blue cisco cable out of sight, just stick a standard serial cable on the table, make him ask for it
Too hard ? wipe a pc and let him do a full install including bringing it up on the network.
When I used to interview and hire for one company I ignored certs, my victims had to cold install a HP9000, Novell 6 server, win2000 pro ws, usually took 4 hours from start to finish but I could usually spot the testing genius's within 20 minutes. The good ones would have all 3 going at the same time. I also had a no cell phone rule
I considered them trainable after that.

Good ones.

This was my final build in "A" school.

We had a PE2800 and 3 work stations all wiped and the goal was in one day to build them all and make a user base of 25 users using in Active Directory. The server had to be a file and print server aswell as a RIS server.

For me it was easy once I got the server up and running.

 

[BruceB83]

Or, since you don't have the knowledge to get into his technically abilities....you could simply be a judge of character, work ethic, and personality. Leave the IT gurus to the technical stuff. Ask questions that unveil, in an indirect way, his character, work ethics, personality, preferred management style, etc... The reason I say in an indirect way is because you generally get more straight answers by doing so. They are less likely to "stretch" the truth or to give you the answer they know you're looking for if you can go about it that way.

I had to do this about two weeks ago for our Engineering (Video Technology/IT) group. I'm a finance guy transitioning to project management for Engineering so since I didn't know what to ask about technical stuff...I was able to provide valuable info on him as a person which for us, a company of under 100 employees, is extremely important.

 

[JNickel101]

Ask him what to do if a switch gets a virus.

No really.

I had a command level inspector ask me that. He had been an IT guy for about 5 minutes, prior to that he was a cop - but since he was a Master Sgt, he got put on the inspection team.

We all had a good laugh and he got mad.

 

[Ralph]

Well I got nominated to sit in on the panel for the new IT supervisor. And i'm suppose to come up with some question or scenarios to ask. Well I was just going to sit back and let others ask the questions and branch of that but now I need some things to ask. I'm not a IT guy but handy enough with computers around the office so thats why I got nominated.

So anyone have any helpful hints on stuff I should ask? It's basic networking troubleshoot and computer IT help for a IHS hospital. Are there standard IT interview questions :laugh:

Check for previous customer service and managerial experience. Check references. An IT manager needs to know computer work but needs to be able to handle his people and his customers.

 

[RichP]

Or, since you don't have the knowledge to get into his technically abilities....you could simply be a judge of character, work ethic, and personality. Leave the IT gurus to the technical stuff. Ask questions that unveil, in an indirect way, his character, work ethics, personality, preferred management style, etc... The reason I say in an indirect way is because you generally get more straight answers by doing so. They are less likely to "stretch" the truth or to give you the answer they know you're looking for if you can go about it that way.

I had to do this about two weeks ago for our Engineering (Video Technology/IT) group. I'm a finance guy transitioning to project management for Engineering so since I didn't know what to ask about technical stuff...I was able to provide valuable info on him as a person which for us, a company of under 100 employees, is extremely important.

I KNEW IT, ENGINEERING BY BOOK KEEPERs and ACCOUNTANT, no wonder we're so screwed....

ROFLMAO

 

[BruceB83]

I KNEW IT, ENGINEERING BY BOOK KEEPERs and ACCOUNTANT, no wonder we're so screwed....

ROFLMAO

Do NOT call me a book keeper damn it! :twak:

:laugh3: (But seriously...don't!)

 

[mavinwy]

If you are not a tech guy yourself, ask the questions for things surrounding the technical side. Thing like:
security policies
e-mail policies
how do deal with irate or manipulative users that are requesting things without authorization
troubleshooting steps on situations that you have faced in the past (ones that you know how they solved)

Other than that, look for character and a good "fit" for the department, and whether or not the person thinks logically.

Jim

 

[BruceB83]

Anytime I have to interview someone not directly working for me, it's extremely casual because like I said, I'm shooting for non-task related information. I have found that's the best way to get it. Looking for that fit into the company...

 

[WB9YZU]

Ask him if he has power issues.

 

[Weasel]

OK thanks guys, I don't think this person will be up to the level of some of the technical questions you guys would asking, unfortunately. Typically the people they hire are not very motivated or real bright at their jobs. I work for Indian Health Service.

It does give me some ideas for questions and direction to take, the more basic skills that were suggested.

 

[Coastie]

Okay here is something simple. Take all the components out of a computer and ask him to put it back together. Or simply give him a blank server and ask him to install whatever OS you guys are running.

 

[RichP]

OK thanks guys, I don't think this person will be up to the level of some of the technical questions you guys would asking, unfortunately. Typically the people they hire are not very motivated or real bright at their jobs. I work for Indian Health Service.

It does give me some ideas for questions and direction to take, the more basic skills that were suggested.

That kinda sucks. Where I am now 'Famous Smoke Shop' everyone here is great, this is the best gig I have had since belllabs doing R&D stuff. I think the Friday beer/pizza/cigar meetings might have a little to do with it as well as the ESPN broadcasts and some other fringes.

 

[BruceB83]

That kinda sucks. Where I am now 'Famous Smoke Shop' everyone here is great, this is the best gig I have had since belllabs doing R&D stuff. I think the Friday beer/pizza/cigar meetings might have a little to do with it as well as the ESPN broadcasts and some other fringes.

Sounds like a stressful working environment...:spin1:

My place is pretty laid back too. None of my friends from college that I graduated with are wearing shorts at work right now, well in the same field anyways. :clap:

 

[RichP]

Sounds like a stressful working environment...:spin1:

My place is pretty laid back too. None of my friends from college that I graduated with are wearing shorts at work right now, well in the same field anyways. :clap:

It can be stressful, take now for instance, I'm trying to decide whether to light up a Cusano Habano or a Gloria Cubana to go with my morning Kona blend coffee while I'm trying to clean the remnants of symantec live state backup out of the registry of one of my windows servers.
As for short, still bit too nippley out up here for that though it is supposed to hit 65 today.

 

[Coastie]

It can be stressful, take now for instance, I'm trying to decide whether to light up a Cusano Habano or a Gloria Cubana to go with my morning Kona blend coffee while I'm trying to clean the remnants of symantec live state backup out of the registry of one of my windows servers.
As for short, still bit too nippley out up here for that though it is supposed to hit 65 today.

I would kill for 65, going to get 2-4" of snow this weekend.

 

[Ralph]

It can be stressful, take now for instance, I'm trying to decide whether to light up a Cusano Habano or a Gloria Cubana to go with my morning Kona blend coffee while I'm trying to clean the remnants of symantec live state backup out of the registry of one of my windows servers.
As for short, still bit too nippley out up here for that though it is supposed to hit 65 today.

It would be nice if I could smoke in here while I work. It's not too terrible though. I take my smoke break outside between the library and student union. Springtime brings out beautiful scenery.

 

[RichP]

It would be nice if I could smoke in here while I work. It's not too terrible though. I take my smoke break outside between the library and student union. Springtime brings out beautiful scenery.

And full cover up clothing goes away. I used to love NYC at lunch time and watching the hotties on the steps of the stock market catching some rays.
Tops getting unbuttoned, skirts going up, OK thats it, much more and it gets moved to the den...

 

[Ralph]

And full cover up clothing goes away. I used to love NYC at lunch time and watching the hotties on the steps of the stock market catching some rays.
Tops getting unbuttoned, skirts going up, OK thats it, much more and it gets moved to the den...

Oh yeah, and today, it's snowing.