VENT: What are employers in the I.T field looking for?

[homerunkevin]

I would take experience is by far more important than certs or BS degree. In addition, it also depends if that culture or environment suits your background.

 

[Zolty]

I lucked out and got a internship in college. Quit college but the internship gave me my foot in the door at a help desk for a moderately sized national ISP, 2 years there and I was a senior tech, which landed my current job, with the state. That said I hate IT, I don't understand how anyone can like it. I just do it to pay for school / training for something that I actually want to do.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Originally posted by: Thetech
I don't have any degrees, I just explain to them that I've been working with computers for a certain amount of time, I've done this done that etc.
Yes, the jobs I've been trying to get are in store pc technician at small, and big box computer stores.

A job in IT is a career choice. You make it sound like you are interviewing to be a server at a resteraunt, as in you've worked here and there bla bla bla. IT is a life long full time job and should be treated as such. Why is it that people think they can walk in with absolutely nothing and start their career? Do you think I could walk into a financial firm and tell them "yeah I have a bank account, and a savings account, and I can use the atm... can I get a job as a loan analyst?"...

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Elbryn

Originally posted by: Platypus

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Platypus
Seems to be a wide spread here.. certs are kind of a running joke at most of the places I've worked. In fact we usually hang up fake certs for the most ridiculous shit to further accentuate it.

It seems like while you might be technical you don't have good people skills? Your post is vague so it's hard to tell.
Can you give us some examples from your interviews and how you answered the questions?

I have to say that in my experience thus far, the more certs a person had, the more useless they were. Degrees also seem to mean jack squat.

Exactly.

but the issue here is how to get your foot into the door and snag that first job. without the certs or degree to get you to the job or without past job experience in the field, how do you get in? I agree that certs are a waste of time once you have been doing the job.

There are several ways in, the easiest is your bachelors degree.

It's kind of unrealistic to expect a nice job without a degree, relevant work experience or someone willing to take a big chance on you. There's also internships and knowing the right people.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: Randum
Second, be sure to talk to them and let them know you have a personality- the biggest drawback to a lot of candidates I see is the personality.
And finally, I think goes without saying is being punctual. Be on time and dressed to impressed.

QFT.

All the certifications in the world will not help you if you don't interview well and don't have a good personality.

I and my co-workers have done interviews for entry level (help desk) tech jobs, and the we score more on how well they will function within a team, and how well they will deal with customers. Most of the time we deal with people who think they are gods gifts to computers, we generally will not hire them.

We will take the lesser qualified candidate if it means we are getting someone who we think will be a team player and work with customers well.

I'd focus more on how you would answer personality and scenario based questions.

my favorite question to ask a interviewee is this.

so tell me noob, say one day you came down to the lunch room and noticed the coffee pot overflowing, what would you do.

the answers i have received for that question i quite pathetic.

 

[Platypus]

OP, get back to us about your interview.

It's hard to help you without knowing what they asked you.

I've interviewed TONS of people for technical jobs as a favor to my boss at my last job. More often than not it's not an issue of technical ability but rather of personality... how well you would fit in with the current work environment and the people in it. How are you presenting yourself to these people?

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
You need to be confident but not arrogant when you interview.

All you need to know right there.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I'm so glad I'm a software engineer and not a general "IT guy", ie pc tech support or server support. The bullshit you guys have to put up with sounds insane. I've worked alongside people with no certs and no degrees, because they are judged on their ability and personality alone. General IT seems to be a dick swinging contest based on how many acronym's you have after your name.

 

[DougK62]

soft skills

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: Platypus
OP, get back to us about your interview.

It's hard to help you without knowing what they asked you.

I've interviewed TONS of people for technical jobs as a favor to my boss at my last job. More often than not it's not an issue of technical ability but rather of personality... how well you would fit in with the current work environment and the people in it. How are you presenting yourself to these people?

"Sounds like you need a B.S. in BS."
lol, sounds like the truth.

First off, the way I present myself is I go in there wearing my slacks, dress shirt etc. Ya know the general office wear. I'm kind of shy so I don't have a huge personality to show off to them. And my main focus is explaining that while I've never done P.C repair in a professional environment I do have tons of experience. I usually explain that I've got experience in a gamut of things such as hardware upgrades, software etc. I've built and maintained computers. That kind of thing. I also explain to them how I'm a hard worker, and that when I've completed the work on hand I find more.

The kinds of questions I'm asked are, "Why are you interested in working for us", "How would you handle an irate customer", "What can you do for us", "What can you do that separates you from everyone else"/"What makes you special" "If I hired you what could you bring to the table".

It's not that I don't know how to do the job, but I don't know what type of answer they are looking for when they ask my "What separates you from everyone else' they seem to want to know what's special about me, but in a job like that I have no clue what would separate me and make me "special".

My responses to such "curve ball" questions are usually met with a delay, or an ummm...(I look around the room then answer) type of response. Because as I just stated those types of questions get me. I've found that most of the people I've met who see my computer skills in action are impressed, but when it comes to getting a job I'm out of the loop.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: Thetech
I don't have any degrees, I just explain to them that I've been working with computers for a certain amount of time, I've done this done that etc.
Yes, the jobs I've been trying to get are in store pc technician at small, and big box computer stores.

Certs will help get your foot in the door, but if in interviews you come across as a wet blanket who won't provide the customer with a really positive experience you won't get hired.

The questions you're having trouble with are questions that transcend IT; they're what the hiring manager will base his/her decision on in most industries. If you've got an interview, you've met the qualifications, now you just need to find a way to make yourself stand out from the rest.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Citrix
my favorite question to ask a interviewee is this.

so tell me noob, say one day you came down to the lunch room and noticed the coffee pot overflowing, what would you do.

the answers i have received for that question i quite pathetic.

Oh that's an easy one. You clog up the drain, turn both knobs on the faucent on. Then clog up any drains that may be on the floor. Break the mop in half. Cut a hole in the bucket. Unplug the fridge. Then move the toaster oven (plugged in of course) to where the water is eventually going to hit it.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Thetech

Originally posted by: Platypus
OP, get back to us about your interview.

It's hard to help you without knowing what they asked you.

I've interviewed TONS of people for technical jobs as a favor to my boss at my last job. More often than not it's not an issue of technical ability but rather of personality... how well you would fit in with the current work environment and the people in it. How are you presenting yourself to these people?

"Sounds like you need a B.S. in BS."
lol, sounds like the truth.

First off, the way I present myself is I go in there wearing my slacks, dress shirt etc. Ya know the general office wear. I'm kind of shy so I don't have a huge personality to show off to them. And my main focus is explaining that while I've never done P.C repair in a professional environment I do have tons of experience. I usually explain that I've got experience in a gamut of things such as hardware upgrades, software etc. I've built and maintained computers. That kind of thing. I also explain to them how I'm a hard worker, and that when I've completed the work on hand I find more.

The kinds of questions I'm asked are, "Why are you interested in working for us", "How would you handle an irate customer", "What can you do for us", "What can you do that separates you from everyone else"/"What makes you special" "If I hired you what could you bring to the table".

It's not that I don't know how to do the job, but I don't know what type of answer they are looking for when they ask my "What separates you from everyone else' they seem to want to know what's special about me, but in a job like that I have no clue what would separate me and make me "special".

My responses to such "curve ball" questions are usually met with a delay, or an ummm...(I look around the room then answer) type of response. Because as I just stated those types of questions get me. I've found that most of the people I've met who see my computer skills in action are impressed, but when it comes to getting a job I'm out of the loop.

That's one problem right there... you need to be confident and ready to respond. Since you know the kinds of questions they ask you should prepare for such a question in the future with a well thought out answer that is NOT filled with bullshit. Try to act natural in your responses.. people can tell when you're reading a script so to speak.

These are purely behavioral questions and your answer usually isn't right or wrong but it's how easily you can produce one and how natural it appears. There are tons of people out there with computer skills, you have to make yourself have an edge to them.

 

[Thetech]

Platypus, what would you qualify as bullshit?, I understand what you're saying about coming up with a response.
I'm confused as to when I would be bullshitting thought, I don't mean to sound dumb but I'm truly at a loss.

 

[ultimatebob]

Nowadays, people seem to want x years of experience and certifications in product y. It doesn't matter what else they know, as long as they know that particular product!

It's strange... people used to want people who were a jack of all trades. Now they seem to just want an expert in a single topic to come up with the plan and manage the project, and then have a staff of interns and Indian supplemental staff to do the rest of the grunt work.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Thetech
Platypus, what would you qualify as bullshit?, I understand what you're saying about coming up with a response.
I'm confused as to when I would be bullshitting thought, I don't mean to sound dumb but I'm truly at a loss.

Here's the best advice I can offer...

Learn how to communicate. IT (for the most part) is a business function and without the ability to work well with others you will get nowhere.

The interview isn't normally about what you know, it's about how you interact and communicate. Once that is gauged they can dig deeper into what you actually know. It's true, the impression of you is already made within about 2 minutes (how you look, how you speak, your facial expressions, your body language) - from there the move is to verify if that impression is correct.

So, look sharp as a tack, motivated, think before you speak, etc.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Thetech
Platypus, what would you qualify as bullshit?, I understand what you're saying about coming up with a response.
I'm confused as to when I would be bullshitting thought, I don't mean to sound dumb but I'm truly at a loss.

Here's the best advice I can offer...

Learn how to communicate. IT (for the most part) is a business function and without the ability to work well with others you will get nowhere.

The interview isn't normally about what you know, it's about how you interact and communicate. Once that is gauged they can dig deeper into what you actually know. It's true, the impression of you is already made within about 2 minutes (how you look, how you speak, your facial expressions, your body language) - from there the move is to verify if that impression is correct.

So, look sharp as a tack, motivated, think before you speak, etc.

Yep.. I really don't advocate bullshitting people.. just be yourself. If you don't know how to do something just be upfront and honest about it. It's really easy to tell when someone is lying. It's so much better to say "I don't know how to do that" or "I've never used XYZ" than to just lie about it.

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: Platypus

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Thetech
Platypus, what would you qualify as bullshit?, I understand what you're saying about coming up with a response.
I'm confused as to when I would be bullshitting thought, I don't mean to sound dumb but I'm truly at a loss.

Here's the best advice I can offer...

Learn how to communicate. IT (for the most part) is a business function and without the ability to work well with others you will get nowhere.

The interview isn't normally about what you know, it's about how you interact and communicate. Once that is gauged they can dig deeper into what you actually know. It's true, the impression of you is already made within about 2 minutes (how you look, how you speak, your facial expressions, your body language) - from there the move is to verify if that impression is correct.

So, look sharp as a tack, motivated, think before you speak, etc.

Yep.. I really don't advocate bullshitting people.. just be yourself. If you don't know how to do something just be upfront and honest about it. It's really easy to tell when someone is lying. It's so much better to say "I don't know how to do that" or "I've never used XYZ" than to just lie about it.

Ahh... I understand and agree with that, that's what I've pretty much been doing.
I thank everyone for their insight.

 

[kevman]

Confidence.