in message
I have a lot of issues with this document. I'm not holding any punches. If
you want someone to humor or BS you, don't read any further. I am
responding to give you a little dose of reality re: my opinion of your
questionaire. It is my understanding you're looking for an honest answer,
without sugar-coating and that is what I am giving you. It's also not
written to be politically correct because political correctness has nothing
to do with the truth or reality. Some of this may be hard to read but if I
am anything but totally honest, I'm just yanking your chain. And, if you're
asking just so someone will agree with you, then you're wasting our time by
asking.
I take my career seriously and I have no patience for incompetence or
ignorance due to lack of knowledge, which is due to lack of research, which
is due to lack of ambition. Any of these is ok so long the former is not a
product of the latter.
If you want to know if someone is competent, discuss a current issue with
them and let them tell you what their approach would be. Don't give them a
ridiculous test asking, "Do you know how to do this?" Your questions cross
into other areas beyond that of a LAN Admin. LAN Admins don't develop,
perform DBA or design networks. Those functions are performed by
developers, DBAs and System Engineers/Architects, respectively. People
working jobs, that cross these boundaries, work for a company that is not
paying them adequately, manipulating them, and/or is too small with too
small a budget to do so and probably has the mind set of, "it's a computer,
how difficult can it be?"
Don't expect them to have the answer if you don't have it yourself and it is
not specific to your network and pertinent to performing their duties. My
recommendation is that you end this charade and let a placement service weed
out unqualified candidates and concentrate on your new job and let your
ex-boss concentrate on destroying the AD infrastructure.
: I'm leaving my current job to go to another company so I'm helping my
current boss interview candidates to replace me.
So, you and your boss are performing HR duties that you are not qualified
for? If this is a public company, your investors are bailing since this
violates the security model and shows disorganization and a bad use of
resources.
: I drafted a 40 question test from scratch covering Active Directory,
Exchange Server, Terminal Server, SQL Server & general networking questions
that I thought we could use to gauge candidate's skill levels.
Why? You only get one chance to make a first impression. You're telling
all your candidates, "We don't believe anything you say and your resume is
most likely fake. You MUST take our version of the lie detector test.
We'll trust you and actually take the time to fully read your resume, if you
pass, since we didn't read past your name and phone number to call you in to
take it."
: My problem is that the first two candidates completely bombed my test (25%
or less correct),
I can't imagine why... but if I had to guess it would be because most of it
has nothing to do with LAN administration.
: although they had MCSE,
....which means nothing since most of your test questions require experience
which you do not get by taking MSFT exams. MSFT training gives you exposure
in a controlled environment. This has NOTHING to do with reality or a
production environment. ABSOLUTELY ZERO!!
: CCNA,
Where were the Cisco questions? You might as well add CCIE, CISSP, GSEC,
GCIH, MSCD, ASE, ACE, etc. because those also do not apply to most of the
questions asked.
: Bachelor's Degrees in Information Technology
Their IT degree is designed to get them in the door and give them a chance
to move into management. It is not designed to make them competent network
admins. There is nothing more valuable than relative work experience. It
doesn't matter how many acronyms are behind their name if they can't perform
their duties.
: or similar credentials
like?
: + 4 or more years experience.
in what? network administration? IT history? Development? DBA? Network
design? All networks are different, etc. Wouldn't it be more relative if
they had experience in the equipment you use?
: 39 of my 40 questions I made up in my head,
It shows. *no offense* You asked very vertical questions pertaining ONLY
to your network and some technology-related history questions which have
nothing to do with the performance of their job. You also covered things
that should not be introduced since this is NOT a new network and if found,
it means you didn't know what you were doing while you were there. These
types of questions should be applied to someone working for a VAR in an SE
role or someone getting ready to take an exam and not a LAN Admin.
: without any reference material,
Why would you do that? Is that statement made to impress us with your
knowledge of a network you've worked on for some time because it says to me
that you didn't take the time to research, nor are you qualified, to write
technical documentation or quizzes/tests. It also tells me you lack
preparation skills which probably explains why a lot of these questions have
nothing to do with LAN Administration. You're hiring a person, not a robot.
Asking the person questions about themselves is more relative than most of
the questions you listed. You should be trying to find out if they are a
good fit for the company which encompasses more than if they're good at
taking little quizzes without given preparation time. Have you ever been
given a test without knowing the subject matter and without having time to
study? Why would you subject any potential employee that you want to be
part of your team to that? What does that say to them about what to expect
from this company? A LAN Admin researches to find the answer. Nobody will
have every possible answer to every possible scenario. If they do, you
can't afford them and they definitely wouldn't be looking for a LAN Admin
position.
: so I figured it was a safe bet that experienced administrators would be
able to answer a lot of my questions w/o too much difficulty.
Wrong. You covered areas that do NOT generally apply to network admins,
i.e. SQL Administration. Where is the DBA? Also, unless you use metric
calculations, why would you ask for the cable distance in meters? Knowing
what the distance is does not imply they know how to measure it. How would
YOU measure it and if you walked it, would you measure in metric?
I would have to concur that for troubleshooting, knowing that anything over
100 meters is not reliable but it does not imply, by default, that it IS the
issue. After all, is the admin now running cable? How many hats is that
and if he has to cover so many areas, is this a 6 figure income? Surely a
small shop cannot afford that level of an engineer and if the company could,
then the network would most likely be a lot bigger and would employ a DBA,
and possibly different levels of engineers and you also wouldn't be limited
to one admin.
: Anyone willing to look over my test to tell me if I'm being to difficult,
or if the first two candidates just don't know their stuff?
Not difficult, ridiculous. This doesn't tell me anything other than they
have some exposure and possibly have knowledge in areas not pertaining to
their job description. You need to get HR involved so they can help you and
you need to research on how to interview potential employees or better yet,
outsource it. I read something in a book back in 1991. It said, "By the
time people are 21 years of age, they are pretty much who they are always
going to be. You can teach them a skill or a trade but you cannot teach
them to be a nice person." Where are the questions you ask about what kind
of person they are? None of your questions have anything to do with team
participation. You should put them at ease and ask them things about
themselves. Most people are more open and comfortable talking about things
they know well. If this person is an *ss, then certifications and knowledge
don't make a difference. If you do not think you can work with this person,
then it doesn't matter what they know or don't know. Your interview should
NOT have the have the theme, "Try to stump the applicant."
A network admin needs to be liked to be succesful at his/her job. They also
need to be respected. Some questions I have been asked in interviews were:
(my answers interspersed)
1. Why do you want to work here?
I have not made that decision yet. This interview is much of one for you as
it is for me. I am here to evaluate your company as well as be evauated.
Hopefully we can get closer today to seeing if we're a good fit for each
other.
2. What do you tell the user when they ask what you did to fix it?
I fixed it. I try not to answer specifically but more in general. I
educate the user on what to look for and what they can do to solve some
issues without calling for help and when to call the IT department. If I
just answer a question which may be outside of their area of understanding,
has the user benefitted? Was my goal to impress or confuse them at that
point? What has been useful is to tell them if they ever want to stop by
after their day or want to discuss things at lunch, I'd be happy to share
some things information on what we do in the IT department.
3. What do you do when you're walking down the hallway to visit with a user
who is having a problem and a manager of a department stops you and asks you
to come look at a problem they're having? another user does the same thing?
I explain to them I have an appointment with someone else and inform them
they must enter a call with the helpdesk so we can stay organized. If they
are down and cannot perform their duties then they will be given top
priority. I inform them I will check with them after reviewing the call
they placed with the helpdesk and then politely excuse myself.
4. You're working on the CEO/CFO's laptop when you discover porn on the driv
e. What do you do?
I follow the company policies and procedures manual which should instruct me
to first notify my immediate supervisor and possibly let them handle the
situation or instruct me further. This will most likely include getting HR
involved. You never know when you're being tested and not following
procedures is not a remedy for dealing with someone not following
procedures. If the CEO and other upper management personnel are immune from
policies and procedures, then this is not a place where I want to be
employed.
5. What do you use to stay organized?
I use a day timer, PDA and help desk software. A network should be fully
documented and there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Over time you may
not remember immediately what course of action you took to remedy a
situation but being able to research your notes, over time, can help to
reduce or eliminate duplicating research efforts.
6. What is my name? (asked 30 minutes into the first interview)
(The first thing I do, when meeting with them, is take out my notebook (not
computer) and enter their name at the top and I also take notes throughout
the interview. I will always know their name or have a way to quickly
review it. Also, it helps if you use their name when conversing with them.)
7. How do you feel about overtime, BTW, you're exempt! weekends? travel?
I am willing to work within reasonable boundaries regarding overtime,
weekends, travel as much as anyone else in my team is expected to.
8. Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
I am capable of working completely alone but have found I and the company
benefit more when issues are approached and remedied in cooperation with
other team members.
9. What can you bring to the company/team?
I bring years of experience in my areas of expertise and work in conjunction
with my team members to help promote stability and organzation within our
department.
10. Do you have any questions of us?
Can you provide projections of company growth and direction over the next 5
and 10 years?
Do you foresee the company being merged with or bought out within the next
5/10 years?
How long have the other team members been employed and what are their areas
of expertise?
What are the company policies towards security?
What is the procedure for dealing with negative users?
Does the IT department have someone at a peer level with upper management?
I will have additional questions, which are not pertinent now, during the
different stages of the interview process. If and when receive a formal
offer, in writing, I will have additional questions.
: Here is the list of qualifications we asked for:
:
: Must have thorough knowledge of Microsoft Server Software and Services
(i.e. Exchange, SQL Server, Terminal Server and Active Directory), Windows
NT based Client Operating Systems, Network Security, and end user software
like Microsoft Office, including Access and other database software. Must
have experience performing hardware installation, configuration and repair,
i.e. hard drive, RAM or CPU replacement, network cabling, router, switch,
firewall, workstation and Server (with RAID Storage Systems) configuration.
This is very vague.
First of all, define THOROUGH! Be specific. How ironic that you're
questions were so specific yet the required qualifications are general?!
Microsoft Server Software: Which versons(s)? Any application servers
besides SQL & Exchange?
Exchange: Which version(s)? Are you using more than one? If so, WHY?
MS SQL: Which version(s)?
Terminal Server: Which version(s)?
Window NT-based client OS: Which ones?
Network Security: Firewall? IDS? Group Policies? MD5? IPSec? Penetration
Testing? Forensics? Packet Sniffing? Antivirus? Content Filtering?
like Microsoft Office?: Like what? Corel? Well, MS Office or not? Which
version(s)?
other database software: ? Which one(s)?
hardware installation
: Which hardware? Servers? Desktops? PDAs?
Notebooks? Racks? Interconnectivity? Telecommunications? Patch Panels?
Printers? Fax Machines? Copiers/Printers/Scanners? Access Points? DSU/CSUs?
Modems? Monitors? Network printer sharing devices? CD Jukeboxes?
hardware repair?: Depot level repair or do you mean replacement? A LAN
Admin doesn't repair hardware. They troubleshoot it and swap it out, if
necessary.
hard drive, RAM, CPU?: Is this a clone shop? Aren't these systems under
warranty? How long do you keep equipment. Surely you understand the cost
of equipment is not only the line item cost during the purchasing process?!
Cabling: CAT5 only or something else? Not doing any voice?
Router: Which one(s)? Brand/model?
Switch[es]: Which one(s)? Brand/model? VLANs involved?
Firewall: Which one(s)? Brand/model? VPN?
Workstation: Which one(s)? Brand/model?
Server: Which one(s)? Brand/model? Rack mounted?
RAID?: Which level(s)? Hardware/software? Brand/model array controllers?
Looks ridiculous for an employment ad right? Not really. You can list that
you're looking for a seasoned network administrator with MSFT technologies,
Compaq/HP/Cisco hardware, duties including client/server/limited DBA and
then offer specifics.
Being knowledgable with a 3COM Switch and wanting Cisco switch knowledge
means you have no knowledge. The general understanding is the same but this
means they will have to get up to speed with that specific brand/model and
known issues. A Nortel Router and a Cisco router are night and day. Mix in
Cabletron and you add outer space to the equation. If you're going to be
general, you're going to get people with general knowlege or at the very
least, you're going to waste time interviewing unqualified candidates.
Also, unless you work directly with placement services, NOT HEAD HUNTERS,
you're probably not going to find the level of person you're looking for.
They should be qualifying candidates for you. This is not your area of
expertise. And, unless you're offering a very good compensation package,
this is ALL overkill since LAN Admins are not seen as high on the totem pole
in the IT arena.
: Test questions here:
: http://workthin.com/DOC/NetworkAdministratorTestWithoutAnswers.doc
Re: your questions:
You shouldn't be listing a MSFT Word document as a download on the Internet.
It begs the question, "How secure is your network and where is the quality
control?" Reserve that for your Intranet. Don't assume everyone trusts
you.
1. What's the difference? A better question would have been what is the
limit of a PST/OST file and what happens when you reach that limit?
However, this level of knowledge doesn't prove anything other than perhaps
they have come across it in the past. Are you running XCH 5.5, 2000, 2003?
If you're not running all 3, why ask? It sounds more like a bragging
contest.
2. Shouldn't this already be installed? If so, surely you're not moving
backwards with technology. Perhaps a better question would be if you
upgrade your servers to Windows 2K3, do you have to upgrade MS Exchange 2K
and/or MS SQL 2K? However, this can be found easily, so perhaps you could
add, "... if you are not sure, how would you find out?" If the primary
function of the LAN Admin is NOT research, I wouldn't hire them. You might
as well also ask them how to overhaul a transmission because it is as
relative to an existing network as this question is.
3. Are you running all of these NOS? If not, then why ask? Isn't this
already installed or planned?
4. How is this relevant to them being able to perform their duties?
5. If you're referring to transaction log files, then say that since that is
what they're called. Truncating meaning reducing them to 0 bytes or
truncating them to a specific size or deleting them? This is probably a
valid question to find out of they have some Exchange knowledge but if they
took Exchange, as an elective, for their MCSE, they should be able to easily
answer this question but it does not imply they really are capable of
administering Exchange XX version.
6. See #5 beginning at: "This is probably a valid question..."
7. Don't these already exists? Again, this is not a new network. Perhaps
one of the most frequently asked AD/DNS questions could replace this
question: "Which DNS servers do you use on an AD network?"
a. ISP
b. Local
c. Root Hints
d. Mix: a & b
e. Mix: a, b & c
f. Any so long as you're using DNS.
g. none of the above. DNS is not required
h. Use HOSTS instead of DNS
i. WINS is preferred over DNS
8. 24, but, unless you're a local loop or long haul provider, who cares?
Voice or data? Isn't your phone switch using PRIs? How many channels are
available for voice vs data? What is the size of the channel? Again, it's
not relative to the performance of their job.
9. d. None of the above since it's 1.544mbps (megabits per second - MB =
megabytes.)
10. It's generally referred to as a RAID5 configuration. Obviously you're
going for 91 but no need to do the math. They only need to know drives
should be the same size, speed and type, minimum 3, although size can vary
but would truncate to LCD. Perhaps you could ask what are the two single
points of failure in a RAID5 configuration? I see more relevant questions
being in the area of troubleshooting rather than basic technology
requirements/limitations.
11. Hopefully nobody is using RAID0 and you should be aware that RAID10 is
RAID1 & 0 and not array duplexing if that is what d. refers to which should
be rather RAID51 (Two RAID5 arrays, duplexed so the controller and cable are
not single points of failure). Are you running RAID1 and RAID5? Do you
have any application that would benefit significantly with RAID1 over RAID5
and critical to having that performance increase for writes which will be
decreased on reads compared to RAID5? You should be aware there are
generally more reads than writes on any drive.
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/levels/multLevel01-c.html
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=define:RAID+0
12. The OS does this for you already. It's called an association.
13. FTP is not port 20 but rather 20/21 (data/control). Also, active or
passive FTP? There could be other ports involved but relative to firewall
configuration, this is sufficient.
14, 15, 16, 17. If you have a Help Desk database and full documented
network then this information is easily obtained for anyone. If not, why
not?
18. Building any new offices in the near future? Your salesman should know.
You're looking for an engineer, not a salesman. If you have 50 computers,
30 users, no more than 25 at a time, you have budget issues and people are
not getting their bonuses because you're depleting the profits with
purchases of unneccessary equipment. Per user or per device?
19. A LAN Admin is not a SQL DBA! F. Ask for a raise. DBAs usually make
more money.
20. Why? You have SQL! E. Since you're now a developer, you develop stored
procedures and web applications so you do not need to purchase/install
additional software or distribute run-time licenses.
21. See 19.
22. Your job, because you obviously didn't plan for this. If you're looking
for the answer to be the MX record(s), that's BS, because you need to modify
forward and reverse lookup zones and not just the MX record(s).
23. How did this get past the current admin? a. Policies and procedures.
b. Weekly company sponsored beatings for violators out on the front lawn.
24. How is this relevant to their duties? Their job description is LAN
Admin, not Engineer and this is not a Network Technologies test, or
shouldn't be.
25. Why are TCP/IP printers setup on a Windows server? What did the server
ever do to deserve this? The first thing to do is change your design and
move the printers to a printing appliance or printer sharing devices and
quit bogging down the server needlessly. The server should not be an all
inclusive device.
26. There are more relevant issues here other than using a x-connect or ST
cable.
27. 100 meters but is the LAN Admin running cable? Is that a good use of
their resources? Who is supporting the users while the Admin is running
cable? How about, "Have you ever used a cable tester before and if so,
which one(s) are you familiar with? If your cable tasks are outsourced, WHY
ASK?
28. SMP doesn't work this way and your issue should not be looking for a
work around but perhaps a hardware upgrade or app redesign?! Did the LAN
Admin write this app? A better question would be, "Who allowed this app to
be introduced into a production environment?"
29. Why would you want to use a workstation for this process if it is so
demanding and why try to utilize it for other apps while it is in high gear?
Which is engineered better for CPU intensive applications, workstation or
server OS? Which one offers more support for SMP, additonal CPUs?
30. You verify cable with a cable tester, i.e. Pentascanner. That's not how
you verify a switch port either. Could be a multitude of problems,
including swap space, time outs, server storage (not disk space), drivers,
etc.
31. Your network is not setup correctly since a user had to tell you your
network is toast 1.5 days later. Your boss is obviously not qualified to
have rights on the network and should not have them just because of his/her
position. S/he should be added to the short list for the weekly beatings.
Network security should not be politically designed but most are. What did
you forget to do? RTFM and apply for a job where you were qualified, oh,
and shoot your boss, AFTER the beatings!!
32. MIS (Management Information Systems) applies to mainframe, not
client/server. You don't give an intern rights to setup a workstation when
you should already have a cookie cutter config and push technology to setup
the new system or at the very least verification before giving it to the
user. Where is the quality control? The worst thing you can do is give a
user a computer that is either misconfigured or incomplete. It reflects on
the whole department. It says, "We're complete idiots. No pieces missing!"
And, you don't lose data when you convert from FAT-32 to NTFS unless you're
referring to a rebuild vs using convert. In this case MIS = My Intern
Sucks!
33. System State but are you really using NTBackup for backups? Is that the
most important thing to know when backing up servers and AD? How about,
"How often do you test your backups for reliability?" If they answer, "I
set verification during the backup process.", they have no clue what you're
asking.
34. LAN Admin, not DBA!
35. You purchase Altiris and it will pay for itself so you have more time to
support the users. Add another hat to the LAN Admin., not to mention
required certification and training.
36. Where is the security for this network? You're looking for
HLKM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run but why was this able to
happen? If you waste your time trying to secure your network by
concentrating on the result, you're just wasting your time.
37. What does this have to do with the performance of their job? Are you
still running any systems that have a-d processors?
38. high-dollar application. What does this have to do with being qualified
to perform LAN Admin duties?
39. The user is asleep since they have to initiate.
40. What in the Hell is the intern doing with a laptop and does HIS laptop
imply his PERSONAL laptop? Get rid of XP Home and get XP Pro and slap the
intern around, daily.
---
Why are you now including PBX discovery when that is not part of the job
description?
I don't have that much of an issue of a self-assessment other than it
shouldn't be something you want filled out onsite and during an interview.
You asked this person to meet with you so you should have some level of
understanding of their abilities. A self-assessment can be asked for prior
to the meeting but you should not test before an interview is granted, as
that is a violation of law, or at least in the state where I live it is.
Don't ask someone to come in to visit with you and then put them in a room
alone to fill out an assessment. Time is valuable, yours AND theirs. You
only get one chance to make a first impression, don't blow it. One question
you should never ask is how much are you looking for? Two reasons why this
is a bad idea:
1. You're offering the job. You're not going to pay someone what they're
asking for unless it falls within a predetermined range to which you're
willing to agree to, so it's pointless and it's negative. If you're making
the offer, then make it, which leads me to my next point.
2. There is NO reason to EVER discuss compensation amounts UNTIL and ONLY IF
a FORMAL OFFER [in writing] has been made. This should also be negotiable.
Your job offer should not be a product on a shelf but rather exactly what it
is, an offer. Your applicants may make a counter offer which could mean
they look at this as a career, rather than a job and have an understanding
of their worth or marketability and it could mean they have a definite
interest in your company because why else would they try to negotiate. Or
it could mean they're just greedy but that cannot be determined by a
questionaire.
There was a terrific commercial not long ago and the interviewer asked,
"You're just out of college. How much are you looking to make?" The
applicant replied, "$150k". The interviewer continued and received boolean
response from the applicant. "How would you like a VP position?" GREAT!
"Your own company car?" Alright! "Your private secretary." Yes! "And full
use of the company jet?" The applicant asked, "Are you serious?" The
interviewer replied, "No, but you started it!"
: Thanks to anyone willing to help me out. You may email me your response
via my website (support request). I'd also be willing to furnish the
answers to anyone who wants them.
Asked here, answered here. I doubt the answers would be any use unless I
was applying for the job so I could give the answers you're looking for.
(O;=
Not all of these questions fall in the black/white categories and most are
not relevant to the position you're offering.
After reading the ad and the questionnaire, I'd only need to ask myself one
question, "Why would I want to work there?" If we are to base the
complexity, size and level of security of your network on what we have seen
here, I would grade it simple, unorganized, mismanaged, relatively small and
completely lacking of security. Surely your network is not in this state
but I can only grade it on what I have seen and I am an engineer, I don't
speculate. I seek the truth. I cannot fully understand what it is you're
seeking with this questionnaire other than to demonstrate these are some
issues you have dealt with there and/or you need filler for the
questionnaire so you threw in some trivia.
If you have a goofy job ad and a goofy questionnaire, you'll end up with a
goof supporting your network. (O:= If you're not getting qualified
candidates, perhaps it's not a bad pool of candidates but rather your lack
of knowledge in an area for which you have no experience. If you're not
qualified to obtain an position in HR, then my recommendation to you is to
turn this over to someone who is qualified and you'll probably start getting
better candidates.
Good luck.
