Been out of the job hunt for a while

[Tsaico]

I have been pretty comfortable at my current position, but want a change of pace. I put in for a school district network admin/support, and they called wanting an interview. The interview is to be done by panel and then followed by a "standardized test".

It has been quite some time since I have been in the "hot seat" and am wondering what can I expect tomorrow?

Update: I have been offered a position, but I decided to turn it down. While technically more, not enough to steal me away. What does it usually take for you guys to jump ship and join a new crew?

 

[lobbyone]

lots of questions, just relax and you'll do fine! good luck

 

[Feldenak]

Good luck!

 

[cyclistca]

Good luck.

If you have a list of the items they are looking for write them down on some paper. Then list beside the points your relavent experince for each point.

 

[hellokeith]

Been through this exact type of interview. Some suggestions:

1. Jot down the name of each person in the panel and their position.
2. Expect a bunch of those crappy "tell us your most significant achievement" and "how would you deal with an irate customer" type questions.
3. Expect some technical questions, and they want industry keywords used with the typical definition.

 

[eleison]

Originally posted by: Tsaico
I have been pretty comfortable at my current position, but want a change of pace. I put in for a school district network admin/support, and they called wanting an interview. The interview is to be done by panel and then followed by a "standardized test".

It has been quite some time since I have been in the "hot seat" and am wondering what can I expect tomorrow?

IMHO, going to work for a school district is a career killer... esp. if you want to ever work in the corporate world...

 

[Tsaico]

Originally posted by: eleison

Originally posted by: Tsaico
I have been pretty comfortable at my current position, but want a change of pace. I put in for a school district network admin/support, and they called wanting an interview. The interview is to be done by panel and then followed by a "standardized test".

It has been quite some time since I have been in the "hot seat" and am wondering what can I expect tomorrow?

IMHO, going to work for a school district is a career killer... esp. if you want to ever work in the corporate world...

Really why?

I was looking up some different things they had going on, and while in it's infancy, there seemed to be a lot to grow on... Not to mention, the pay is pretty good based off of job description.

61-79k, they have similar systems, file server, printer server, computer lab. The district just gave out 50 laptops in a pilot program to see if they can remove all traditional text books out of the classroom and homes. While I do deal with quite a bit more security here at my current position, as well as integration of different systems, the ideas of security and confidentialty are the same.

Not to mention, the county here still give off two months and the Union contract that was just renewed guarantees at least 10% raise a year for the next 12 years, regardless of job performance (I just can't get fired. I would also be eligible for higher raises if the board deems fit). Then the contract also stipulates there must be a bonus based off of the kids performance, ranging from no less than 3% and a maximum of 5%.

 

[FoBoT]

you go cow! good luck

 

[Tsaico]

hmm, not a whole lot of advice out there...

In any case, I am off to the interview now...

Wish me luck!

 

[maximus maximus]

gdluck man.

 

[Tsaico]

Well, it was pretty lame. The folks that had conducted the interview were obviously not tech folks. It seemed their main concern was how I would handled without supervision, examples, and how would I handle people without any computer experience or knowledge.

It sounds like a hybrid position, with half of my time under the normal thing i am used, which is nework administration and security, then the rest handling basic help desk tech support stuff. While I think I still disagree that the school districts are career killers, I am not sure that I want to go to work for this particular faculty, since it sounds that the majority of the work will be mine to do. (set vs, maintanance, since they descirbed some schools not even having a network in place) So pulling cables and putting in all the planning isn't my flavor of work. Think of it as a big fish in a small pond. While I am a smaller fish in a larger pond, I was hoping to find an envirionment that was more like a small fish in a big pond so I could have room to go.

I dunno, the lady that was the receptionist, told me that I was the nicest candidate they had so far, and I was also the only one so far to even have any letters of recomendation, but I think it will depend on what they offer money/retirement/benefits wise to steal me away from my current job. Who knows, maybe I can use them to get more money at my current place... I any case, what do you guys think?

 

[johnjbruin]

Originally posted by: Tsaico
Well, it was pretty lame. The folks that had conducted the interview were obviously not tech folks. It seemed their main concern was how I would handled without supervision, examples, and how would I handle people without any computer experience or knowledge.

It sounds like a hybrid position, with half of my time under the normal thing i am used, which is nework administration and security, then the rest handling basic help desk tech support stuff. While I think I still disagree that the school districts are career killers, I am not sure that I want to go to work for this particular faculty, since it sounds that the majority of the work will be mine to do. (set vs, maintanance, since they descirbed some schools not even having a network in place) So pulling cables and putting in all the planning isn't my flavor of work. Think of it as a big fish in a small pond. While I am a smaller fish in a larger pond, I was hoping to find an envirionment that was more like a small fish in a big pond so I could have room to go.

I dunno, the lady that was the receptionist, told me that I was the nicest candidate they had so far, and I was also the only one so far to even have any letters of recomendation, but I think it will depend on what they offer money/retirement/benefits wise to steal me away from my current job. Who knows, maybe I can use them to get more money at my current place... I any case, what do you guys think?

Doesnt sound that bad if they offer you enough.

I would never just use another offer to up my pay at my current place of work.

 

[Tsaico]

Update! See first post...

 

[D1gger]

Personally, I have only moved to take on a position that is more challenging or potentially more enjoyable. I have never changed jobs for money. In one move, I actually took a significant pay cut, because the new job looked like I would enjoy it much more. It worked out in the long run as I am now making far more than I would have been had I stayed.