Is this a hard test? (computer support tech interviews)

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Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
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I'm helping with interviews for a computer support tech position and came up with the following hands on test. It's to be done on a Dell Optiplex basic system

Local Admin password: password
Domain admin account: exam password: password

DNS: 10.1.1.100
WINS: 10.1.1.101

1. Add memory to system
2. Replace HD (new drive has win2k preinstalled)
3. Add sound card.
4. Add DNS, WINS settings
5. Add computer to domain: test-net
6. Update BIOS (included blank floppy)
7. Add computer to workgroup: lab
8. Swap exit rollers on an HP LJ2200 printer
9. Make a cat5 straight through cable

is this a hard test?

The first person I gave it to destroyed one computer and had no clue on any of the windows tests. He was a really good guy, too!
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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that would take most of the users here about 10 minutes.
 
G

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
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doesn't seem that hard, though i wouldn't be able to do the networking stuff simply because i've never tried...

i think you should make some weird obscure problem and see how they react to it... that seems like a good test to me

or something that shows that they have experience beyond doing basic things.... like subtle nuances that only experienced people would know
 
S

Spac3d

Banned
Jul 3, 2001
6,651
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Originally posted by: Evadman
that would take most of the users here about 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

I would agree except for number 8. I have no idea how to do that, I have no expeirence working with printers:eek:
 
N

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
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Destroyed the computer? How so?

As for the test, it doesn't look that hard. A few things I may need to brush up on though...never actually done tech support work except on my own systems.

Nate
 
S

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
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Oh, and I switched the jumper on the HD to slave. I think that was the start of the problems.

By the time he figured it out, the computer would no longer see anything on either IDE channel. The HD worked in another system I threw up on the bench to help him complete the test.

But then,
He tried to log in with the domain admin account before adding the computer to the domain.
He couldn't figure out how to add the computer to the domain. He's got an MCSE!!
He didn't know how to update a BIOS. He's got an A+!!
The network cable he made is now a joke between the rest of the people in the dept... not quite a crossover, not quite a straight-through. And he had "Cat5 cabling installation and design" on his resume.

Now I have to have dell come out and replace the motherboard on the original test system!
 
L

LeeTJ

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: Stark
Originally posted by: yoda291
the last one would be a tad hard without a crimper. :D
Click to expand...

And I gave him a crimper!!
Click to expand...

to be honest. i make my own lan cables mb 3 or 4 times a year so i don't have it memorized. i use my trusty references. i'm not a big one for keeping things memorized when i can just look things up so quickly.

 
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NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
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MCSE's are all over the place, aren't they? I realize there's a test to pass in order to get it, but that doesn't seem to mean a whole lot sometimes, as you saw with this guy. I hear commercials on the radio and TV all the time for local Tech schools that have MCSE programs, sounds like they're almost giving them away.

Nate
 
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Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
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Originally posted by: LeeTJ
Originally posted by: Stark
Originally posted by: yoda291
the last one would be a tad hard without a crimper. :D
Click to expand...

And I gave him a crimper!!
Click to expand...

to be honest. i make my own lan cables mb 3 or 4 times a year so i don't have it memorized. i use my trusty references. i'm not a big one for keeping things memorized when i can just look things up so quickly.
Click to expand...

ok, good... so he maybe not completely dumb (despite his resume). Still, he could have asked for help if he needed it... that makes me a little nervous too. I'm going to have to teach this guy a ton of stuff if he's hired (lucky me). He literally spent 2 hours on the test before we sent him home. I had to volunteer to help with the IDE problem.

We have 2-3 more candidates to test. If they all have problems I'll say it's the test. Until then, I'm gonna give the last guy a big fat F.
 
D

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
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That would be easy, the only thing I have problems with are printers, if there isn't a diagram on it for how to pop the suckers out forget it.
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: Stark
I'm helping with interviews for a computer support tech position and came up with the following hands on test. It's to be done on a Dell Optiplex basic system

Local Admin password: password
Domain admin account: exam password: password

DNS: 10.1.1.100
WINS: 10.1.1.101

1. Add memory to system
2. Replace HD (new drive has win2k preinstalled)
3. Add sound card.
4. Add DNS, WINS settings
5. Add computer to domain: test-net
6. Update BIOS (included blank floppy)
7. Add computer to workgroup: lab
8. Swap exit rollers on an HP LJ2200 printer
9. Make a cat5 straight through cable

is this a hard test?

The first person I gave it to destroyed one computer and had no clue on any of the windows tests. He was a really good guy, too!
Click to expand...

This is the exact reason I do not want to work as tech support.
I give those works to the support techs with a smile.
:D
 
N

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
0
0
Actually, it probably wouldn't have occured to me to check the Master/Slave jumper until I hooked the drive up and tried to boot...new drives are usually set to Master by default. Wouldn't be the first time I've done that :eek:

Nate
 
Keego

Keego

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2000
6,223
2
81
Everything would be fine 'cept the printer roller one, and I bet I could figure it out dang quickly.
 
I

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
I have never done number 8 before, but im sure it cant be all that hard. Everything else could be done with my eyes closed.
EDIT: well I guess id have to open them for the cat-5 cable... cant see the colors with em shut.
 
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DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
0
Originally posted by: NTB
MCSE's are all over the place, aren't they? I realize there's a test to pass in order to get it, but that doesn't seem to mean a whole lot sometimes, as you saw with this guy. I hear commercials on the radio and TV all the time for local Tech schools that have MCSE programs, sounds like they're almost giving them away.

Nate
Click to expand...

My friend (really a smart guy) took and passed the MCSE solely by memorizing questions and answers off of one of the mcsebraindump sites. He has no real world experience with any of the issues covered, and I doubt he could even install something like 2k much less admin the network...
 
FoBoT

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
most of the field techs (there are about 500 of them) that work at the company i work at couldn't come close to doing that, but we are so cheeeaap that we can't get decent techs , and besides, we don't do field hardware work, all hardware stuff (replacing drives and adding sound cards) is done at our repair depot, they ship the whole pc back

so anyway, i think it depends on the type of shop you are talking about and the pay rate you offer
 
I

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
Originally posted by: NTB
Actually, it probably wouldn't have occured to me to check the Master/Slave jumper until I hooked the drive up and tried to boot...new drives are usually set to Master by default. Wouldn't be the first time I've done that :eek:

Nate
Click to expand...

So true! I have dont that plenty of times!
 
S

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
0
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Originally posted by: illusion88
Originally posted by: NTB
Actually, it probably wouldn't have occured to me to check the Master/Slave jumper until I hooked the drive up and tried to boot...new drives are usually set to Master by default. Wouldn't be the first time I've done that :eek:

Nate
Click to expand...

So true! I have dont that plenty of times!
Click to expand...

Ya, i was trying to be tricky. ;)

Should I not do this to the next candidate? I haven't had to change a jumper in... well ever doing normal support. But I know how to!!
 
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