Need quick run-downs on citrix, exchange server, and BES (blackberry)

[Kushina]

Hi All,

Got an interview in a little while, now I know what these technologies are but I'm assuming I will need information on how to administer them somewhat. I met the other qualifications, server 2012, server 2008 ad, gp, adfs, firewalls, networking dns, dhcp, vpn. I can do that stuff pretty well, but I havn't really jumped into the other things, can someone give me quick run downs on these things so I don't sound like a total idiot, obviously they will know I'm no engineer in them but just looking for quick things I can learn about them! (Not bs I can memorize)

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Are you serious?

 

[jaedaliu]

I think he is.

This is what you say: "I have not previously worked with those products, but as you can see with my other experience, I will be up and running in no time at all.*


*: If you need me to be proficient quickly, I will need support in the form of official training."

 

[thirdeye]

LOL, how about trying to be honest and letting them know you have little or no experience with said things? Aside from knowing what they are, anything you tell them beyond that will be VERY quickly discovered as false assuming you get the job.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

LOL, how about trying to be honest and letting them know you have little or no experience with said things? Aside from knowing what they are, anything you tell them beyond that will be VERY quickly discovered as false assuming you get the job.

Yeah, and additionally, if you know they're going to ask you about those technologies, don't you think you should think about reviewing and asking for advice BEFORE the morning of the interview?

Also, have to disagree with jaedaliu in one respect -- you shouldn't imply that they should pay for you to go to official training in order for you to learn posted job requirements for a job you're applying to get. Emphasize self-study and shadowing others to learn. If they think they're going to have to spend several thousand dollars on training right after hiring you, they'll find someone else.

Why do I get the feeling you fudged your resume and included Exchange, BES, and Citrix as areas of expertise?

 

[Kushina]

"I have not previously worked with those products, but as you can see with my other experience, I will be up and running in no time at all.*


*: If you need me to be proficient quickly, I will need support in the form of official training."

Obviously ... what I'm saying is if you've administered these products can you provide a description of what I'd need to know to do so.

No need to be such negative nancies

 

[Kushina]

hi all,

got an interview in a little while, now i know what these technologies are but i'm assuming i will need information on how to administer them somewhat. I met the other qualifications, server 2012, server 2008 ad, gp, adfs, firewalls, networking dns, dhcp, vpn. I can do that stuff pretty well, but i havn't really jumped into the other things, can someone give me quick run downs on these things so i don't sound like a total idiot, obviously they will know i'm no engineer in them but just looking for quick things i can learn about them! (not bs i can memorize)

 

[ch33zw1z]

Negative nancies? Nonsense, they're not going to help you bs the hiring managers.

Google is your best bet on getting the quick information that you seek. Shit man, just bring your smart phone in with you and search while they ask.

 

[jaedaliu]

Obviously ... what I'm saying is if you've administered these products can you provide a description of what I'd need to know to do so.

No need to be such negative nancies

right-o. I was trying to help you get the job instead of answering your question, my bad.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

No need to be such negative nancies

We're being negative nancies because you're too lazy to spend a couple of hours googling the technologies for an overview?

Let me give you some advice. If you apply for a job and they call you for an interview, you should schedule the interview out a few days so you can brush up on the requirements and study any gaps.

Google is your best bet on getting the quick information that you seek. Shit man, just bring your smart phone in with you and search while they ask.

In all seriousness, if a candidate did that to me while interviewing, I'd end the interview and walk him out the door. There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't have experience in that area, but here is what I would do to close my knowledge gap."

 

[Kushina]

Indy thanks for your wonderfully assumptious and divine advice but i'm sure even you have figured out at this point that this is the same as getting general descriptions about these products from microsoft's site or something similar except it's quick, personalized and from experience.

 

[ch33zw1z]

In all seriousness, if a candidate did that to me while interviewing, I'd end the interview and walk him out the door. There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't have experience in that area, but here is what I would do to close my knowledge gap."

right, my post was dripping with sarcasm.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Sorry bub, you're looking for a cheat sheet the morning of the interview. You're not going to get a whole lot of respect for that. You didn't prepare for your interview and now you're cramming.

Your best course of action at this point is to be honest and let them know that you understand that self-study is the "nature of the beast." I always emphasize that when I interview, and respect it when I'm interviewing others. Reasonable IT people don't expect you to know everything. They expect you to be a flexible self-starter who recognizes his shortcomings and is willing to work toward resolving them.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

right, my post was dripping with sarcasm.

I'll change my meter's batteries.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I'll change my meter's batteries.

Cool. The way you would handle is the way I would expect it to be handled by anyone who cares, even slightly.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Indy thanks for your wonderfully assumptious and divine advice but i'm sure even you have figured out at this point that this is the same as getting general descriptions about these products from microsoft's site or something similar except it's quick, personalized and from experience.

Yeah, I have figured that out since that is exactly what we've been telling you. You should go to Microsoft's site and glance through some of the basic admin material. Me telling you that I've worked with Exchange 2003-2013 and giving you specifics of my environment won't help you.

Here, I'll even get you started with a quick overview of Exchange 2013:

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/da...t-time-installation-and-basic-administration/

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Cool. The way you would handle is the way I would expect it to be handled by anyone who cares, even slightly.

At a company I worked at, we gave candidates interviews and then a skills test. If they did a good job on the initial interview and warranted another interview, we gave them the same test again when they arrive for the next round -- but this time, we sat them at a PC with internet access. Our goal was to see how much they could improve their scores and to gauge their research skills. Most did improve but IIRC, we did have a couple of people score worse on the second test!

 

[Udgnim]

Citrix: remote access / virtualization

Exchange: Microsoft Mail Server

BES: people seem to strongly dislike BES administration

 

[Oyeve]

BES is useless in a 2008/2010 environment.

 

[Gunbuster]

citrix: Uses network tubes to make apps on the server appear as if they are on your laptop

exchange server: your email lives here

BES: You have to load extra crappy software on a server somewhere for old crusty blackberries to work. This is that software.

 

[sdifox]

citrix : $$$$$
exchange : $$$$
BES : $$$$$$$$

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Shit man, just bring your smart phone in with you and search while they ask.

:thumbsup:

 

[Krazy4Real]

When they bring up BES, just say, "Oh wow. You still use BES? That is the first thing I'll get rid of when I'm hired."

 

[Oyeve]

When they bring up BES, just say, "Oh wow. You still use BES? That is the first thing I'll get rid of when I'm hired."

Hehehe, thats how i got the job im at now! Well, that plus I know how to use a mac server.

 

[SagaLore]

so I don't sound like a total idiot

You will sound like a total idiot if you attempt to answer questions about something you know nothing about.

It is OKAY to say "I don't know, but I can learn".