IT support job interview tips/help?

[autopilot]

Going for an interview soon for an IT support role. Basically supporting users of some software the company produces.

Got and good tips on what to (and not too) say and ask? Any other tips?

Cheers

[staffsMike]

If you are supporting some of their software then make sure you seem interested in it.. ask questions about the software etc..

A good charactersitic in support is patience and people skills. When I was doing it I often asked "What was wrong?" and so you need to be able to explain things simply and in non geek so try and highlight you have those skills.

Towards the end I was doing the I.T Crowd style "IT support, did you try turning it off and back on again?"

And of course, be confident. Going into a interview a nervous wreck is never a good thing.

[Moby-Dick]

When I was interviewing support people , communications and troubleshooting skills where much more important than technical ones , which can always be taught - troubleshooting is more of an instinct.

[santa claus]

It's good that you're doing some prep. Some don't bother. Make sure you know what the role is, what will be expected of you, that you have the skills, qualities and possibly the experience, to match. Dress appropriately, show respect, be clear and don't flannel. Have an answer to the question "If there was one improvement you could bring to our Business, what would it be?" and make it clear you love working in a team. Be ready to define who you regard as your customers and how you can provide them with good service. Good luck

[funke_munke]

So basically lie your tits off?


Generally I go to an interview with as much confidence as I can muster... To be honest it's not much but thats about all the advice I can give you! Just remember it's not the end of the world if you don't get it, that can do wonders for your confidence.


Other than that, good luck mate!

[staffsMike]

A lot of people "bend the truth" to get jobs. To be perfectly honest if they let in the door having seen your CV I just treat it as a getting to know each other sort of thing and actually generally take control of the interview which some interviewers like and some get a bit lost not underanding what has happened by the end

The best confidence boost I got was going to a selection day with tonnes of other people going for 1 job and being the only one to make it to the interview phase....Turned the job down in the end

[autopilot]

Thanks all,

Any last tips before tomorrow? good questions to ask?

[santa claus]

Your interviewers won't mind one or two questions but they won't want to feel they are the interviewees; so go easy. They also have a schedule - they will build in time for questions but they may also have others to see. If they don't tell you, ask when you can expect to hear the result of your interview and, successful or not, that you would value feedback from your interview performance . If you don't get the job, at least you will take something from the experience.

[Koolpc]

Thanks all,

Any last tips before tomorrow? good questions to ask?

Ask them if they can give you 6 months paid holidays a year!!

[pauldarkside]

From my experience of having to deal with "technical support", providing you have an A-Level in BS you'll be fine

[Disturbedguy]

I cant really give any tips on interview techniques as i havent been interviewed for an IT Support role yet, but please let usknow how you get on?

[Kezzer]

"Can you answer a phone politely and keep your temper?"
"Yes!"
"You've got the job."

[autopilot]

Well the interview did not go very well, but i was not very impressed by the interviewers either TBH. I knew half way through the interview i blew it, mainly nerves i think. There was little structure to the interview and it seemed like they wanted me to lead the interview, which i was not ready for. This wishy washy interview style seems more common these days. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but i could have done so much better and know i would have been great at the role.

But the thing is, it was on the 19th of Dec - yet i have heard nothing from them. Can i safely assume that i wont be hearing from them now? Fair enough, i may have fluffed the interview, but i made the time and effort to go for the interview. Surely they at least owe me the common decency of a letter, or even an email? Are they just incredibly arrogant, or can companies really take this long? Most companies have usually just taken a day or so, the longest i have waited was a week.

[Funkstar]

Companies could take this long. I know if it was us and we had interviewed on 19th December, you wouldn't hear until sometime next week, but thats because we are closed until Monday. But then, we would have told you that at the interviewt too.

[TheAnimus]

Giving an interview i find harder than been interviewed. Its the mark of a good interviewer that they put you at ease etc.

They've failed that.

Also they seam to of failed in the proffessional nature of it. My current job I was told they would have a decision within 5 working days. Before I'd got out of the building the agent rang me telling me they where going to make an offer. But this is because they hired a good person in HR for aquiring people, so much so she was able to make the agent tell me that 4 other interviews i had lined up had 'been canceled'.

So chin up, sounds like their a bit a ****

[Anders]

You can interpret the delay how you like. It may give you a clue on how the company works (slowly and poorly), it could be as mentioned above that they close over Christmas and New Years (good), or that they are weighting for the first choice to accept/reject an offer (still got a slim chance).

My advice is don't wait around, go apply for some other jobs. For future, a good helpful attitude is what we look for rather than technical skill, since you can't teach attitude. As an interviewer, I want to see the best of person, so it's in my interest to put an interviewee at ease.