RE: Technical Interview Questions for Windows Servers

I have always been baffled about how some candidates even get to the
interview stage. Firstly the easiest check to filter out the technically weak
is to ask 3 or 4 questions that are technically specific to your job role,
it's a good idea to ask the person currently holding the role to write down 4
questions each of them varying from very easy to very hard answers that don't
have long explanations. We asked a question as basic as can you tell us the
difference between a switch and hub, anyone who knows there networking stuff
will find this an easy question but it will catch a lot of people who have no
basic networking skills out.

Secondly avoid how to's and approach questions if this is not your field,
you will not be able to judge the answer. We did use this but I disagreed on
the technical approach but my boss loved the hands on customer service
approach. If your looking for someone who has the smooth Customer Service
touch then definitely ask them how they would handle a simple technical
problem with a difficult customer spin.

I think maybe one of the best ways to spot the golden candidate is to ask
them to talk about themselves, ask them what was the last major problem you
handled? They should be able to discuss this in a non-technical and a
technical flow because major problems hit non-technical people and their
non-technical bosses wants answers along with their own technical boss, the
infomation should come across to you clearly. Another good question is "What
drives or service improvement have your brought to your team?" someone who
spends all day not just doing the bare minimum will have several ideas on
things they can improve - these are the workers you want.

I can offer more help if required!

"dm1608" wrote:

Hi --

I've recently completed doing telephone interviews with potential job
applications for an IT position in our data center to administrator a
Windows server environment. Some of the duties include designing,
implementing, and administrating IIS, Load Balancer, DNS, Active Directory,
DHCP, and a host of other Microsoft technologies. In addition to supporting
various third party products like Shavlik (patch updates similar to SUS),
BackupExec via a media server, and Symantec Anti-virus. There will be also
basic desktop support as well.

Next week we will be meeting with a few of the selective applicants to get
to know them.

I'm curious as to what others feel should be a baseline for interviewing the
canidates? We do not have any labs or anything to test their technical
abilities. So most of the interview will simply be asking them basic
questions and seeing how they respond.

I'm interersted in hearing what others suggest or have in mind for the kinds
of questions I should ask...

We're looking for a senior Admin to replace someone that has been in the
position for 10+ years in which also had networking experience.

Any help or comments would be appreciated.

This is my first time interviewing candidates for a position within our IT.




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Technical Interview Questions for Windows Servers
    ... Since I'm interview 5-6 people, ... difference between a switch and hub, anyone who knows there networking ... If your looking for someone who has the smooth Customer Service ... ask them what was the last major problem ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: micro use by industry.
    ... someone wanting to go into electrical engineering the best direction ... I don't interview much these days. ... I promptly received an e-mail that my salary requirements were out of line (despite prior conversations with the recruiter about this topic). ... b)Recruiters routinely pressure candidates to accept a job or go further in the process, because this is how the recruiter makes his living. ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Re: A meta question
    ... How did that architecture pan out during development? ... manage stress during the effort?>> ... >> interview is pure bovine scatology. ... the worst candidates will probably be the best prepared ...
    (microsoft.public.development.device.drivers)
  • Re: brainbench
    ... We used brainbench for quite some time, ... - It would seperate the "full of crap" candidates from the real candidates. ... In an in-person interview, I often asked them the questions they ... I think there are alot of reasons for that. ...
    (microsoft.public.cert.exam.mcsd)
  • Re: OT - Interviewing
    ... Your going to find that the real top-drawer candidates don't even bother ... whereupon I stopped the interview and walked out. ... to hire a network admin, and they were bringing in candidates and pumping ... I'm not a professional programmer. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
Loading