Few "Job" Questions

[S-Gray]

Heh, as a few of you know, i have sent off an Application Form for Liverpool Airport, but theres a few of the stuff in the JOb Description i dont have too/i] much knowledge of... Here is a Full List of what they want from the people Applying for the Job, the Information i have Bolded out is what i wanna know about...

Liverpool Airport PLC
Person Specification
IT Technician

Experience
Essential

· Experience of Supporting, Microsoft Windows in a Commercial Environment
· Dealing with End Users at First Level Support
· Installing Software Packages
· Configuring Local and Networking Printing

Desirable

· Experience of Novell Netware
· Experience of Windows 2000 Server

Knowledge
Essential

· Knowledge of PC Hardware and Software Configuration
· Knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Office

Desirable

· Novell Netware
· Data Communication
· Data Backup Procedures
· Client Server Environment
· File and Print Servers
· Software Licensing Practices

Skills
Essential

· Good Communication and Presentation Skills
· Tact and Diplomacy
· Proficient in Trouble-shooting on PCs

Desirable

· Ability to work on own Inititive
· Ability to escalate problems when appropriate

As you can see, i am only stuck on the Networking Based assets of the Job and the Data Backup..

The Networking is the only Worry i have, because i havent really gone into Depth in it (Wasnt taught much of it in College) So what would they require me to do?

Now the Data Backup im 50/50 on What is a Workplace Procedure of backing up Data?

Ghosting the whole Hard Drive onto a CDRW Disc or just planting all the main info you need onto a Disc without the need of Ghosting?


Heh im panicky on them 2 mainly, and im pretty sure if i dont get the Job it will be because of my Inexperience of them...

 

[tris-]

Originally posted by Super_Gray[SG]


Now the Data Backup im 50/50 on What is a Workplace Procedure of backing up Data?

Ghosting the whole Hard Drive onto a CDRW Disc or just planting all the main info you need onto a Disc without the need of Ghosting?

This is the only bit i know about, on work XP with the NHS, they did use ghost images, and also used tape backups of the servers. not sure if you would need to backup to tape, it was pretty essential for the NHS cos it has every patients detials, surgery details all kinds of crap etc... for the whole of the north east of england data communication - could that be using the help desk software, database/spread sheats etc? by the way, about not having experience, they cant blame you for that if its your first job can they usualy you get some kind of traning if your willing i thought.

 

[S-Gray]

Yeah, i was considering if i got it, to take up a Training Week or somethin

The money is good i think so i have my Heart Set on getting the Job

 

[tris-]

Originally posted by Super_Gray[SG]
Yeah, i was considering if i got it, to take up a Training Week or somethin

The money is good i think so i have my Heart Set on getting the Job

exaclty the kind of job i want but if they ask are you willing to learn, get all excited about it or something

 

[Lester]

Gray, I'm not being horrible but don't waste your time.

"Experience
Essential"

" Experience of Supporting, Microsoft Windows in a Commercial Environment"

" Ability to work on own Inititive"

If you've never had a job, you won't even get an interview.

try looking here

actually that last bit was horrible wasn't it?

 

[tris-]

it cant hurt to try though, unless they slam the door in your face.

 

[GDW]

Most companies should ideally back up their data on a daily basis on to tape. Ideally 2 copies will be made, one to be stored onsite in a fireproof safe/container, the other one to be stored offsite.

Thats about as much as I know.

 

[Testin da Cable]

go get em laddie. you can always start off as a junior.
in fact, if you were having your little chat with me I'd be on to you in a second and I'd prolly offer you a 'learner' type position [were it available] because it seems to me that you are trying to prepare for something you think will be a nice job and are willing to learn things you don't know. remember that _nobody_ starts off as a guru. I'd say let 'em know that you are aware that you don't know everything to the letter. Tell them that you want to learn the things you don't know.

now some other stuff [advice - I hope ]:

• Experience of Novell Netware
  I've been a novell systems engineer for 4 years or so on netware3.11, 4 and 5. I didn't find it very hard to learn the skills needed but you will need a good person to learn with/from and you will need courses from novell imo. Other than that you will need basic networking skills. The best thing you can put a user in is a novell server imo.
• Experience of Windows 2000 Server
  I hate windows. Sorry. Lots of apps though, and users usually have doze workstations. See backups
• Data Communication
  what is a server? what is a client? how do they talk to each other etc. imo. how do processes talk to other processes. how do I move data around my network? how do I let users into my data [or keep them out] stuff like that me thinkies.
• Data Backup Procedures
  Don't back up workstations. That's for wussies [imo]. You back up servers. You have a ghost [or something else heh] of your standerdised workstations. If it breaks...replace and ghost the image back off the network. Presto -workstation installed in 10 minutes. Keep your important data and apps on the network. That is where the fault-tolerance is. That is where the backups happen, that is where other users can get at it and work with it too. Use either centralised backups or decentralised depending on your stratagy and design. Both have pros and cons.
• Client Server Environment
  Never let your users keep anything important in a workstation, or client. Have them pull everything off the network. Servers keep files, run apps, offer services to the network [like printers etc.] You might say that a client is how a user manipulates data held by a server. Differentiate between the server machine and the server process

just some views of mine. sometimes learnt with blood, sweat, tears and 36hr shifts with managers screaming at me. I hope it helps.

 

[S-Gray]

God all that sounds scary, i wouldnt mind taking extra training looking into Networks + Extras.. but usually the big Qualifications (MS certified etc) come at a price... I dont have the Money to pay out for that sort of training...

I dont wanna go back to College because ive wasted too much time in there anyway, and not learnt much (from the tutors)

 

[Testin da Cable]

heh educational budget mate. you could pay for a course...but imo it's not for lesser mortals [or small business] as they are too bloody costly. I shudder to think that I'd have to pay for the courses I've had.
I'd say [realism here] go for a junior position. Be willing to put in disgusting hours [flexible working hours] and be more willing to learn [on-the-job education].
Tell them that. Ask about following courses. It will help a bit. The rest is up to you

 

[old.Jas]

Originally posted by Super_Gray[SG]
i think so i have my Heart Set on getting the Job

Don't ever do that. Ready yourself, and think about what you will do in both scenarios (get it or not get it)

IT support positions are plentiful, but unfortuately (for you) so are IT support people. Expect to apply for at least 20-30-40 or more jobs before you get any response.

I got my first job when I was 18 - through the net. It let me leave home (Devon) and start my own life. So by all means go for it - but expect rejection. An interview is an achievement.

I used to work in recruitment - these Human Resources people get *LOTS* of applications. They will often throw away every other one without looking at it to save time. In these days of electronic CVs this is all to easy due to the massive volumes of applications they, particually, get for IT jobs.

 

[old.Jas]

BTW - I quit college after a year because I was not learning anything.

I've never looked back - one of the best things I've ever done.

 

[Wilier]

Originally posted by Testin da Cable
[*]Client Server Environment
Never let your users keep anything important in a workstation, or client. Have them pull everything off the network. Servers keep files, run apps, offer services to the network [like printers etc.] You might say that a client is how a user manipulates data held by a server. Differentiate between the server machine and the server process
[/list]

Thats exactly hoe they do it here at the Refinery. Each of our workstations has a 30 gig hdd, but we arnt supposed to keep any of our files on C drive. Its all got to be held on P, which is the personal drive for each user on the network.

P drive is about 350gig, which isnt too much when you consider we have about 1200 users, but most people just have spreadsheets, word docs etc on there. Strangley enough it got so that there was only 12 gig left, so the administrators did a sweep and binned all .mp3 files. freed up nearly 150 gig. but lost all me albums. (I miss Puddle of Mudd)

 

[old.Jas]

I've been at several companies where they have that approach to file management - but everyone ignores it.

For instance, IT support people don't know how long it takes to open 10 30mb photoshop files off a network drive vs a local drive. Then you have laptop users...

 

[old.Jas]

Originally posted by Wilier
so the administrators did a sweep and binned all .mp3 files

Bastards. Every place I've worked the admins are the people with the most mp3s.

They should have just brought more disks - they are dirt cheap.

 

[Testin da Cable]

heh let's not break out the discussion in SG's help-meh thread...even though I'm gagging for it you could say

 

[mookie]

got me interview for *shock* pc world technician on tuesday.

6.30 an hour part time, around college. not too shabby

 

[S-Gray]

I sent an Application Form off to PC World in December, cunts didnt reply tho

Heh PC World is just across the Road from the Airport too.. whooo heh

 

[PR.]

I applied to work at PC World, I got a first interview then a second then never heard anything, when I called them they had lost my applicaton form.

It was a lucky escape

 

[lecter]

I like TdC would clock what you are in less than a minute, that is NOT a bad thing btw. There is nothing wrong with being inexpierenced. Its just important that you need to find a starter posistion that leads in the area which you would like to go in.

There are things you can do to enhance your crudentials and accellerate your career progress. For instance how much do you REALLY know about tcp/ip, ever played with a packet sniffer. Ever installed linux, and made a working webserver. These are all things you can do cheaply and would enhance youre career prospects. There are plenty of websites out there with lots of info. Get Reading!

 

[S-Gray]

Fuck

Got a letter thru today, but it says i was unsuccessful

Least they had the decency to answer tho

 

[old.Jas]

Originally posted by Super_Gray[SG]
Got a letter thru today, but it says i was unsuccessful

Originally posted by Jas[SG]
Expect to apply for at least 20-30-40 or more jobs before you get any response.

Told ya so

 

[S-Gray]

Well i did get a Responce, just not the one i wanted

 

[old.Jas]

Picky!

 

[S-Gray]

Have to be in this Day n' Age