NetOpsTech
MIS
What some of the common interview questions you ask or have been asked?
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common jr - sr network engineer interview questions
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SPC NVARNG
xenolith
ISP
- Mar 4, 2002
- 51
An interesting question I was once asked was what did my home network look like. I answered that it was pretty simple, a basic Linksys broadband router and a couple of Windows desktops. At the end of the interview, he told me he'd like to have heard I was doing more interesting things at home as he felt your home network is a great place to test out firewall setups, build lab scenarios, etc. I told him I agreed with that and could see his point, but my current position affords me plenty of time to work on those things and at home, I just want things to work.
In the same interview, he told me he was disappointed I wasnt more interested in the open-source VoIP systems being deployed.
The position I was interviewing for is still unfilled, and if offered I will not take it.
In a much more professional interview, I had my brain cooked by the technical director/CCIE. Be as up to speed on the different technologies you think the position might be using as you should be in the junior/senior level your applying for. If you are looking at a position in a campus network, read up on best practices for high-availability campus design for example. All networks are different and will operate with different budgets. A strong technical interview may consist of asking you what you know and can explain about each technology they use.
Be honest about the things you know and to how much depth you know them, what your familiar with and what things you have never even heard of. Show your desire and willingness to learn and you'll get the right position for yourself one day!
In the same interview, he told me he was disappointed I wasnt more interested in the open-source VoIP systems being deployed.
The position I was interviewing for is still unfilled, and if offered I will not take it.
In a much more professional interview, I had my brain cooked by the technical director/CCIE. Be as up to speed on the different technologies you think the position might be using as you should be in the junior/senior level your applying for. If you are looking at a position in a campus network, read up on best practices for high-availability campus design for example. All networks are different and will operate with different budgets. A strong technical interview may consist of asking you what you know and can explain about each technology they use.
Be honest about the things you know and to how much depth you know them, what your familiar with and what things you have never even heard of. Show your desire and willingness to learn and you'll get the right position for yourself one day!
garnetbobcat
Technical User
In my experience:
For junior people or interns, it's interesting to ask them to explain how they think something that they are not familiar with works. For example, we once asked a potential intern to explain how the 7960 on the desk was able to call the cell phone in my pocket.
This can shed light on the candidates' thought processes, their general grasp of technology, their ability to explain a concept, or even their willingness to explore things they don't understand.
---
For more senior people it can be helpful to let them direct the interview to the areas that they are most comfortable with. In the past we've asked people to rank their knowledge of a topic like AAA or VPN on a scale of 1-10 (if someone is a 10, he wrote the book). After the candidate has ranked his experience you can ask more questions in the areas that he is best in and just the minimum in other areas.
This lets you explore the candidate's skill for explaining concepts and dive into past projects, etc. The assumption here, of course, is that this person is senior, so he ought to be able to beef up in those other areas as required.
Matt
For junior people or interns, it's interesting to ask them to explain how they think something that they are not familiar with works. For example, we once asked a potential intern to explain how the 7960 on the desk was able to call the cell phone in my pocket.
This can shed light on the candidates' thought processes, their general grasp of technology, their ability to explain a concept, or even their willingness to explore things they don't understand.
---
For more senior people it can be helpful to let them direct the interview to the areas that they are most comfortable with. In the past we've asked people to rank their knowledge of a topic like AAA or VPN on a scale of 1-10 (if someone is a 10, he wrote the book). After the candidate has ranked his experience you can ask more questions in the areas that he is best in and just the minimum in other areas.
This lets you explore the candidate's skill for explaining concepts and dive into past projects, etc. The assumption here, of course, is that this person is senior, so he ought to be able to beef up in those other areas as required.
Matt
Matt---can you please read my post here? I can't get this simple deal working!
Thanks!
Burt
Thanks!
Burt
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