I hate interviews..

[AKIRA]

I had a phone interview today with RIM (Research In Motion) for the position of Data Network Assistant.

First off, I hate phone interviews...It's really hard when you can't see the person face to face. Secondly, it was conferenced with 3 other people.

They didn't ask me the typical interview questions, but right off the bat they drilled me with technical questions.

I did a lot of "uhhh" and "ummms" but got a lot of the questions. The one's I didn't know I flat out told them I didn't know but it would be no problem to find them out if I had my notes/book in front of me.

Now you may be thinking...wtf, phone interview? laptop in front of you? EASY ACCESS TO NOTES/INTERNET?!?

Not that simple. I made up a big list of networking concepts but a lot of questions they asked were really in depth and I didn't put them up...searching for them on google would've have taken a long time and if I told them to hold on a second to think they easily would've thought I was searching them up.

So me being the idiot, tried answering some of the questions which I wasn't too sure about. I'm almost certain I didn't get them right.

So, here I am here, to vent.

I know I was stupid and should've just straight out told them I didn't know the answers but I panicked and attempted to answer them like a fool.

I looked at the essential requirements of the job..I had all of them. I looked at the "Additional Assets" part, I had 90% of them.


So, am I just being overly paranoid or?

Chances are probably not...it pisses me off because I KNOW I know my stuff, it's just hard to convey that in an interview.

They didn't give me a chance to say something of that nature because they never asked me questions like "why should we hire you" or "what are your good qualities" where I could've said oh I'm a hard worker, dedicated etc..


So ****...

/end rant

Thanks for listening.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

I bet you were really hoping you could get that Research In Motion job.

 

[AKIRA]

I bet you were really hoping you could get that Research In Motion job.

lol should've said inb4 RIM JOB LOLOLOLOL


still funny though

 

[Shyam]

So ****...

/end rant

Thanks for listening.

At this point, all you can do is hope for the best.

 

[AKIRA]

At this point, all you can do is hope for the best.

Yup..I guess the only good thing (If you can call it that) is if I get a rejection notice, then I won't feel bad at all since my hopes are really low at this point.

 

[Adabiviak]

What sort of questions did they ask (in fact, what sort of job is that anyway)? Data Network Assistant sounds like an I.T. gopher to me.

 

[AKIRA]

What sort of questions did they ask (in fact, what sort of job is that anyway)? Data Network Assistant sounds like an I.T. gopher to me.

Part of the email I got:

Job Description:

Data Network Assistant - 4 Month Winter Co-op

Americas/Canada/Ontario/Waterloo

Research In Motion Limited® (RIM)® is a world leader in the mobile communications market and has a history of developing breakthrough wireless solutions. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies is used by thousands of organizations around the world and includes the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools and software/hardware licensing agreements. RIM is seeking driven individuals who can take our wireless data products to the next level in the global wireless market. Are you ready to make a difference in the world of mobile communications with RIM?

POSITION SUMMARY

Working with the Data Network team, the successful candidate will become an integral part of a highly motivated, proactive and result driven team. The candidate will assist in various activities ranging from network simulation and testing to inventory management, using base knowledge that will aid in the ability to work with data networks. The successful candidate will have exposure to various data networking technologies such as: routing, switching, VoIP, wireless and load balancing in an enterprise environment.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

* Currently enrolled in Computer Science, Telecommunications, or Networking at the Intermediate level with the Co-op option
* Proven knowledge of data network fundamentals
* Strong and effective interpersonal skills
* Strong team player, motivated self-starter and the ability to work Autonomously
* Proficient with MS Visio

ADDITIONAL ASSETS

* Knowledge of IP protocols (TCP/UDP)
* Knowledge of Wireless (802.11a/b/g)
* Knowledge of Cisco Switching and Routing (BGP, EIGRP, MPLS)
* Knowledge of DNS and Load-Balancing technologies/theories
* Good understanding of Networking implementations and Best Practices

They asked me general networking questions like, what's a switch, router etc. They asked me what the first 3 layers of the OSI model were and explain their functions which I got. Explain what TCP/UDP was and what the differences were, which again I got. Then they got into more complicated things which included stuff in the command line interface for configuring routers (which my class hasn't gotten into yet), but I told them we'd be doing that starting in a couple weeks and that i have the CCNA study guide so I could easily read it and find the answer. I also told him that by january I plan to get CCNA certified(which I do) because by then i'd be finished my semester/finished reading the book.

 

[Adabiviak]

Neat. It sounds like you're in good shape to get that job, no?

 

[CyberPitz]

As long as they don't interview someone more qualified, you should be OK.

 

[AKIRA]

Neat. It sounds like you're in good shape to get that job, no?

Yea, I know my stuff, but most of the things they asked me I couldn't answer on the spot...that doesn't mean I don't know them. It's just that they don't know that...i studdered a few times during the interview and made the mistake of answering stuff I didn't know, so that'll probably be my demise.

I've learned for next time though, it was good interview experience I guess lol.

 

[Dynasty]

Dont worry about the stuttering and not knowing a few things. To me that didnt really sound like a normal interview, more like an interrogation.

If they didnt ask you a broad question such as 'why do you think you would fit in here', or 'why should we hire you', it doesnt give you a chance to express yourself. And, after all, theyd be foolish to hire qualifications over someone who would actually fit in and work well with the existing team.

I really wouldnt be worried. As long as you were yourself. I was bricking myself on my first job interview straight out of Uni, and here I am now, sat in northern africa with the chances of getting every disease known to man doing a job that I have hardly any experience in (about 48 hours worth when you total up the time spent during the modules), earning a VERY respectable amount for a graduate given the average salary, all because they felt I would fit in well and I was willing to go abroad, as well as having alot of overseas experience from my youth (apparently willingness to go abroad is hard to find from graduates in the UK).

Did I have a specialist degree in this field? Err, no. Did I have a preferable amount of experience? Err..definitely no.

So dont think just because you may have not ticked all their preferable qualifications doesnt mean you wont be considered.

 

[repiV]

Yea, I know my stuff, but most of the things they asked me I couldn't answer on the spot...that doesn't mean I don't know them. It's just that they don't know that...i studdered a few times during the interview and made the mistake of answering stuff I didn't know, so that'll probably be my demise.

I've learned for next time though, it was good interview experience I guess lol.

Why do companies hire people?

To do work for them that is either profitable, or saves them money.

What does your ability to "interview well" have to do with your ability to do the work, in a profitable way?

Nothing whatsoever.

Control the interview. Demonstrate your ability to solve specific problems that will help the department. Don't be reactive and jump through their stupid hoops. You can answer their typically idiotic questions as well as you like, what is that going to do to convince them you can actually do the work they need doing?

If you're not able to identify and articulate the above, you're probably not ready to do that job yet. Equally, if their idea of an interview consists of intimidating you, you're either speaking to some irrelevant HR pen-pusher when you should be speaking to the line manager in question, or you would be best off working somewhere else anyway.

 

[AKIRA]

Why do companies hire people?

To do work for them that is either profitable, or saves them money.

What does your ability to "interview well" have to do with your ability to do the work, in a profitable way?

Nothing whatsoever.

Control the interview. Demonstrate your ability to solve specific problems that will help the department. Don't be reactive and jump through their stupid hoops. You can answer their typically idiotic questions as well as you like, what is that going to do to convince them you can actually do the work they need doing?

If you're not able to identify and articulate the above, you're probably not ready to do that job yet. Equally, if their idea of an interview consists of intimidating you, you're either speaking to some irrelevant HR pen-pusher when you should be speaking to the line manager in question, or you would be best off working somewhere else anyway.

To be honest, this entire week I've had midterms. I tried to get the person in charge of co op and setting up interviews with students at my school to switch the interview date to next week (my week off) but apparently the people at RIM were on a tight schedule. I was at school from 1pm to 3pm straight from sunday to monday this week doing an assignment and studying for my monday midterm. Monday night I had about 6 hours sleep...tuesday I was at school from 8pm to 3pm straight - another all nighter studying for my 2 midterms on wednesday,...thursday (the day of my interview) I had another midterm. I really had very little time to prepare for this interview and really study my material more..in networking you really have to spend a lot of time reading material which clearly I couldn't do.

I know I know my stuff, that wasn't the issue, it was more of a stress/time constraint. It's my first co op term, I exceeded the requirements and demonstrated most of what they considered to be an asset. I am more than qualified for this job.

They didn't know I had midterms all week ( I wasn't going to tell them that as I didn't want to make excuses) so we'll just see how things go.


I got another interview on wednesday which I will thoroughly prepare for and another potential interview in the near future.

I'm not so bummed out about this one now.

Thanks for the replies :cheers:

 

[repiV]

To be honest, this entire week I've had midterms. I tried to get the person in charge of co op and setting up interviews with students at my school to switch the interview date to next week (my week off) but apparently the people at RIM were on a tight schedule. I was at school from 1pm to 3pm straight from sunday to monday this week doing an assignment and studying for my monday midterm. Monday night I had about 6 hours sleep...tuesday I was at school from 8pm to 3pm straight - another all nighter studying for my 2 midterms on wednesday,...thursday (the day of my interview) I had another midterm. I really had very little time to prepare for this interview and really study my material more..in networking you really have to spend a lot of time reading material which clearly I couldn't do.

I know I know my stuff, that wasn't the issue, it was more of a stress/time constraint. It's my first co op term, I exceeded the requirements and demonstrated most of what they considered to be an asset. I am more than qualified for this job.

They didn't know I had midterms all week ( I wasn't going to tell them that as I didn't want to make excuses) so we'll just see how things go.


I got another interview on wednesday which I will thoroughly prepare for and another potential interview in the near future.

I'm not so bummed out about this one now.

Thanks for the replies :cheers:

I think you should have been honest with them from the outset. You've clearly demonstrated a massive flaw in their (and pretty much everyone else's) hiring process - they're looking for an IT bod, but their process selects good salespeople! Traditional interviews are an absurd practice, but I digress.

No doubt, as far as they're concerned, you were trying to bullshit your way through the interview. You could have shone a different light on the situation if you had told them about the midterms and so on.

Sounds like you've learned that anyhow. Good luck with your search, I'm sure you'll land one of the other two positions.