What do you do for an ICT Technician Practical Test?

[mrforgetful]

Hi,

 

We've got interviews for an ICT Technician tomorrow and need a half hour practical test, what would you suggest?

 

I was thinking dodgy RAM but the machines are Fujitsu-Siemens so all the case is non-standard and you need to dismantle loads to do the simple things.

 

I was thinking give them a disconnected PC and have them connect is up and find that there's no pictures (contrast turned down) but need a bit more than just that really?

 

Help!

[buzzard]

2 computers (we use laptops), a length of wire, cable making tools, user has to complete a file transfer from one computer to the other, we usually use an ISO of office. Or if you don't want them to make a cable have two, a straight patch and a x patch, then they will just need to spot the difference.

 

They would then have to set up the IPs etc and share the folder and transfer the file. simple....

[timpaxton]

This one for a windows box - disable the NIC in device manager and tell them a user has reported it as not being able to logon to the domain. Give them a local user admin account and tell them to find what's wrong. Hopefully they should check the physical wiring, and you can confirm this is OK. They should see activity lights on the NIC (check this - some cheapy boards don't have them anymore!) and maybe do an IPCONFIG or look at the support information in the GUI. They won't of course be expecting that you "made" a fault by disabling something rather than doctoring some hardware, so it's good to see if people are as thorough as you expect. If they get to enable the board, and your network uses DHCP, see if they can then make the jump to pinging the domain name to see if they can enumerate a DC (ask them something like "how would you now prove that the user will be able to logonm without knowing their account details, but knowing the domain").

 

HTH

[Midget]

Do you have any spare old PCs?

 

Put one fully assembled in front of them and ask them to strip it down to components and identify them (what it is, who makes it, its size/speed) and then put it all back together.

[CyberNerd]

Do you have any spare old PCs?

 

Put one fully assembled in front of them and ask them to strip it down to components and identify them (what it is, who makes it, its size/speed) and then put it all back together.

 

I have yr 7's in extended school classess that can do that, I'd want a bit more from a technician than being able to build a PC !

[altecsole]

Computer:

1. Plugged in but not switched on at the mains (plug not in plain site)

2. Network cable not fully engaged

3. Monitor brightness and contrast turned right down

4. Keyboard and mouse plugged into wrong ports (PS2)

5. Sound card disabled

 

Scenario:

A teacher says that the sound was not working on the computer and a couple of pupils said that they could fix it. They seemed to be messing around for ages and now nothing works. Can you have a look and see what's wrong?

 

Leave a set of tools next to the computer, along with a spare monitor and sound card. If they're methodical and thinking clearly they should sort out the problems. If they go straight to taking the case off you know you've got problems.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

ask them couple of questions on printer problems.

[Guest]

2 computers (we use laptops), a length of wire, cable making tools, user has to complete a file transfer from one computer to the other,

 

Would use my initiative and use my USB Pen drive

[mrforgetful]

Thanks guys, will piece something together.

[ajbritton]

I have two points;

 

First of all, your test needs to be based around the person specification for the job. You cannot really discriminate against one applicant that cannot build a PC from scratch if the person spec does not ask for it.

 

Secondly, try to base your tests around what the technician is likely to be doing day to day. It's no use employing someone who can solve some ingenious puzzle that you set up if they can't do the more menial stuff.

 

Having said that, one nast thing I have done in the past is to swap two keys on the keyboard around. One of the keys swapped should be for a letter of a password which the applicant should try to use.

[SimpleSi]

Agree with AJ.

 

Combined sound/display/network faults and see how many they get.

 

If they get stuck (due to nerves or lack of knowledge - show them how to fix that step and then move onto another one)

[EDIT]

Tell them at beginning of interview (or in waiting room) what the test will basically be about in order to remove the nerves issue- the more relaxed they are - the better idea you'll get of their capabilities

[/EDIT]

 

Try to make it as close as possible to real world scenario for the job you expect them to be doing.

 

regards

Simon

[Midget]

You'd be supprised how few people who think they know about computers are unable to identify parts. Its a nice simple test that give you an idea of their background knowledge.

 

You should really include a printer problem, either lack of toner, wrong cartridge (but the right shaped cartridge a la HP deskjets) or something with a print server or print assignment script.

[bossman]

SYSMAN_MK exactly my words to webman before i read this thread. What i would be looking at is a person who has enthusiasm and a true love of IT, with a good personality, who is not frightened to get his/her hands dirty when asked to clean all the workstations in the school. All to often you will get a person who has quite a knowledge base of computers but will turn their nose up at a request to clean things IT related eh webman.

[webman]

but will turn their nose up at a request to clean things IT related eh webman.

 

Too busy doing stuff you delegate to me to clean computers!! 8)

[_Bat_]

Leave a set of tools next to the computer, along with a spare monitor and sound card. If they're methodical and thinking clearly they should sort out the problems. If they go straight to taking the case off you know you've got problems.

 

I think you have to be fair here. People do things in an interview (especially practical) that they wouldn't normally do due to nerves. Plus they know someone is watching them and try to get the job done as fast as possible so no-one is waiting for them, therefore don't think straight.

 

ask them couple of questions on printer problems.

 

You EVIL person!

 

Would use my initiative and use my USB Pen drive

 

Haha, do you think they'd be impressed (by, as you said, using your initative) or annoyed . I think there would be quite a few people who would actually be impressed with that, but they'd probably clarify the issue afterwards, haha.

[mac_shinobi]

Computer:

1. Plugged in but not switched on at the mains (plug not in plain site)

2. Network cable not fully engaged

3. Monitor brightness and contrast turned right down

4. Keyboard and mouse plugged into wrong ports (PS2)

5. Sound card disabled

 

Scenario:

A teacher says that the sound was not working on the computer and a couple of pupils said that they could fix it. They seemed to be messing around for ages and now nothing works. Can you have a look and see what's wrong?

 

Leave a set of tools next to the computer, along with a spare monitor and sound card. If they're methodical and thinking clearly they should sort out the problems. If they go straight to taking the case off you know you've got problems.

 

Not sure if all or any of you would agree with me on this but it depends on the circumstances at the end of the day, I mean if the machine is under warranty, you wouldnt take it apart in the first place to try and ammend it you would just call the company up and say X machine is not working and get an engineer out , if its not under warranty then fair enough.

 

Also personally I would start at the hardware layer ( following the OSI model ) and work my way up from hardware all the way to software ( depending on the circumstances as I previously mentioned )

 

What do you all think ?

[broc]

Don't get too hung up either if all the candidates fail on one or more parts of the test.

 

A couple of months ago we were in the same position. I set a short series of tests, the first of which was a screwed up refresh rate (beyond capabilities of monitor). All but one of the candidates failed, however it became clear by the end of the interview process that there was one other candidate who was streets ahead of the rest despite failing the practical test. We appointed him & he has proven to be an excellent choice. He had good theoretical knowledge & a personality to match, we have given him a short sharp introduction to the practical side of being a school ICT technician & he is already a valuable member of our team.

[altecsole]

I chose the computer setup and scenario because they cover the majority of the quick fixes we come across all the time: computer off at the socket, network cable not plugged in, monitor brightness turned down etc.

 

You want a rounded person with good communication skills and the ability to get on with people. If they're working as part of a team then these qualities are far more important that technical ability.

[buzzard]

2 computers (we use laptops), a length of wire, cable making tools, user has to complete a file transfer from one computer to the other,

 

Would use my initiative and use my USB Pen drive

 

Sorry should have said, use a ISO bigger than what you can fit on a USB, at the time we did it it was an MS Office ISO, perhaps zip a few together!!

 

The test started with a bit of paper and a scenario of "using only the equipment on the table transfer file X from Computer A to Computer B"

 

Nice Try though!!

[woody]

Get the most IT illiterate teacher you can find. Deck their printer in. Then get the candidate to troubleshoot over the phone with the teacher. Evil, I know, but very very practical and realistic!

[alonebfg]

a friend told me once that the hardest thing for a tech to fix is a simple problem IE i had a phone call asking me to help with a pc it would not switch on tested psu changed it and it still did not work i laughed as the problem was the fuse in the plug had blown once changed both psu worked but fuses can be funny things has anyone heard of a lazy fuse. ( its a fuse that has blown but not totally so still lets a little bit of current. but not enough to power anything). can be bad as a basic circuit will not see the break need somthing like a megga. have seen loads of these happens a lot in cheap fuses.

[TechMonkey]

I think the simple things that sound technical are good (such as the fuse one or swapping mouse and keyboard). I do have a big problem with some of the scenario type tests though as often the candidate won't be able to put it into context. For example here there should be no way that hardware could get disabled so it wouldn't be one of the top things I would try. Eventually if all else fails I would but this could seem like I didn't know what I was doing as I took so long getting to it.

[Guest Guest]

Interesting conv.

 

To be fair i agree that the hardest problems for a techy are the simplest. Especially if your candidates are nervous. Maybe tell them that "this is a simple problem" or "this is a hard one".

If the candidate has came from another school for example, and they make a point of training staff on basic things such as "have you unplugged the PC to plug your kettle in?" then the candidate may not check this. (Not that some of our staff would check that!)

 

In the end, you want to be checking if he can do the things hes going to be employed for. If its abit of everything then give him abit of everything, but in steps.

 

 

Maybe;

 

2 PCs, one with a setup.exe on it. The goal is to install the setup on the other PC.

Choice of network cables.

Set PCs up with incompatible IP settings - maybe make this obvious as it could be abit nasty if you only change the network by 1 number for example.

 

Include any hardware troubleshooting before - ie not plugged in or monitor contrast down etc

 

Then guide him through it in steps whenever he seems stumped on what he should be doing next. This could show you good understanding and initiative if he needs no prompts.

[alonebfg]

ip setup in schools esp is not the easyist thing in the world some of the problems we have with ip setups you would not even get on most networks. like we are on swgfl so get issued ip addys and sometimes you can use *.*.*.1 dont ask why it dont work all the time. and as we are on there routers its diffrent but if you ask a few basic questions like you got cric on 10.122.81.1-126 and admin on 10 122.81.127 up andmin can see cric but cric cant see admin what subnets should you use ( apperently answer is set cric sub to 255-255-255-128 and admin on 255-255-255-0) but dont quote me on that ) that was one of my interview questions.

[Midget]

ip setup in schools esp is not the easyist thing in the world some of the problems we have with ip setups you would not even get on most networks. like we are on swgfl so get issued ip addys and sometimes you can use *.*.*.1 dont ask why it dont work all the time. and as we are on there routers its diffrent but if you ask a few basic questions like you got cric on 10.122.81.1-126 and admin on 10 122.81.127 up andmin can see cric but cric cant see admin what subnets should you use ( apperently answer is set cric sub to 255-255-255-128 and admin on 255-255-255-0) but dont quote me on that ) that was one of my interview questions.

 

Now really, how can you expect an it tech earning a avg of £14-18k to know that sort of thing. I only know it c/o my degree and CCNA, if I hadn't done either I wouldn't know. NM, yes, but cant expect it from an ITMonkey

 

Oh and HOW small is your school? not planning on having more than 126 machines?