Starting an IT Career? Prepare for that Interview

It has been my privilege and pleasure for the last two years of my IT career to be working as an Information Technology Instructor.  Sometimes the groups I am teaching are already working in information technology, but are working on improving their skill set in areas such as cybersecurity.  But the majority of my students have little or no IT experience, and are training to get an entry level job in an IT department.  Typically this is a help desk, tier 1 support, or hardware repair depot job.

Most of those classes are sponsored by non-profits groups in the workforce development space, and they usually provide job placement assistance once the classes are over and the certifications are received.

Even with help, it is up to these students to make it through the interviewing process.  I came across an infographic on Pinterest that I thought was a good piece to share with my students, and today I am sharing this with anyone who is looking for a new job.

An interview should be a two-way street.  They are interviewing you, but you should be interviewing them as well.  No matter how desperately you want “a job,” nothing is worse than finding yourself in a job you can’t stand.  The seven questions in the infographic should open up the dialog so you can get a feel for what the work environment is going to be like.

Of course, dress appropriately, which means in the style of the people how work there.  Suit and tie?  Business casual?  Pajamas?  You can find out what that looks like by parking in their lot at the beginning or end of the day, and observing what people entering or leaving the building wear.

Do some Google research on the company you are interviewing.  Prospective employers want employees who want to work in their business, not just who want to work anywhere.  Talking knowledgeably about the company, and new initiatives or product launches shows you are interested in them, too.

There are many websites that specialize in how to prepare for and perform during an interview, this site it not one of them, so find a few and learn what to do to maximize your success.

Good luck on your next interview!

0

About the Author:

I am a cybersecurity and IT instructor, cybersecurity analyst, pen-tester, trainer, and speaker. I am an owner of the WyzCo Group Inc. In addition to consulting on security products and services, I also conduct security audits, compliance audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. I also teach Cybersecurity Awareness Training classes. I work as an information technology and cybersecurity instructor for several training and certification organizations. I have worked in corporate, military, government, and workforce development training environments I am a frequent speaker at professional conferences such as the Minnesota Bloggers Conference, Secure360 Security Conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, the (ISC)2 World Congress 2016, and the ISSA International Conference 2017, and many local community organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, SCORE, and several school districts. I have been blogging on cybersecurity since 2006 at http://wyzguyscybersecurity.com

Add a Comment


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.