Preserved Topic: What's the maximum speed of an ISDN connection?

That was one of the questions on my interview 'test'-- wait, maybe I should back up a second--

I had a job interview today. Tech Support for a local ISP. My dream job. Why is this my dream job? 'Cause it's Entry-level.

I've been searching for a job like this for a while, because saying you used to do freelance webdesign around here is kinda like saying, "I once cut some guy's lawn.". I've been searching for that fine job I can chalk on a resume and say, "I'm an IT guy!".

I was actually extremely nervious when I showed up for the interview- more nervious than I ever got around any client. I began to wonder if maybe I wasn't putting too much stock in this particular job. Before I got to answer that, a pretty brunette in a tight white top stuck her head in and asked the secretary for me. "The hot lady said my name" flashed through my mind, as I lifted my gaze from the Dell laptop ad I was reading. The secretary pointed to me, and the brunette motioned me to come to her. "The hot lady wants me", I thought, "this can either be very good or very bad." (Some of us have girlfriends). She seemed very friendly- unusually friendly for an interviewer-person. "Had I come to the correct place?" I wondered, "Or am I about to find myself in a position I hadn't applied for?" (Some of us have girlfriends, some of us also have a pulse).

With a smile and I'll "I'll see you later" gaze, she led me to a room with the Short Blond Hair Hot Lady. As soon as I caught myself looking, I remembered to pretend I wasn't looking. As soon as I pretended I wasn't looking, I noticed the computers.

"Oh. Computers. Is that why I'm here?"

I had failed to notice the three long tables with the monitors sprinkled on them. On these tables, there were people taking tests. They didn't seem to like this test very much.

Not sure whether to be professional or just adorable, I went with a neutral."Hi.", I said to the Short Blond Hair Hot Lady. She just looked at me, apparently unsure what to make of me. Yep, too much 'cute' and 'adorable' in that "Hi". "Buenos Dias" replied some Techie-Looking Gentleman behind her. He gave her a wierd look, as I tried to face him and block the look of the Short Blond Hair Hot Lady. Her gaze burned into my mind.

I was given two sheets of paper and offered a pen. I didn't take the pen, I'd brought my own. I'm a well-prepared geek, damnit! On one sheet of paper was a form on my schooling and employment history, I didn't look at the second sheet at first. Big Mistake.

I begun filling out the form when I noticed that everyone was stressing over the second sheet. I glanced at mine.

Gasp, a test!

I rushed the application and got to the test. Had to get to it quickly, I'd see people stand up, hand in, and be told, "Don't worry. No one actually finishes the whole test". Jezus Christ, what the fuck was on this test?

Simple stuff mostly (what does HTML mean? what's HTTP? Mention 5 search engines), but I was the last to finish. True, I did get there last, but still. Your mind doesn't work right in a job interview. Especially with the Short Blond Hair Hot Lady sitting across from you in the table. I couldn't decide if she was cute or just annoying.

Anyway, they were right, nobody has ever finished the whole test. I missed one question:

What's the maximum speed of an ISDN connection?

Apparently, though, I'm the closest anyone's ever gotten to finishing it (Which stands less as a testament to my intelligence and more to the sorriness of the Digital Stone Age thing that Puerto Rico's got going on). The Short Blond Hair Hot Lady congratulated me and asked me a few questions and then sent me to the tech support team leader guy.

He said that the other guy told him that I already got the job based on my test. Woo hoo!!

He said a little bit more about the job description and showed me where I'd be working. He sent me to this lady who informed me that I was hired (I already knew, but still- Woo hoo!).

So, to make a long story short (too late)- I just got a neat-o dorito job workin' tech support....

...I dunno, I'm really hyped about it.. had to share it with ya'll..

[edit] most people run to tell their folks... I run home to tell the Asylum... you guys rock...[/edit]


Code - CGI - links - DHTML - Javascript - Perl - programming - Magic - http://www.twistedport.com
ICQ: 67751342

[This message has been edited by Petskull (edited 10-09-2002).]

Q - What's the maximum speed of an ISDN connection?
A - 128 Kbps. 64 Kbps while using the phone.

Congratulations on the job. I had a friend who did tech support for Dell. Your in for a treat.

-Jestah
Cell 277

So now you can start sending me money every month!!! Wonderful... <lol>

Congratulations! Watch that 'pulse.'

And you get a name for the hot blonde chick! Congratulations on the new job and the wonderous co-worker.

-Adam

Before a scientist goes mad, there's probably a time when he's only partially mad. And this is the time when he's going to throw his best parties.

African or European?

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

[Edit: In my haste to leave the scene of the crime, I forgot to say: congrats!]




Cell 270

[This message has been edited by Suho1004 (edited 10-09-2002).]

Congrats Petskull........I recently went for a Graphic Designers job interview a few weeks ago, unfortunately it didnt go too well as they still havent called me to let me know if I got the job. Well I can imagine how you feel... a dream job and a cute new work mate. ~damn~

Congrats, Petskull! Way to go! So now you are an 'IT Guy'...

Are there lots of 'hot blondes' there? ~wife slaps me~ Ouch!

quote:

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Tech Support for a local ISP. My dream job.

---

Wow... well I say within the next two weeks, you'll look back on that statement and laugh. I've been in that job... and I can't say I'd go back.

Hope it goes smoother for you, and congrats anywhoo.

That's great news - congrats, Petskull!

kuckus (cell #282)

One fills in the words ' "tech support" idiots ' in the google search field et voilá:

Tech support horror stories

I'm sure there are other fabulous stories out there, but I'm sure when you've worked there for a week, you'll be able to share your own. please do.

Congrats on the job. You might even be able to do some surfing while you're busy

So the job hiring was based entirely on a test? No checking of references or looking at a resume or anything? Shoot, I would love an interview like that!

Congrats big time!!! Enjoy the blonde ... er ... um ... the job!

Cell Number: 494

F A N T A S T I C.
A test eh? I'm glad you got your chance to shine at the interview. I think that a lot of companies would be better off if they administered some sort of test prior to hiring people. Perhaps it would have saved me from having to train 6 different people for 1 job within 2 years.

And you know you'll be able to do the job well. That's a really good feeling. Most sincere congratulations on breaking into the field, especially at a time when it's so hard to find a computer related job. I'm sure you'll do great. Just keep away from that chick and it'll be allrighty

Nice link, mahjqa...hilarious! Hehe...

Petskull congratz!

I once done customer support job for an ISP...it was not a pleasant experience!

jeni,

quote:

---

especially at a time when it's so hard to find a computer related job.

---

why do you say that?

afaik, if you're skilled you'll easily find a computer related job.

[This message has been edited by lallous (edited 10-09-2002).]

I say that because it is fact here (North Carolina). Plenty of jobs available to people who'd like to work at Taco Bell and what not, but yeah computer-related, not so many, especially IT.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

I spent a couple of months working for a local ISP / PC Hardware store fixing computers and such back in 1999. At first I'd ask the customer what had happened to their PC, or what they were doing when it broke. After the first week of that I quickly discovered it was a lot less painfull just to say "Oh hi, just leave your box here, I'll call you when it's fixed, thanks." I can only fathom how mind numbing phone based tech support could be...

Say, any fellow australians catch Daiel Rutter's "Do you have a license for that Athlon?" article in this months Atomic MPC? He put fourth some really good thought on the whole "Stupid computer user" debate.

Congrats, man.

Hope it works out for ya'. Here were I work, we've been trying to get a decent ISP tech for two months now with no luck. Had a few guys come in with "certificates" from those two year tech schools (think ITT tech). Complete waste of time.

Hell, maybe I should start making up a test for these guys.

And, yes, I've been through the ISP tech thing and loathe, I absolutely loathe, tech support. Those tech horror stories are all true.

But, at the end of the day, it feels kinda nice when you finally get somebody online and they're really happy to be connected.

Yahh Boo .. yer all too weak for Tech support. Don't listen to those naysayers Petscull .. Tech support can be the most rewarding job in the whole IT industry. You get to find out what the customer's think ... if you get high enough you get to give hell to developers AND sales staff .. it's a gas. You end up with a much bigger repetoire of funny stories to tell at parties (and not all geeky ones either) and being in constant connection with "real life" at the other end, you don't lose all those social graces the dev lot never even knew about.

I know .. I've made Tech Support my career, and done extremely well out of it for the past 20 years. It's fun .. hard work, but real fun ...

On the down side .. if you have no patience, and think all users are stupid... you might be lucky and last more than 5 minutes.

One tip .. befoer you answer the phone ... smile ... even if your cat died and the house burnt down .. smile .. an angry user can HEAR a smile.

Good luck.

wow... five days already. I've answered a calls backwards-assed rednecks left and right (my apologies to backwards-assed rednecks).

I think my favorite was the guy who called saying that his computer was on fire. or maybe the lady who didn't understand why she needed a phoneline hooked up to her computer because she didn't want to talk on the phone with her computer, she just wanted to get on the net- duh?

Let me see... the guy who called because he wanted his ISP login and his hotmail account to be the same and, after calling the hotmail people and getting a 'no', he wanted us to force hotmail to give it to him. or perhaps the lady whose new computer was up and running perfectly, only one problem- the mouse didn't move. Who knew the mouse didn't work while still packed inside the box?

...and straight out of the pages of User Friendly- the guy whose computer commited an 'Illegal Operation' while on the internet and he wanted us to call the cops and explain to tham that it wasn't his fault.

This is fun... I do like helping people... the idiots get in the way, but then there's just that much more to teach them...

and it is pretty satisfying to get them online for the first time.. and I get to leave with that nifty "I did something today" feeling... I have to dress real sharp which looks nice and...

I work in what is apparently a modeling agency. At least you'd think so from the people who work there. Except the Tech Support department that is- just a bunch of geeks here.

What's funny is.. females that don't work in the Tech Support Office are prohibited from being there- even from walking thru it. I smirked when I heard that during the training. Some people asked why, but I already knew why....

Don't know why?

Simply use your mouse to post on this thread by clicking image labeled 'Post Reply" with the left button on your mouse, ensure that the 'Caps Lock' key isn't activated or it could result in click error. If you get a click error, note the entire text of the error including the number of the error. Then promptly restart your computer and call me back...


Code - CGI - links - DHTML - Javascript - Perl - programming - Magic - http://www.twistedport.com
ICQ: 67751342

[This message has been edited by Petskull (edited 10-15-2002).]

oohhh weeeeyyy....

now learn how to log those tickets in....

Gezz.. the old good days of Help Desk hehehe

Thats a very easy interview you had there.. congrats...

Ihad this one interview back in December. It was for a financial company (MassMutual). Well actually it was for their parter company. They needed someone on CTO position who would report to the CEO of the company. Well.. they called me, I had 5 interviews (6 bucks in parking each time so that would make 30 bucks) I interviewed with virtually every upper management person in there. The best one was with the CEO though. It was the scarriest, weirest interview ever. He brought me to his office where I sat on a nice leather couch...and we just started talking. I was relaxed, it's an interview right? Nothign to worry about...well.. he asked me questions like:

1. What do you like to eat?
2. What did you do today?
3. Do you have any skeletons in your closet..

Yup... it was one of those weird interviews where they play with your mind and see how you react.

well...after 5 interviews, they were all set...they liked me, they said that all they need to do was just run my DMV record and Credit Report... cool no problem.. I have nothing there..

I get a phone call.. saying they can't hire me because I had 3 traffic tickets.. can you believe that??????

Then before that, I worked for consulting company (EDS) they did folicle drug test on me.... that was interesting lol

MAX

I was working for HP on the day Win 95 launched.

Not THAT was interesting.

I got the "coffee cup holder" call, a call about "my foot pedal isn't working" (it's a MOUSE, you idiot), one call from a lady who couldn't understand why her computer wouldn't come on. Seems she'd only bought a monitor.....

Those were the days.