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Home > Archive > General Discussion > August 2000 > Help me on employment test for entry level computer tech/support job.
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Help me on employment test for entry level computer tech/support job.
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| Hi. My name Is Jason. I live in South Florida and I am taking an 'employment test' on thursday for a company called THE ANSWER GROUP. It is a call center for Compaq and Gateway computer owners. They call in with technical problems. The job is 'entry level' and no certifications are required to get the job; but there is a test that needs to be passed to get the job. Does anyone know what type of material a test like this will have? and if so any tips on what to study so I can pass it?? I am studying to become A+ certified and I am only about half way done. I am also studying the Coriolis "WIN 98 troubleshooting and optimizing book". Any tips on how I can 'get my foot in the door' at this company will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Jason | |
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| The A+ exam should cover the basics. Might want to try boning up also on the network areas which the A+ doesnt cover all that well. Also, keep in mind that the A+ has miserably low passing scores. I know of a number of employers who use basically the same material as the A+ does in entry examinations, but they have a much higher passing score. So make sure you know your stuff well. Try some of the brainbench tests as well and you may find them helpful. Aslo, try to research the company and position you are interviewing for so as to increase the likelihood of you studying the right stuff. Lots of luck! | |
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| Also a lot of the problems people have are with e-mail and internet connectivity. Spend some time becoming asn expert with every e-mail client and browser. That includes Eudora and AOL.
Once you've got your foot in the door, work your *** off and it'll pay off. | |
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| I agree with the above: A+ material, Win98, and internet material. Since it is a call center for home users I would expect mainly material relating to desktop hardware, the OS and internet browser problems.
Also, you may get tested on customer service skills. It would be a bit challenging to study for this type of test in this short a time, rather when answering, think of yourself as the customer and how you would like to be treated. Fortunately, a customer service test should be easier, for most people it's simply common sense. Keep in mind, at a call center you will be dealing with customers, so even if they don't test you on your customer service abilities, they will be observing your interaction with them to validate those skills.
When I took an entry-level computer position nearly three years ago I had to take a hardware test and a customer service test. At the time I suspect that my customer service skills helped me get the job more than the technical test. My boss told me after he hired me, "I know we can teach you the technical stuff, I already could tell you would handle the customers, so I hired you."
[This message has been edited by darthw (edited 08-01-2000).] | |
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| Thank you for your vote of confidence. I do have very good customer service skills and experience; and i know how to deal with people. Just out of curiousity , what type of computer tech job do you have and what do you do? What state is it in? .and does your company have a lot of room for advancement? Thanks again and wish me luck.
Jason
quote:
Originally posted by darthw:
I agree with the above: A+ material, Win98, and internet material. Since it is a call center for home users I would expect mainly material relating to desktop hardware, the OS and internet browser problems.
Also, you may get tested on customer service skills. It would be a bit challenging to study for this type of test in this short a time, rather when answering, think of yourself as the customer and how you would like to be treated. Fortunately, a customer service test should be easier, for most people it's simply common sense. Keep in mind, at a call center you will be dealing with customers, so even if they don't test you on your customer service abilities, they will be observing your interaction with them to validate those skills.
When I took an entry-level computer position nearly three years ago I had to take a hardware test and a customer service test. At the time I suspect that my customer service skills helped me get the job more than the technical test. My boss told me after he hired me, "I know we can teach you the technical stuff, I already could tell you would handle the customers, so I hired you."
[This message has been edited by darthw (edited 08-01-2000).]
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| I provide Level III (sometimes called Tier III) desktop support and some LAN infrastructure support. Basically, if the advanced phone support techs can't figure it out, then my team has to get our hands on the PC. Usually the help desk can resolve the issue, so we handle a lot of setting up hardware, hardware repair, and some LAN work, mainly cabling, troubleshooting connections, and tape backup/restore.
I've been doing this for nearly three years - two years with one company and a few months with another employer. This new job offered a nearly $10,000 pay increase, and a little more opportunity to do, and learn, some different things.
I actually took a several thousand dollar cut in pay from a medical equipment technician position to get started in IT, but there's a lot more opportunity in IT across the board.
Actually, both companies I've worked for provide on-site technicians for desktop support, called outsourcing in case your not familiar with the term. At both places there hasn't been a lot of room for advancement at the job site, but if you learn, continue to get certified or educated, and learn some more, plus provide great customer service, there are numerous positions in other cities. But even if you don't want to relocate, if you get an IT job, work at it a couple years to gain the experience, and get some certs. to help sell your abilities, then you'll have excellent chances for other positions anywhere.
If you don't make this one, don't get discouraged. Keep working on the certs, and keep filling out the resumes. It took me about a year of hunting, even with a B.A and two Associate's degrees in Computer Science to get my foot in the door, and I didn't have any certs when I started the first IT job.
When I finished my MCSE I had nearly two years of experience, so I started looking for another job to increase my income. MCSE didn't make me a computer god but it did make me a better tech, so I had a few interviews, and some interested companies. This offer came about two weeks after I finished the MCSE, and it was for more than I could hope to be making at the job I had started in shortly after college.
I work in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The best positions available here seem to be database, web, or telecommunications related, so while I'm still working on desktop support, I am taking classes and certs. to learn the web and telecom side better.
Let us know on this post how your interview turns out. Good luck.
DarthW, MCSE, A+, N+, i-N+, CDIA | |
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| Thanks for everyones help. I passed the test on Thursday and I start training on monday the 14th of August. ....probably for the Gateway division.
Jason | |
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| Great! It's a good start. Good Luck! | |
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| I would have to agree that A+ and Win98 certs would really be a great tool to help you with this job. My first 'IT' job was tech support for end users and I can't believe how many times I wished I had a better understanding of OS specific information.
I will also say that this sort of job is among the toughest you can find out there. You will be constantly challanged every day. If you can manage to thrive on this and use it as a catalyst, you will find yourself catapulted to higher levels in the IT world in no time flat. As somebody else said, work your a** off, but also use this as an opportunity to learn new things every day and improve your communication skills. Before you know it, you will reap the rewards. Best of luck. |
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