Last week I saw an odd thing on Indeed where I was apparently “already qualified for an interview” for a job posting at a local hospital that I’ve been trying to get in to for years for IT. I didn’t have to apply but just set up an interview time. Well turns out it’s actually a “hiring event” which I was informed after a recruiter called and was like “Are you sure you wanted to apply for this? You aren’t even A+ certified anymore.” You know because you forget how computers work if you let your cert expire even though you’ve been working with computers for the last 20+ goddamn years and at an IT level for the last 6 but sure.

She asked me if I was willing to re-cert and I said yes but whatever. My Google IT cert which is the same thing isn’t worth shit I guess so that’s a scam. Thanks Googs…

In any case, if you had half a day to crash study for a stupid fucking IT interview that was the equivalent of a 10 min speed date, what would you brush up on?

I ask because like you literally just google what you don’t know. Everyone in the industry knows this, but you can’t fucking say that at an interview. Just like when they say “can you tell me about you employment gaps?” you can’t say “well you see I was fired from jobs because I am autistic.” I already and prepped to lie and say I’ve been doing freelance IT and web dev in my spare time and that also covers those gaps.

Edit: done with interview. They closed the position on Monday because a guy that quit asked for his job back. I’m going to go kill myself now.

        • Tower@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          4 months ago

          Get a LaserJet, then you don’t have to worry about not using it often. I bought a used black and white one for $50 when I needed to print legal paperwork (~100 pages, multiple drafts, and then needing to file in triplicate meant it was muuuch cheaper to buy a printer than to go to a print shop). The toner cartridge is about $20 and lasts over a thousand pages.

  • culpritus [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    8·
    4 months ago

    For hospital IT a good angle might be to highlight security best practices depending on the role. There have been a lot of data breaches and ransomeware targeted at hospitals, so acknowledging that you are aware and prepared for that could be helpful.

  • TheOtherwise [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    8·
    4 months ago

    I ask because like you literally just google what you don’t know. Everyone in the industry knows this, but you can’t fucking say that at an interview

    Just a personal anecdote, but i once said exactly that - that I’m a good googler. Then I went into a spiel about how being able to navigate to certain corners of the interent is an underrated skill in todays world. I ended up getting that job.

    Might not always work, but i wouldn’t necessarily shy away from talking about it.

    • roux [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      8·
      4 months ago

      Yeah I’ve dropped that line to but it’s hit or miss sometimes. It works well with people who are real about it I think. I just feel like some of the bigger more important interviews is when it fell flat. Idk tho.

      But like it’s really what I already do for 60-70% of IT and programming both.

  • Gorb [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    6·
    4 months ago

    Those stupid google/Microsoft certs drive me mental. At my place everyone had to do them including the project managers. Problem was the talking jira boards now have opinions on infrastructure because they did an entry level course on why x cloud platform will fix your marriage.

    • roux [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      5·
      4 months ago

      on why x cloud platform will fix your marriage.

      LMAO!

      I sort of did it as a hail mary hope that people would take it as serious as the A+ cert since I was a dummy and let mine expire. What is dumb is that that covered more modern stuff than my A+ exams so imo it’s a more valuable investment and should be weighed heavier compared to if I still had my A+ that covered old tech that no one even uses anymore. Ah yes hubs and SCSI cables, very cool.

  • the_post_of_tom_joad [any, any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    5·
    4 months ago

    some bullshit about how somehow “Hospital jobs feel more like real jobs” (a line used successfully for real by one of my friends) and some fluff about that particular hospital ‘making a difference in the community’ or some shit that a short goog search will find. Since they’re low-key gauging your servility this tactic might involve less pain. Freelance should only be leveraged to cover employment gaps only, because you want to work for a cause ‘greater than yourself’. Hospital cats eat that shit up mane. Will you be responsible for infosec in this position? Maybe you’re passionate about HIPAA iunno.

    I’m a fantastic bullshitter, but IT specific interviews are beyond my experience tho so, yknow, take it for what it’s worth. Good luck!

    • roux [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      7·
      4 months ago

      I’m a fantastic bullshitter,

      Teach me lol.

      Good points all around. I will try to save the freelance line in case they grill me on gaps only. It’s one of the 2 major hospitals here and it’s where we had both our kids so that could also be useful regarding “making a difference”. I’m gonna try the “hospital jobs are real jobs” line too hopefully.

      “I fell like the work and commitment that [hospital] does for the community is so important and I think I have the skillset to help [hospital] continue to make a difference, etc etc.”