Help with an awkward interview questionI'll be interviewing with a company later this week that a recruiter found for me. She also forwarded the description of the job I'm interviewing for, and it requires that candidates have skills in a technology that happens to be non-existent. I'm not sure this is the result of a typo, because I've seen the same technology posted in other ads too, but it definitely is a version that never happened. What happens if, during the interview, I'm asked what experience I have with that technology? I feel it would be very bad form to say, "There's no such thing" - so should I say instead, "Here are the versions that I have experience working with?" Has anybody else come across a similar thing before? Any advice is greatly appreciated! It couid be that the secretary was the one that provided the info for the ad or typed it. They don't always know what to put down and just put down what others are calling for. I run into this a lot with graphic design. The wrong software names come up or the software names are misspelled. Just tell them what you do know. Hopefully, they know better. The very first job I had for the government included working on a computer system called "Wang". All the interviewer told me was that I would be working on an antiquated system and that because I had always worked with DOS in my previous jobs that I would have no problem with it. When I got to the location I was working on the first day and saw this piece of junk, I almost fell down. But, it actually turned out to be the easiest computer that I had worked with to that date. When I asked later why I wasn't told what the system was, it was told that it was because whenever they did mention the system's name to someone, that person would either laugh or say they didn't have experience with it and wouldn't finish the interview. Less than a year later, the government agency decided to get newer computers and we eased out of using the "Wang", but whenever we needed to hire for a new position or a vacant position it was always stated in the job announcement that the agency had "Wang" technology. (if you can call that particular system technology). The purpose for including it, isn't so that people think, "oh my gosh, I can't do it", but to let people know that there is a possibility that it could be used. When you are in the interview, and the subject of your technological skills are discussed, and the interviewer asks if you have heard of it or used it, tell the truth. That while you have heard of it you are more knowledgeable with the systems that came after and are looking forward to being able to expand on your knowledge by learning about the other system's predecessor. how about sharing the name of the technology. Just because you don' t know it does not mean it doesn' t exist. How about, "My expertise in quantum flux capacitors is second to none! I challenge you to find a single expert, living or dead, who exceeds my knowledge and understanding of tacheon mechanics. Why, I' ve forgotten more about finite improbability than anyone else!" The other approach is to laugh and ask, ' what you talking about, Willis?' Remember, a lot of job reqs are written by inhuman resources toads who are clueless. The technology in this case is SQL Server 2003, and was referenced in the job description in the requirement, "3 - 5 years of experience in SQL Server 2003 or 2005." There's 2000, and 2005. Like I said, this could be a typo - I just see it in numerous job descriptions lately. And amusing requirements such as "8+ years experience in SQL Server 2005"... Uh, it hasn't existed for more than two... Thanks for everybody's replies, I appreciate your suggestions or advice. SQL Server 2003! That is a classic. Obviously a typo. I wouldn' t worry about it. If you have any significant experience in 2K or 2K5, you won' t have any problem supporting one or the other. There is not THAT much difference between the releases that you can' t overlap. They won' t hang u for the difference. | |
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