Every company is different–that is probably most evident in the interview process. Particularly in the high tech and networking job market.

The very best way to find a job is to have a job, that is a good work record and appraisals with a current employer. To put a fine point on it: To be qualified. But even the best, most qualified candidate for an opening may not be chosen.

Here are some reasons for rejection:

1. Poor Attitude: Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot.
2. Appearance: Many candidates do not consider their appearance as much as they should. First 3-5 minutes is the first impression. It’s only human nature for an interviewer to form an impression quickly. Do a checklist from your head to your toes.
3. Lack of Research:  It’s obvious when candidates haven’t learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Visit the local library or browse the internet to research the company, then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before the interview.
4. Not Having Questions to Ask:  Asking questions shows your interest in the company. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance.
5. Not Readily Knowing Answers: Anticipate and rehearse answers to tough questions about issues raised by your background, such as a recent termination or an employment gap. Practicing with your spouse or a friend before the interview will prompt you to frame intelligent responses. You may also want to have your responses videotaped so you can review your answers after you’re finished role-playing.
6. Relying Too Much on Resumes: Employers hire people, not paper. Although a resume can list qualifications, it’s the interview dialogue that will portray you as a committed, responsive team player.
7. Too Much Humility: Conditioned not to brag, candidates are sometimes reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reached difficult or impressive goals helps employers understand what you can do for them.

We hope this info helps in your next opportunity. Check back soon for more information and training to survive in the high tech and fast paced networking and IT world.

Sometimes being in the computer networking business can be a challenge. Oh sure we’ve all heard the help desk support horror stories of how the end-user was using their CD-ROM as a cup holder. That’s not what I’m taking about here though. What I am talking about is the challenges associated with running the back room operations of a computer networking business.

For example we use a product called NetIQ to monitor many of the computer networking functions of our customers. NetIQ has produced network monitoring software for computer networking for quite some time. Some things get better with age and experience. Apparently the NetIQ software doesn’t fit into this category.

You’d think as one of the pioneers of monitoring for the computer networking business that the product would have a modicum of stability. Yet we find ourselves fighting problems every single day.

As an example every day some of the jobs that are set to monitor some of our computer networks stop running. We can’t figure out why but even worse NetIQ can’t figure out why. Every day we have to go into the product and manually restart the jobs. This may seem more an inconvenience than a major problem but it is a major problem as we are monitoring multiple customers with stringent service level agreements in place. This is just one of multiple problems we are currently having with the software.

Hey NetIQ I’d be awfully worried about Systems Management Center if I were you…

Everyone can use help managing their personal finances. Applications like Microsoft Money are extremely useful in doing just that–manage. With the ability to securely tie into one’s bank accounts, Money delivers a real-time view of what’s going on.

Microsoft Money got better in 2007, adding or improving:

Savings & Spending Budget
Spending Tracker for budget groups
Smart Spending message boards
Enhanced tax estimator
Balance Adjustment Tool
Improved MSN Bill Pay
Essentials Investment Accounts
Expert Picks
Improved Invoice Designer
Invoice dropdown
14 new invoice templates
Invoice design ideas
PayCycle® payroll integration

At the end of the day, having the knowledge a financial package like Money provides, may make all the difference.

If you’re in the market for high tech gadgets, we think you might do far worse than the very popular Toshiba Satellite A135-S4467 Notebook.

Specs: 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo Mobile T5200, 1GB DDR2, 160GB, DVD±RW DL, Windows Vista Home Premium, 15.4″ TFT Display
Street Price: ~$799.00

The Satellite A135 Series is economically priced and feature Intel processors. 1.56GHz Duo Core and 1GB of RAM is enough for work and play. Plenty of hard disk space for media files, such as mp3s, pictures, and video. This model features an 15.4″ diagonal WXGA TruBrite display. Toshiba’s DVD SuperMulti optical drive (select models) reads and writes up to 11 formats, including DVD-RAM (DVD-RAM media required).

It includes high speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g) lets you work cable free. No more searching for phone jacks, network cables, or plugging in special cards. Connect easily to networks in your home, office, and in wireless LAN hotspots at airports, hotels and coffee shops.

All in all a whopper high tech deal in the realm of gadgets for geeks on a budget.

Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector: Features and Benefits

• Use the SMS management console to deploy and manage virtualized applications
• Integrate application virtualization within SMS
  • Eliminate application conflicts and dramatically reduce compatibility testing
  • Run previously-conflicting applications and multiple versions of the same application on same computer at the same time
  • Quickly repair damaged applications with instant removal and reload features
  • Simplify OS and application migrations
• Push and stream virtualized applications with SMS
  • Use SMS software delivery to push entire virtualized applications to target computers. This is accomplished even if the user is not logged into the desktop or terminal server.
  • Streaming: send only the code needed to get virtualized applications up and running, typically 20-40%, without having to wait for the entire application to download and install – enabling instantaneous access to applications from any computer on the network, regardless of bandwidth.
• Windows desktop, laptop, and Terminal Services support
  • Package once, run anywhere: once an application is virtualized, it can be delivered via SMS to desktops, laptops and terminal servers without having to create multiple packages or use complex scripting.
• Centralized “single-image” software packaging
  • Once a virtualized application is upgraded, it is automatically updated throughout the network.
• Integrate asset discovery and metering
  • Virtualized applications are included in SMS asset discovery and metering reports, providing a complete picture of all application usage.