Cheat Sheet For Interview
Education
- UCSB ~ Computational Mathematics
Experience
- 2 bullets each topic
My Own Business:
- Worked with a startup on getting its tech stack established
- So I helped consult with non-technical founder on which software to pick, and
how to use the software + provide learning material for on it
- I also helped with researching software plugins to owner for features before
building them in-house
- I also create my own commercial video game
- Here I would go through written and verbal end user feedback given to me given
by real players, and create tickets to resolve issues that players have and
implement QoL changes
- Supports Windows and Linux environments, so I would debug issues with the
game on both OS
PayPal
- Perform support tickets for PayPal products such as product catalog, and the auto
couponing feature.
- This consist of fixing broken integrations, and if not possible on our end
escalating to a responsible parties
- Assist with non-technical co-workers with issues given by our clients on our
software product
- This can consist of helping finding certain dashboards, writing tickets on software
bugs and debugging the issues documenting our findings
- Help getting new engineers on getting environment setup on MacOS environment,
and ensuring they have all the right software needed and permissions required to
work
- Write instructional documentations for technical documents on our own software
and certain common recurring issues on vendor end
Technical Expertise
1. Can you describe any experience you have with supporting hardware and
software in an academic setting or through internships/projects?
a.
2. What experience do you have with managing or assisting in instructional labs or
technology-enhanced classrooms?
a.
3. How familiar are you with software commonly used in art and design or graphic
communication, such as Adobe Creative Suite or similar tools?
a. I am familiar with the software, and have used a few of them such as Adobe
Creative Suite, Blender (or maybe in this case mention Autodesk Maya)
4. What basic practices do you follow to maintain and secure technology in a
classroom or lab environment?
Instructional Technology Support
5. Have you ever helped students or faculty with instructional technology? Can you
provide an example?
6. What steps do you take to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in a timely
manner?
a. First I get the general idea of the problem at hand. So I get the basic information
and see what I get. I would then try to come up with a reasonable solution then
test if it works. Then keep going about this until the problem is solved. If it is out
of my range, I would console other people if possible if it's a recurring issue, or a
known issue.
7. Have you ever trained someone on new software or hardware? If so, how did you
ensure they understood it?
a. Yes, at my role in PayPal I use to train others on internal software we used for
implementing fixes. A way I made sure they understood the software is by seeing
if they could pass some very foundational and required task they will need.
i. For my internal software I would see if they know how to navigate, save,
and etc. This test to see if they know what is going on.
ii. I would also be very gentle and keep a bit of a slower pace vs fast
depending on the technical level of the person. Everyone learns at
different speeds, and interfaces with tech at different levels so I try to
make sure they know what is going on.
Collaboration and Communication
8. How do you ensure clear communication when working with department chairs
and faculty to understand their technology needs?
a.
9. Can you describe a situation where you worked as part of a team to solve a
technical issue or implement a solution?
a.
10.How do you handle multiple requests from different departments or individuals to
ensure all needs are addressed?
a. I go by order of importance first, then I go to first come first serve. So if I get
something TOP priority I aim for that first before moving onto other issues.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability
11.Describe a technical problem you faced in a lab or classroom setting during your
studies or a previous job/internship and how you resolved it.
12.How do you keep yourself updated with new technologies and trends relevant to
your field?
a. Personally, I watch videos and read up on news. This goes for software + art.
b. Least for me, in terms of the tech stack I see on art related software I am part of
an artist chat group with some popular artists. There is talk buzzing there on new.
13.Can you provide an example of a time when you had to quickly learn a new
technology or adapt to a change in procedures?
a. Yes. During my time at PayPal
Project Management
14.Have you been involved in any projects related to technology implementation or
upgrades during your studies or internships? What was your role?
15.How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple deadlines to meet?
General Fit and Motivation
16.Why are you interested in this role supporting the Art & Design and Graphic
Communication Departments?
a. I love working with computers and helping people + I am an artist as well.
Something I noticed is that not all artists are really super tech savvy when I would
communicate and help people in the community. So I am hoping to bring a level
of help on this front.
17.What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in this role to
possess?
a. Empathy and patients. Something I noticed, is when people come with issues is
that they have already banged their heads against the wall potentially. So they
may be a bit irritated. So understand they really do not know what is going on
and they are trying their best to get what they need.
18.How do you manage stress and ensure high-quality work when working under
tight deadlines?
a. Work on large TOP issues first, and try to get those down. If I am getting burned
out, then work on small tickets which I can knock out to keep momentum up.
Understanding of Academic Environment
19.What do you think are some challenges in providing IT support in an academic
setting, especially for creative disciplines like art and design?
a.
20.How would you approach supporting a faculty member who is not comfortable
using new technology in their teaching?
a. Try implementing a minimal tech related teaching to automatize or assist pain
points. Something easy and required. Have patients too and give support on their
work.