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Geek Squad interview
TheMorningStar
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I put in an application to geek squad two days ago and got a call back today about an interview. I figured there has to be some people here who work/have worked for geek squad. I've never interviewed for a tech job, what should I expect? I don't want to be caught off guard by a question. Any advice is much appreciated.
I expect some people here have horror stories about geek squad, but I really really need this job. I've also got an application in at a library here in town to be a tech there. It'll probably pay more ($14-19/hr. DUQ) but I'll work both jobs while I have to.
I expect some people here have horror stories about geek squad, but I really really need this job. I've also got an application in at a library here in town to be a tech there. It'll probably pay more ($14-19/hr. DUQ) but I'll work both jobs while I have to.
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When I interview people I ask them a single question which tells me ALOT about their repair abilities and mindset...
Basically the question is "You have a computer running Windows XP, you turn it on, it gets to the XP logo and it goes into an endless reboot cycle. Safe mode doesn't work either. What do you do?"
How they answer this question stells me several things. For example
Answer 1: "You need to reinstall Windows" - this tells me "Hi, this is my first tech job, I fix computer by just reinstalling Windows, its pretty much fixed every problem me and my family have ever had" (This is wrong, and I wouldn't hire you)
Answer 2: "Run scandisk" - this tell me "Hi, I'm an idiot who doesn't realize Scandisk can only be run from inside of Windows" (This si wrong and I wouldn't hire you)
Answer 3: "Get to the F8 menu and change the boot option to 'Disable automatic restart on system failure'" - This tells me "I know the system is probably throwing a BSOD on boot, I need to see the error message and go from there." (This is not entirely right, but it would definatly make you better than the baove two and I'd hire you)
Answer 4: Read answer 3, but also add "Perform a hard drive and RAM test, and research the issue using google" - This tells me you acknowledge there is a problem, and WANT to figure out the problem and resolve the issue. (This answer would make me want to fire some of the people I have and hire you instead, because you can figure things out independantly)
I have realtively high standards and am obsessive compulsive, so if things aren't done "My way", you get the highway...
GS is a slightly better environment though because they have more computers to repair and mroe technicians on hand. At Circuit City its not uncommon for our tech to be left on their own for 8 hours or so figuring things out on their own. I'll give you about 3 learning shifts, and then cut the umbillical, you screw up, I nudge you the right way...
blah, blah.... I work for the competition...
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Unless you have work experience, relevant certifications, or a college degree in a related field, the odds that you are going to start at Geek Squad are small. I applied to Geek Squad a year or so ago, and it turned out that in order for me to actually get that job I first had to work the floor as a sales associate for several months to even get a chance at a Geek Squad position.
Your first interview will be like any other retail interview. Pretend you like working with people, and be friendly towards the interviewer, and you will get to the second interview.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
It's "The Season", so its a pretty good chance he'll get a part-time position, but they'll probably let him go at the end of December.....
To be honest, applying at a Circuit City for their Firedog would be better, but a lower pay rate... Firedog is new and as stores hit the season they able to hire a few more heads, prove yourself useful and you do get to stay properly... Business for Circut City will only increase overtime, so it's a bonus in that respect... Just hope you don't live in Tampa Bay area, my store is full up on people....
Movie Collection
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Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
Wii Friend code: 1445 3205 3057 5295
Having just left a career in the medical field, I have have seen more scandulous shit than you can imagine...or maybe you can, nursing student.
Thanks everyone! Hm, I will have to check out firedog as well. There's no way in hell I'm going back to working as a "sales associate". If that's what they offer me I'll have to walk out. I put in an application as a computer tech, not register jockey.
Like nakatomi said, mention doing a google search. According to the manager who interviewed me, that's a key in the interview process for him. If someone is comfortable researching issues on their own he's happy.
This is wrong. I wouldn't want to work for you.
Get a windows98 cd and boot to dos. Or make a regular DOS bootdisk and put scandisk on it.
B.net: Kusanku
Be aware, if you're wanting the job as a tech job, you're in for a surprise. You don't actually get to do that much tech work. You'll do setups on new computers, and even then you won't be installing the Anti-virus/anti-spyware stuff as there's an automated program to do that. You'll just copy that program over from a CD or flash drive. As for as OS services, you're highly encouraged (meaning you have little choice in the matter) to use this remote access program where some guy in a far off land fixes the computer once you hook it into the network. Over the last few years, GS has turned into a sales position much more than a customer service type of position, which is what I feel a good technician actually is. At the end of the day, your job should be to make sure the product is fixed, which makes the customer happy.
Also, if you're lucky, you'll get a manager that realizes that making the services budget is what gets him a bonus at the end of the month. Those managers will treat you well and with respect. But more commonly, the managers see GS as people to cover other departments when they get busy, which means even less actual tech work.
$14-$19 an hour seems a bit high. Maybe where you live can factor into that, but unless you're the supervisor, you're not getting anywhere near that much money. And the odds are decent that your supervisor only makes in the low end of that, if he's making that much. You're probably looking more at the $10-$11 range. Again, geographic location may make a difference.
All the complaining aside, the discount is pretty nice and some of the other benefits are cool (like the annual Intel bundle). In fact, I only work there 1 day a week just for that reason.
I didn't mean to come across as overly negative in this, either. I've just been around for a while and have a pretty clear view of what the job is and what it isn't. ANd unfortunately, a lot of people sign up with Geek Squad to be computer techs, but the reality of the job is different. If you want to actually fix computers, look for a Mom & Pop shop or maybe Firedog (I have no idea what they're like).
Actually, it is partially wrong, but you're not right either unless the XP filesystem is FAT32. I'm guessing only a small percentage of XP installs are on FAT32 partitions. The DOS and Windows 98-era boot disks have no NTFS driver and therefore won't help you. They won't even be able to see the partition.
If you do want to run "scandisk" on an XP system that's not booting, the way you do it is to pop in an XP CD and invoke the Recovery Console. From there you can run chkdsk, which is effectively what XP is doing when it scans your disk for errors anyway. (Is there a "scandisk" for XP? I'm pretty sure there's just the crap GUI frontend to chkdsk...) You can also inspect the contents of the disk directly from the Recovery Console and see if there's something obviously amiss. You might also have luck with mounting the partition under a Linux LiveCD and checking it from there.
B.net: Kusanku
I have the geek squad hiring booklet if you're interested. Has a list of all the questions they ask during interviews. I can throw it on my USB key tomorrow if you'd like, and post it tomorrow night.
Assuming the hard drive is not bad a chkdsk /r WILL resolve an UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME, scandisk is a textbook answer relating to the Windows 9x days...
Its likely in school, I don't care if you already know what the answer is, I want to see how you got there... Running something like PowerMax tells me you diagnosed the HDD, and didn't just assume a damaged partition...
SO on and so forth...
How DID the interview go?
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Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
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DEAR GOD YES.
My interview is tomorrow (the 16th) at noon. Pacific time. I fear I have found this post too late...
1. CC is easier to work for than best buy.
2. GS pays more than FD
3. The guy that runs FD at my local CC used to work for GS and has no clue what hes doing.
Can anyone who has worked at both places make some kind of comparison?
My only advice to you, OP, is not to worry. Odds are very good that you will get this position no problem, especially since what you're actually going to is a job fair with a short interview afterward. You will be seasonal to start, but if you perform well, they'll make you permanent.
Here is an entry I previously wrote in H/A, regarding a somewhat related question:
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I think I'll get the job.
I've spent my time at CC. I worked there for 5 years before getting layed off last march 29th. I worked for 4 different CC stores and actually I've been offered a Sales management position at the store we plan to open in Waynesboro, VA next spring. I hate to sound negative, but no Firedog associate that refuses to act as a sales associate at least part of their shift will not last more than a month. Especially with CC's new system. Everyone in the store works every department now. My former roomate didn't last after this system was in place because he refused to sell and had a similar mindset that you have. That he was a computer tech, and that selling was not part of his job.
Now I hear GS is different however. Yeah, they'll ask you to sell but it'll be far more rare. You won't be facing any sort of heavy hitting tasks repair wise, but at least you'll have a cool tie, and a nice repair area.
Good luck man!
This statement is not true. The Geek Squad job is 5% fixing stuff, 95% selling stuff. Like I mentioned, you don't fix hardly any computers, that is all done by Jonny Utah. What you will be doing is selling the hardware diag to make sure it isn't hardware causing the OS problem, then the OS service itself to fix the problem (which will be done using a remote desktop program). Or better yet, just sell them both up front and be done with it. Don't forget to sell the anti-virus/anti-spyware so it doesn't happen again. What if the PC has a problem that's covered under warranty? No problems, just sell a data backup. And that's just the tip of the iceburg as far as what you're expected to sell at the tech counter.
The real fun part comes when the store gets busy or if a department is understaffed, which is pretty much every department every day. The managers figure that since you can fix a lot of products, you must know everything about every product in the store. That means GS is the first department to have people pulled to help out elsewhere. As long as one person is left to get the counter, the managers don't care. They don't realize that the PCs in the back waiting for repair represent customers that are waiting or that there are setups that will not get done in a timely manner, what matters are the customers that haven't yet given us their money.
Now, I suppose that could just be my experience with GS, but that's the same experience I had in four different stores in two different states, so I tend to believe it is a fairly widespread issue. So to reiterate, Geek Squad is most certainly a sales position, not a tech position.
honestly my first steps always involve shutting off the computer, unplugging it, holding the power button in for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in and trying it again
if that doesn't work reseating the ram usually does the trick for me
worst come to worst i boot in safe mode and see if there is a particular file it gets caught on.
if none of that works?
TO GOOGLE
though the first thing usually does it. (i get the problem a lot on my computer, it loves holding extra charges for no reason)
I see you own a laptop then.... If reseating the RAM is constantly fixing the problem I'd actually run a RAM test to be sure the RAM is ok...
Movie Collection
Foody Things
Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
Wii Friend code: 1445 3205 3057 5295
aah it was never my RAM that was the problem
i used to do over the phone support for Gateway
a lot of desktops have that problem too
I've heard some debate over that, and I'm kind of curious now.
depends on where you live really
if the market is short on jobs they will hire someone with experience first
Computer Sales, 9.75 an hour part time. If I make it through xmas I'll get a position in geek squad. Oh well, a job is a job.
I didn't have any certifications when I scored a Network Manager position for the US Census Bureau a few years ago.
The problem is, that was a few years ago, in some cities, finding any kind of IT job is like winning the Lottery.
Edit: Someone already said this. Sorry..
Also, congrats on the job. Good luck powering through the sales position (It can be painful!)
This is more like "We need more sales associate, but our pckets are deep, so we'll hire him at a slightly higher than usual pay rate, and then let him go when we're done, but let him think there's a light at the end of the tunnel" maneuver....
Movie Collection
Foody Things
Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
Wii Friend code: 1445 3205 3057 5295
Thanks man.
That's not him trying to rain on your parade, that's just how it is. If they had open head count at GS and they wanted you there, that's where you'd be. As it happened, they either didn't have any spots open or wanted you in computers instead, so there you are.
As for sticking around after the holidays, don't count it on it too much. There's a chance it'll happen. After the holidays sales deparments usually get their revised head counts and sometimes there will be open spots. Also, some college folk may leave to go back to school, so that may help. But the promise of sticking around is usually held out to make you bust your ass during the busy season.
Also, for some reason Geek Squad is used as a carrot to keep people semi-happy and motivated. If you've got previous experience, there's some hope there, but not a ton. Like I said, if they wanted you there, you'd probably already be there. But if I had a nickle for everyone that has been promised the next open spot at GS, I could at least buy a Coke.
The good news is that you'll have access to the discount from day one, so make the most of it.
So chin up. Keep your eyes open - craigslist is a good place to check in larger cities.