Hi,

We're taking on an apprentice in the IT department, and I need some examples of technical questions to ask. We have a guy working here on a work experience scheme, and he was asked to write some example questions, which he did.

What he didn't tell us was that he has applied for the apprentice role, which means he was writing the questions he'll be asked. Genius!

Has anyone got any examples they could give me? It would save me having to think, or use Google or, you know, work!

Thanks in advance,

John.

If you can, an actual test (using real hardware/software) might be better.

Not IT as such but we've interviewed people to work in the lab and they could answer all the questions but a depressing number couldn't actually do basic lab tasks like operate a pipette properly or some were flumoxed by things like building a test-tube rack (I wish I was joking). Knowledge without a bit of common sense and some practical skills isn't that helpful.

Ask them to solve some simple problems that come up frequently - see if they can follow a set of instructions to reset a users password for example.
For hardware you could ask them to work out why no image is coming up on a display (having dislodged the either the display or power cable enough that it's the problem, or have the monitor switched off at the plug socket).
Pick a past support call and ask them what sort of things they'd do/ask to resolve it.
A quiz of the acronyms used might be helpful.