I've been conducting interviews to find my replacement as a senior network and system administrator, and it's been quite a challenge. I give candidates a Windows 11 PC and ask them to troubleshoot a deliberately broken internet connection, which I set up by blocking most packets through the Windows firewall. I've created fake DNS entries and configured the hosts file to resolve to loopback. I remind them that the issue is definitely at the host level and challenge them to think beyond just pinging Google or accessing a few allowed sites. So far, none of the candidates have managed to identify the issue, and I'm starting to wonder if my test is just too difficult or if there's a broader problem with finding skilled candidates. What do you think?
1 Answer
I think your test is a bit too contrived. It's not really a common scenario you’d face in a normal support role, especially since you're implying the host is sabotaged. Most techs are trained to troubleshoot real-world issues, not something that’s designed to trip them up. It might be more effective to focus on their thought process and general troubleshooting strategies rather than this specific situation.
Exactly! I've never encountered a situation where a user intentionally tampered with the hosts file. It seems more like a test of whether they can think creatively rather than if they can actually resolve a real issue.