P R O F E S S I O N A L . . . C O N T R O L L E R S
IT SERVICE COMPANY’S INTERVIEW
(Advice
to Colleagues)
To help us to evaluate the skills for providing Information Technology (IT) products and services please be prepared to discuss issues related to the following questions, and more. If this looks like it might be a tough interview, that’s our intent. There are hundreds of companies, large and small, from which to choose, locally, nationally and internationally. What fits for one client does not necessarily work for another. Cost should be a consideration, but only as it relates to overall affordability and to otherwise similar offerings.
CONTEXT ----- COMPLUS Professional Controllers
serve clients (owners of "for-profit" businesses in the Chicagoland
area - McHenry to
- Please describe your ideal client (eg., size, location, industry, etc.).
- Under what circumstances should a company probably hire employees rather than a service company?
- If your company worked for our company, what additional resources should we expect to engage for complete computer/internet/telephone support?
- How (and how much) do you charge for your services?
- How do you decide what brands of computer system components to recommend or sell to us?
- Under what circumstances would you work for my business rival?
- What do you think of Kim Komando?
- Situation: It’s late evening or weekend. We’re working on an important project. An important computer system component fails. ----- How can we get help?
- Situation: A business owner comments and asks, “We bought our computer system (one with which you have no personal experience, yet) about ten years ago. The original vendor has no local support any more. It still works – for now. What can you do to help us?” ----- How do you respond?
- Situation: A business owner friend asks you, “I just got a proposal from SAGE for MAS 500; what do you think?” ----- How do you respond?
- Situation: A business owner friend asks you, “Most
of my computers are 1-3 years old (all bought before 2007). We have been a WINDOWS shop. What are my major considerations for
implementing
- What licenses, professional credentials, insurances, etc. do you have?
- What is your continuing technical education strategy?
- With what business associations and professional societies does your company participate actively (more than just paying dues)?
- Please provide references.
- We call about computer system trouble (the system is down). You fix it. Besides a bill, what other communication might I expect from you?
- Under what circumstances should we expect to hear from you first?
By the way, if you're an employer looking for an IT employee, you might find some of the above questions helpful. Current laws and "best practices" demand that questions asked of a candidate be relevant to reasonable expectations for a successful applicant. Employers must offer "equal opportunity" and must not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, gender, disability, etc., but may based on skills.
You
always pay for GOOD accounting, one way or another!