Interview for District Technology Technician

I had an interview for District Technology Technician for Southern Humboldt Unified School District. The interview seemed to go well, and was a 5 person interview panel. The questions they asked however, seemed to be a list that was googled "what questions to as an IT technician".

I questioned my 102 friends on Facebook "how far would you drive for this job" and gave some details of the job and even posted on a IT tech forum of 300k members I belong to. Most of the answers were similar, most people said it was not worth the travel/commute for the pay. Some people said to take the job if there was nothing else available.

The interview pretty much confirmed this. I sat in front of a 5 person interview panel. Each person read from a printed list of about 20 or 30 questions that seemed to be a list that was googled or printed from a list of "what to ask an IT tech at an interview" type of questions. I was asked such a wide range of IT questions that it is not possible to find someone they are looking for, the pay they are asking. For example, they asked me if I have experience in fiber optics. Installing or maintaining fiber optics is a skill usually someone who does cable TV or Satellite installation do. It requires a specific certification and specific training to install and work with fiber optics. Normal IT technicians do not usually have this skill. They asked me if I have experience in designing, building, maintaining webpages. I actually do have experience with that, however that is not what an IT technician does. A web designer does this. They asked me if I have experience with installing commercial routers, switches. That is what a CCNA certified technician does, and they get paid $30/hr min for that type of work. That is extreme minimum. That is also something that is not usually a job that a Network support technician or even a help desk support technician does. Basically, they want a jack of all trades. I would be a one man show. The person they want is someone that is usually paid $35-50/hr. for everything they are asking for. There is a total of 6 schools in which I would be the sole technician for, the schools are very spread out and one of them is an hour from Miranda. I asked if I would have to drive my own vehicle between school sites, and they said no, they have county vehicles for the employees to use.

I have seen the ad for that job open for a while, and now I know why. If I did have the certifications to install fiber optics (CFOT/CPTC/CFOS), or routers, switches (CCENT/CCNA), I would not be working for these people, the pay is way to low for what they are asking for. By the time I do get my CCNA, MCSA titles, I will be overqualified for this position, and definitely would not take $22.42/hr base pay.

There is nothing in the town of Miranda. The population number on the sign says "350" and the number on wiki says 520, so I assume the "350" number is the number of people that reside within the "incorporated city/town" limits. There is one restaurant, one gas station (and one gas pump), one market. There are no medical clinics or hospitals. The closest Hospital is in Garberville and it is a small hospital, patients requiring serious medical attention are either transported or airlifted to Eureka from the area. Relocating there would make no sense. I would have to drive to Eureka to buy clothing and supplies, etc. There is a Mormon church in town.


The job is probably not worth the commute, even at the top end pay of $22.42/hr. They would need to pay someone at least $35/hr for everything they asked for. I am so desperate for a job, I applied anyways. If I make it to round two of the interview process and/or if I get offered the job you can bet that I will be negotiating very hard on getting the $22.42/hr on the grounds that I have to travel 150 miles a day, in a 2006 toyota and spend a minimum of $31 a day (based on current gas prices) to work and back which is approx 8 gallons of gas, plus 2hr and 40mins of travel time. I just want a job.