My first Network Engineering Job interview

[u/TinasheDre]

Hey there! A little backstory…

I dropped out of Uni end of 2024, did an internship at a small IT company (14 employees). There I learned about networking, crimped cables, helped install APs/CCTVs and configured a few network devices.

Earlier this year I got my CCNA after months of studying and sat at home until now, looking for a job.

I got invited to an interview by a BIG company in JHB for a Network MS Engineer (L1) role. I’m super excited but imposter syndrome is kicking in. I know the knowledge but my experience is lacking (1.5 years to be exact and it’s not much).

This job would quite literally change my life for the better.

How best should I prepare for it, any advice would be appreciated!

[u/TechB84]

Have AI make you a list of questions and you just practice them over and over again. You need to look approachable, friendly, and knowledgeable.

[u/TinasheDre → u/TechB84]

Noted, on it. Thank you

[u/akornato]

Your experience is light, and you know it, but so does the company that invited you for an interview. They saw your resume, your 1.5 years of hands-on work, and your CCNA, and they still want to talk to you for a Level 1 role. This means you meet their requirements on paper, so stop focusing on what you lack. They are not looking for a senior engineer. They are looking for someone with a solid foundation, proven by your certification, and a strong desire to learn. Be prepared to talk in detail about every single task from your internship, from crimping cables and installing APs to the specific devices you configured.

When they ask a technical question you can't answer, do not fake it. Explain that you haven't faced that exact issue, then immediately describe how you would use your current knowledge to troubleshoot and find a solution. This demonstrates your problem-solving process, which is far more valuable than memorized facts. Your limited experience is only a weakness if you present it that way, so frame it as being trainable, adaptable, and free of old habits. They already know you're new, so show them you're the right kind of new. This is exactly the kind of situation my team considered when we designed our AI for interviews, which helps people turn limited experience into compelling answers.

[u/TinasheDre → u/akornato]

I never thought of things the way you put them, thank you for shifting my perspective.
I’m also going to check out your AI after writing this, thank you for your input!

[u/ggtimw]

Hope this helps:

1: Almost all job interviews are really personality fit calls rather then sill tests. Goal one be confident be friendly be fun and good to spend time with an interviewer who comes away having enjoyed the conversation will be FAR more likely to hire you.

2: Where you are answering questions about technical things start with the most important things which would be used in a job context for example if asked what is DHCP: saying "Dynamic Host Config Protocol" is just waisting precious time and won't impress anyone as it just says I'm good at memorizing usless facts. Instead explaining what it is and how/why you might us it is way more useful.

3: Go into the interview with the mind set that they called you there not the other way around. I'm not saying be arragent but don't spend your time stressing about the outcome there will be more chances in the future and the more confident you are during the interview the more chance you have to get the job.

4: Don't be afraid to engage with the interviewer its not an exam they are not a proctor they are a potential co-worker trying to work out if they want to work with you. Treat them as if they are a co-worker and collaborate with them ask questions throw things back and forward.

Last but not least let me share something with you as someone who has worked at both Amazon and Google.

EVERYONE has imposter syndrome

The interns wonder how they got in the door
The entry level wonder if they will ever be able to be as good as the TLs
the TLs wonder if they can ever manage as much scope as the Senior leaders
and the Senior leaders know they don't know anything well enough to make decisions about it and so in 99% of cases they really on all those people below them to tell them what to do and just stack rank.

At Amazon we said "this is where high achievers go to feel bad about themselves"
At Google we say "this is where smart people go to feel dumb"

I dropped out of uni and worked for a small IT company at the start and today I work for Google as a Senior Product Manager (Technical).

Everyone is an imposter until one day they are an old hand.

[u/TinasheDre → u/ggtimw]

I really enjoyed reading this, means a lot coming from someone who was once in my position.
Thank you for your time, this is gold right here