Often I'll see a job posting requesting "Experience" in something, or "Knowledge" in an area, but what do they mean?
I played football when I was in Junior High for 3 years, so I know how to play the game, but I couldn't tell you who won the big game last week, or even who was playing, but someone who got interested in football in the last 6 months could tell you as much as I could, even more, but has never played the game. In that instance I'm more "experienced" and he would be more "knowledgeable" in football, but which would you want to coach a team?
I figured I would include some of the areas of "expertise" that I have, and then list what "experience" and "knowledge" I have in those areas.
Windows 95: Installed about 4 times on 3 desktops and 1 laptop. Can install software (by executable files), and hardware drivers (through Device Manager) in my sleep. Can do troubleshooting information through Safe Mode, editing the registry, and renaming / deleting / editing files through DOS (when needed). Used moderately in day to day tasks.
Windows 98: Probably installed over 75 times on 60 different computers, the whole "in my sleep" describes this OS. Install software using executable files, and hardware driver installs and updates through Device Manager. Use Safe Mode, editing by DOS, msconfig, Microsoft KB, and editing the registry to troubleshoot. Used extensively in day to day tasks.
Windows Me: Used this OS a few times, never have done an install or any troubleshooting other than to turn off many of the automated functions.
Windows NT 4.0: Have used this OS for years. Done some work with troubleshooting software installs and services. Used extensively in day to day tasks.
Windows 2000: Installed 50+ times on 50+ computers. Installed software using executable files and hardware through Device Manager. Use Safe Mode, registry, Microsoft KB, and Administrative Tools to troubleshoot problems with the OS. Used extensively in day to day tasks.
Windows XP: Installed about 10 times on 7 computers. Install software using executable files and sometimes running in compatibility mode, install hardware through Device Manager and wizards. Use Safe Mode, registry edits, Microsoft KB, and Administrative Tools to perform troubleshooting. Used extensively in day to day tasks.
Linux Redhat: I've installed this OS three on two machines. Played around with the toolbar on my WorkSpot.com virtual desktop, and done some basic term commands and running programs like Mozilla and Evolution and Open Office.org.
Linux Slackware: I've installed this OS (command line only) as a Dual Boot with Win 3.11 on one machine, and have used a few text editors (Vi, Pico) to edit configuration files and write myself notes. Also able to add a network card, make the computer realize it was there, and ping other computers on my network.
Unix: The occasional FTP server will require Unix commands. Know a few commands because of what I know of Linux.
BeOS: There was this great "test version" of BeOS that you could just run from an executable and it would reboot the PC into BeOS. I played around with opening, moving, creating a few files, but I could not get my soundcard or winmodem working in it, so it didn't last long.
DOS: Done some rather complicated DOS scripting in my attempts to make an automated clean up file program. And have memorized the basic utility programs that you run from DOS to fix many of the Windows problems: scandisk fdisk format etc.
Microsoft Office 95/97/98(Mac)/2000/XP: These are so similar I just lumped them together. Installed (together) over 200 times, or upgraded from a previous version. Uninstalled about 100+ times. Troubleshooting using install / uninstall, researching Microsoft KB, and using Office Repair wizards.
Troubleshooting by setting / freeing IRQ's in BIOS, resetting CMOS, disable / enable ports, COMs, channels, and onboard hardware through BIOS setup, used POST codes to determine problems.
Installed multiple PCI and ISA cards. Mainly sound and video cards.
Installed Parallel Hard Drives and Optical Drives while ensuring proper jumper placement and channel separation for maximum performance.
Installed EDO SIMMS and SDRAM DIMMS.
Installed fans and tested airflow and temperature.
Swapped out power supplies.
Researched chips on the circuit board to find compatible driver downloads.
Installed a wide variety of 10 or 100 Mbps network cards from a wide variety of manufacturers, all using RJ-45 cables.
Networked my "Home Office" with a hub and router to get 8 computer to share internet connection and play in a LAN Party. Even had an old laptop operate as a Windows NT 4 Domain Controller with login scripts to map network drives for access to patches but to restrict the access to each others machines.
Network OS: Windows NT domain. Used User Manager to add, delete, disable, or edit users. Changing folder permissions to prevent the wrong department from "cleaning up" another departments folders.
I can create your "basic 5 page informational web site" with pictures and links in my sleep, with my hands tied behind my back using only HTML.
I can create your "large organizational web page for multiple departments" with pictures, links, organized layout, database integrated records, nice looking website, in my sleep if I'm using FrontPage with extensions. If I'm using another application that I'm not 100% familiar with, or I don't have FrontPage extensions enabled, I can still do it but not as easily.
I can create a "store front" website easily.
I can create a "unix based" website easily.
I can create a "large commercially owned website for serving hundreds of users everyday with databases providing content and allowing for easy daily updates" with some difficulty (but still entirely possible).
My tool of choice is FrontPage with HTML. To accomplish the other needs I'll commonly use ASP (with Access Database), but have also utilized PHP/Perl/CGI with MySQL database.
Given a half hour of prep time and access to the internet and I could write you "Hello World" in any language.
Given an hour of prep time and a reference book and I could write you a simple program in Java, SQL, MySQL, PHP, ASP, HTML, Perl, CGI, DOS Script, VB, Java Script, and COBOL.
Given a week, a reference book, access to the internet and a computer, I could make you a small program in almost any language. I pride myself in the ability to quickly pick up a new topic and run with it.
Negotiation: While working as a Customer Service representative I would come across issues with no "black and white" answer. I would work with the customer to come together on an agreed upon price plan, or credit, to their account.
Listening: One of my customer accommodations on my file at Cingular Wireless was for an issue of a missing rate code from a customers account that would have caused her to be billed as a roaming call every time she left her "Home Calling Area". The normal process for researching these issues was to pull up a list of town names and apply credit if the town names matched, well we had done that for the last 3 statements but still she was being charged when she was not supposed to have been. It was only after listening to the customer's statement of "It seems like every time I leave the state I get billed". This tipped me off to check for a feature in her rate plan that would change her coverage area to more than just her "Home Calling Area". Sure enough it was missing. I added it back and the customer ended up bragging to a store manager that I had found the solution, I eventually got an email from the Regional Manager thinking me for discovering the issue.
Teaching: I worked as a Junior Director of Scout Skills for the Boy Scouts of America while working at Camp Post in Post, Texas. I would also have to teach each new Student Assistant how things are done while working at the Southwest Collections Library. Not to mention that any instructions you have to give a client while doing Tech Support have to be broken down into their language and explained step by step so that they will be able to think of them later and follow them.
Problem solving, Quickly learning and being able to explain and apply complex concepts, Balancing and delegating a workload individually or with a team, Working under a deadline.
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