EAI-Admin Entry Level Technician Job Description

Update - this career has been posted for 3 weeks.  We have received over 300 applications from some really great people.  We have now focused the list down to 23 candidates and presently we are undertaking the interview process to find just the right person.  

We are no longer accepting new applications for this position.

Who would be interested in this job?

  • This is NOT a JOB - it is a CAREER.
  • A person looking to build their understanding of the maintenance and servicing of standard Windows based Desktop and Notebook computers
  • A person whose personable and pleasant manner and their articulate and confident approach instills confidence in those they are supporting will thrive in this environment.
  • A self-motivated, self-starter who needs little 'hand holding' will find this career provides them with the opportunity and freedom to use their sound judgement and creativity to contribute to the results of the team.
  • A person who loves to learn and engage with new ideas and methods will find this career always challenging and achievement well within their grasp.
  • A person willing to debate the pros and cons of an issue and help the group and or leadership come to a satisfactory conclusion will find the environment very stimulating.
  • A person who is prepared to follow standard procedures, and where they can be improved, seeks to update them and capture the knowledge and experience gained - note well - due to the importance of our work in our client firms the willingness and ability to follow instructions to the letter is essential.


Who will NOT enjoy this career

  • A person that is set in their ways and worried about rocking the boat will be uncomfortable with this role
  • A person that needs a firm hand directing them from task to task and one that cannot manage their own time well will feel lost in this role
  • A person that believes 'good enough, is good enough' and prefers to just deliver the bare minimum of what is expected and no more will feel unrewarded in this role
  • A person who is intimidated in the face of new large challenges and new situations will not be happy here
  • A person who, after debate, cannot accept a direction that is not necessarily their own will not fit in here

Qualifications

  • Successful computer technicians come through many paths
  • Some have a life long experience, self-taught, through experimentation and trial and error, these are the early adopters that have been working on their own, learning hands on
  • Some have attended various certification and degree granting programs, learning in the classroom and online
  • Some have developed their skills by on the job training and experience
  • In this role the ability to learn quickly, to apply an aptitude in the areas of high tech office environments will be valued above certifications
  • B.A or College degree and or technical certifications like MSCE, CCNA, Aplus will provide the candidate with an advantage if on top of these certifications that love of learning can be demonstrated

Experience

  • While experience is a plus, we are prepared to train the successful applicant from the ground up
  • Experience demonstrating self-motivation, self-starting, will be a plus
  • Experience demonstrating the ability to successfully self-manage tasks and deadlines will be a plus
  • Experience demonstrating the ability to work in and lead teams will be a plus
  • Experience demonstrating the ability to speak to groups of any sort will be a plus

References

  • References will be thoroughly checked

Career Path

  • This role is designed to lead the successful applicant into a place on our team of consultants working directly with our clients
  • By learning our best practices and processes the successful applicant will be able to bring these skills to our client base
  • Initially and until ready to take on client work, the successful applicant will take on various roles beginning with assistant to a senior technician, taking on steadily more and more responsibility until the applicant themselves assumes the role of 'Technician'

Office Location

  • We are a virtual company, we have no physical office
  • The successful applicant will be expected to work from their own location and have reliable access to the internet and a computer along with, at least, a microphone and speakers for communication over Skype and their own cell phone, preferably with web access
  • There will be situations when working on client projects that attendance at a client site will be required.  Our clients are generally in the core of Toronto but some are in the GTA.
  • Ready access to public transportation or your own vehicle will be a plus.

Working Hours

  • The role is not a 9-5 job.  
  • Tasks will be assigned, completion times and dates will be agreed to and the successful applicant will be expect to complete the task by its agreed to completion time and date
  • Guidance and support will be available to the successful applicant nearly around the clock

Compensation

  • Pay will be commensurate to education and experience.
  • This role will begin as a hourly payroll position and will evolve into a compensation structure supplemented with earnings from client billings
  • The firm offers no benefits package
  • We are targeting an hourly rate range of $12.50/hr for a 'lower education/low or no experience but high potential candidate' to $25.00/hr for a 'higher education/higher experience candidate'
  • We anticipate this role will require 20-30 hour per week of time engaged in assigned tasks with the remainder taken up with skills development and learning.

Timing

  • We are looking for the right person, someone that will be part of the team for years and years, not just a cog in a temporary wheel.  As such our hiring process is fairly long.  Here is the outline;
  • The collection process will be open until February 18th 2011
    • Applications received after that date will not be considered
  • Your material will be acknowledged upon receipt
  • Candidates that are unable to provide the materials in the requested format will be dismissed
  • Materials will be reviewed as they arrive - there is an obvious advantage to first movers
  • If your materials lead us to think you are not the right fit we will advise you that you are dismissed
  • If you could be the right person, we will invite you to a first interview via video Skype.  During this, generally, 30 minute interview you will be considered on the basis of the criteria set out above - obviously a smoothly functioning Skype conference with no technical glitches at your end will be looked on with favour
  •  If you are unsuccessful at this stage you will be notified
  •  If you are successful at this stage we will proceed to check your references, perform an internet search for you including FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn and other social networks
    • You must contact each reference you provide to advise them that they will be contacted by us
    • References will be contacted, please provide email address and primary phone number to facilitate the contact.  In the first round, email will be the only method used to contact references. 
    • Should an email contact not be responded to within 3 business days we will discount that reference
    • We anticipate that we will also follow up with references of superior candidates via phone call after the email round.
    • Should an phone call voice message contact not be responded to within 3 business days we will discount that reference                     
  • If you are unsuccessful at this stage you will be notified
  • If you are successful at this stage we will invite you to a Skype video interview with our head of operations, who will be your direct supervisor if successful
  • If unsuccessful at this stage you will be notified
  • We will at this time be down to approximately 6 candidates.  These candidates will be invited to meet face to face with the operations manager so that you can be examined on your technical abilities
    • No specific ability is required but if you have claimed to have the ability to complete certain tasks you might be asked to demonstrate these abilities
  • If unsuccessful at this stage you will be notified
  • Our final three candidates will be asked to take a Kolbe.com test which assesses cognitive profiles
  • If unsuccessful at this stage you will be notified
  • Our finalist will be provided with an offer of employment
  • The successful applicant can start immediately however we are willing to wait to allow an exceptional applicant to complete a final term of study or disengage from a current employer if necessary
  • The first three months will be a trial period
  • Following the three month trial an employment agreement will be entered into which sets compensation and other terms for the next 12 months.  This agreement will be renewed annually

Summary
We are looking for someone special.  We are looking for a new member of our 14 person family.  Each of us has prospered in our careers.  Some of us had few educational qualifications and limited or no experience but they had a will to succeed and a love of learning, today compensation packages exceeding $80,000 and more per year are not uncommon.

In addition to providing 'best in class' support for our client base we support each other, to the benefit of all.

We hope you are the person we are looking for.  We look forward to meeting you.

Please attached your

    * Narrative cover letter explaining why this career might well be a fit for you
    * Resume
    * References (2 minimum - 3 maximum)
 
to an email with the subject line "Entry Level Technician Role - YOUR NAME" to our founder and principle Steve Ellwood at TechnicianApplicant@ellwood.com in three separate PDF format documents.

Note well - Since, as above, we highly value the ability a potential candidate has to follow protocols to the letter, we will heavily discount candidates that fail to provide their application in the form is requested above.

We look forward to meeting you.