Telecommunications (Data and Voice) Network
Knowledge and ability to implement the methods, practices, and policies governing the design, analysis, development, management, and use of the hardware and software used to transfer information such as data, voice, images, and video.
Level 1 Introductory: Demonstrates introductory understanding and ability and, with guidance, applies the competency in a few, simple situations. Can direct people to the appropriate source for further information.
BEHAVIORS
- Defines basic data communications and components, definitions, key concepts, communication protocols, and platforms.
- Troubleshoots basic physical or software connectivity problems and network congestion.
- Defines data communications routing and switching technology.
- Defines capacity planning and performance management.
- Monitors and tests systems and peripheral equipment.
- Creates network configuration diagrams and flow plans.
- Prepares system activity and performance reports.
QUESTIONS
- Can you think of a situation that required a good understanding of the communications environment in order to better serve a client?
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* Why did you need an understanding of the communications environment?
* Discuss this communication environment and its impact on the client.
* What was the outcome of the situation?
- Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot a difficult network issue but were unable to resolve the issue yourself.
Probing Questions
* What was the issue the client was having?
* What steps did you take to try and resolve the issue?
* Is there a tool, or other pieces of information that would have helped you resolve the issue more quickly?
* What did you do after you realized that you could not resolve the issue yourself?
* How was the issue resolved?
Level 2 Basic: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, can apply the competency in common situations that present limited difficulties.
BEHAVIORS
- Explains how data communications integrate with other environments and are distributed, at a basic level.
- Assists in the design of basic connections.
- Identifies vendor-specific network switching and routing products.
- Uses data communications diagnostic tools.
- Tests configure, installs and supports hardware and software at any typical site.
- Talks clients through problems.
- Evaluates system performance and improves capabilities.
- Repairs network outages.
- Reviews and evaluates change requests from engineering for system modification.
- Performs preventative maintenance.
QUESTIONS
- Describe your understanding of data communications integration with other environments at a basic level, and how you have used that understanding to assist in the design of basic network connectivity.
Probing Questions
* Describe a particular situation that needed an understanding of how data communications integrate with other environments.
* Why did you need that knowledge?
* What was your role in assisting with the design of basic connections?
* What was the outcome?
- Have you ever used data communications diagnostic tools?
Probing Questions
* Describe the tools you used to be effective in the situation.
* Why did you choose that particular tool?
* What was the situation?
* What were the results of your actions?
- Describe a situation where you provided network support services to clients.
Probing Questions
* What was the problem encountered by the clients?
* What steps did you follow in order to troubleshoot the problem, solve the issue and maintain quality service?
* How did things turn out?
* Were the clients satisfied with your results?
- Describe a time when you were overwhelmed due to a large outage, or a similar issue, such as when a large number of clients were reporting similar issues.
Probing Questions
* What was the outage?
* How did you address communicating the issue to the client base? Were multiple people calling in? Did you speak to clients directly?
* How did you prioritize your tasks?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Can you give an example of a suggestion you have made regarding network issues that were implemented in the field?
Probing Questions
* What was the issue you were trying to address?
* How was your suggestion going to help?
* To whom did you make the suggestion? How did you approach them?
* How was the solution implemented?
* How was it received? Did it achieve the results you expected?
- Can you describe a time when you troubleshot an unexpected issue, such as a solution that was implemented as designed, but not working as expected?
Probing Questions
* What was the system?
* What was the nature of the deficiency?
* What did you do to resolve the issue?
* What was the cause of the gap between actual and expected performance?
* What was the outcome of your actions?
Level 3 Intermediate: Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability, and can apply the competency, with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations. Would require guidance to handle novel or more complex situations.
BEHAVIORS
- Explains how data communications integrate with other environments such as a mainframe, distributed, e-commerce, firewalls and external networks, at a component level.
- Translates multiple client network connectivity requirements and limitations into technical specifications.
- Designs building environments using existing standards.
- Resolves typical hardware and software problems such as connectivity and congestion.
- Conducts certification testing.
- Implement new standards, or changes to existing standards, within the technical environment.
- Secures and manages access to systems and the environment.
- Plans network installation by studying technical specifications.
- Estimates costs for system and component implementations and operation.
QUESTIONS
- Provide an example of a time when you identified the need for, then developed network standards for an organization.
Probing Questions
* What standards did you develop?
* For what purpose?
* What methodologies did you use in developing these standards?
* How did these standards affect the efficiency and functioning of the network?
- Describe a time when you implemented a complex change to the environment.
Probing Questions
* Why was this change required?
* Why was this a challenge? Was it due to security or disparate topologies for example?
* How did you research the solution?
* Did the implementation go as planned, or did you need to make additional changes?
* What was the outcome of your solution?
- Describe a time you certified an implementation.
Probing Questions
* What was the system you were certifying?
* Why did the system require certification testing?
* What were the issues involved in certification?
* How did you go about certifying the system?
* Did the system pass or fail certification?
Level 4 Advanced: Demonstrates advanced knowledge and ability and can apply the competency in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals.
BEHAVIORS
- Incorporates business requirements (e.g., high availability, redundancy, disaster recovery) into data communications design.
- Pilot tests evaluate and implement new technologies.
- Resolves unusual or atypical network problems.
- Creates and reviews certification testing.