Preliminaries: I was looking for my first entry level role in the IT industry after many years of experience in retail. I initially applied for the position of Windows Systems Administrator on the Rackspace Careers website. Although I was proactively seeking certification during this time (had already attained entry level MTAs in Windows 7 Operating System Fundamentals, HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals and Networking Fundamentals through self study), I wasn't expecting a response back as most jobs it seemed required 'x' years of experience and a multitude of qualifications. What Happened Next: I received a call a day or two later from HR explaining that my current level of skills, qualifications and experience didn't match the requirements that they were looking for, which I entirely agreed with. However, he then proceeded to tell me that they had a more entry level position working in their data centre that I may be interested in applying for. I expressed my interest in this data centre role and then was asked if I could participate in a technical telephone assessment there and then. The telephone assessment comprised of many questions related to Windows, Linux, hardware (troubleshooting) and networking. I managed to pass this assessment and was then invited for an interview the next week. Interview Preparation: I visited the Rackspace Careers website to get a deeper understanding of the company; I research its roots, products and services, core values etc. There were a great load of resources on the website including videos and CloudU which impressed me a lot. The Interview: I had two interviewers on the day; both of whom were very friendly, honest and easy to talk to. It was very sunny and hot outside and because I didn't want to be late, I ran for a bit of my journey there. Consequently, I was sweating a fair bit when I got in (not good especially just before the interview!). However, I was offered a cold drink which cooled me down quite a bit before proceeding to the interview room. It was very relaxed; something that I wasn't used to from past interviews. I was asked a series of questions relating to my past experience, current interests and goals. I was then asked technical and scenario based questions which tested how I would react to particular situations. Overall, I thought it was a very well rounded interview; I felt like they actually wanted to get to know me as an individual in addition to testing for my technical competency.