ITIL certification & interviewing for a job
How knowledge of ITIL can help you ace questions during an interview

When most people think of ITIL, the tendency is to envision it as something that only reveals its usefulness “on the job”, so to speak.  However, the truth is that your accumulated knowledge of ITIL is also extremely useful during a job interview or employment meeting.  This is assuming that you are an IT professional and have completed some type of certification program (in ITIL) of course.

First off, let’s try to imagine things from the point of view of the individual who is conducting the employment proceedings.  Their goal is not only to find a candidate that is motivated, intelligent, and a team player; today’s employers want specific examples of how you can improve and / or maintain their operation(s).  This is actually very good news for those who have really absorbed the foundational / fundamental concepts of ITIL.

You have to keep in mind that the ITIL itself is a representation of a staggering amount of personal, private and public research.  Likewise, one could say that the ITIL is nothing more than a collection of the best cutting edge concepts and proven processes.  To make an illustrated comparison – if you were studying art, who would you rather learn from, a master painter who changed the way we think about things, or your local professor?  (This is not to say that academics are not valuable, they certainly are, only that you can expand your understanding considerably by immersing yourself in the knowledge of the truly great.)

Engaging an ITIL training / certification program is an affirming experience for IT careerists.  You see, ITIL isn’t merely a collection of the best methods for maintaining, managing, improving, or initiating IT infrastructure, it is kind of like a living constitution.  It’s living in the sense that newer and better concepts and practices are being added to it all the time; herein resides the power of ITIL.

Let’s examine some common questions that one might encounter on an IT-related job interview.  Conversely, IT personnel and managers can use there questions to determine whether or not their team might require additional ITIL training:

• Can you outline the stages of the ITIL/IT lifecycle(s)?
• Can an entire IT organization become certified in ITIL?
• How can ISO 20000 reinforce ITIL?
• Please elaborate on various testing methods / procedures.
• What is normally included in a Service Level Agreement?
• Elaborate on how ITIL can add value to any business model.
• Explain how an IT department steeped in ITIL can speed up the delivery and production of new services.
• Please provide specific examples of IT “services”.
• How might peripheral services be used to better this organization?  Can you provide examples?
• Can you name a risk that might occur whilst designing a service?
• Describe the purpose of service management.
• Detail how ITIL works to eliminate significant or perceived risks.
• Please detail various varieties of Service Level Agreements.

While undertaking an ITIL certification course you will gain a much better understanding of how specific elements of IT infrastructure (and individual duties) fit into the grand scheme of things; in other words, you’ll learn to look at things from the “big picture”.  For instance, acceptable solutions for certain situations might be presented, but only those with a broad understanding of ITIL might be able to ascertain if they are long-term compatible with other components and goals.

ITIL wasn’t created to sell certification test vouchers or educational materials; it was created to facilitate forward-thinking worldwide change and continuous improvement in IT.  Through ITIL, various IT departments around the globe are stepping up to meet the challenges of business and industry.  New solutions to serious issues are being shared amongst everyone thanks to reference tools like the ITIL.  The cumulative effects of this “shared knowledge” are new emerging standards and the implementation of fresh ways of conducting business.  Arguably, ITIL is significantly contributing to the stability of world markets in that more and more organizations are coming to depend on automated services and IT technology to perform daily business.

Those who have truly absorbed the foundation elements of ITIL are not only prepared to respond to virtually any line of questioning that an interviewer might throw at them, they’re also empowered from a career perspective.  The latest and most up-to-date version of the ITIL, the 2011 edition, has addressed many of the issues laid out by the training community.  ITIL 2011 is more complete, thorough, and organized than ever before; whether you are just discovering ITIL for the first time or perhaps updating your knowledge base, ITIL 2011 is the way to go.

What is an “ITIL interview”?

Although the words “ITIL interview” might conjure up images of an intense session of detailed scrutiny, you shouldn’t worry too much.  There are essentially two different, or rather separate, meanings that can be attributed to the expression “ITIL interview”.  The first meaning would refer to the segment of one’s certification examination in which they are asked to answer a series of questions that are perhaps based on pertinent real-life situations / issues.  The second reference to an ITIL interview could be attributed to a series of questions posed by a potential employer during a job interview.

While it might seem as if a subject like ITIL would be relegated to the background during the hiring process, many employers (who regularly interview IT personnel) might be inclined to test the mettle of potential applicants by posing ITIL-based questions to them.  In fact, those who are employing IT professionals might want to consider utilizing an ITIL interview-style tactic during follow-up meetings (i.e. – meeting with the “short list” of candidates).

However, a majority of individuals are going to associate the idea of an ITIL interview with that of a certification test, and rightly so.  During such an interview, the person conducting that particular portion of the test (likely to be a certified expert in their own right) will attempt to ascertain how much you actually understand with regards to the application of ITIL methods / practices.  The goal here is to determine how you would be able to apply your knowledge to professional situations, as well as your understanding of ITIL methodology and programming skill(s).    It could be said that it is the duty of the ITIL interviewer to determine whether or not a certification candidate is worthy of receipt.

The Questions
The actual content of the questions  of an ITIL interview will (obviously) vary from interview to interview, but it is extremely likely that it will range from general attitudes and goals, to specific examples of implemented knowledge.

Here are some examples of generalized questions:

• How can ITIL be used to solve diagnostic issues?  Can you give me an example?  .
• Can you see ITIL being used to help revamp an organization’s operation?
• How has your ITIL certification progress attributed to your overall professional development?
• What are your duties in relation to that of the IT manager?
• What assets are needed to facilitate the management of IT resources?
• Provide examples of specific benefits with regards to the use of ITIL within an organization.
• How does ITIL promote efficiency?
• Has your experience with ITIL prompted further interest in more advanced study of the subject?
• What do you perceive to be the daily objectives of someone possessing ITIL certification?
• What are your career goals / objectives relative to attaining ITIL certification?
• When you speak with customers, how do you determine what their base IT needs and requirements are?  How do you meet or exceed them?

The above examples are likely to be asked by either an ITIL testing official or a potential employer.   Though these examples are very open and deceptively simplistic, they actually provide a great platform for showing off one’s knowledge of the subject matter at hand (given that you took the time to really absorb the basics of ITIL during your training period).

The following examples / sample questions are of a more intricate or complex variety and should be considered as well:

• What are ITIL service strategies?  Can you provide examples?
• How might ITIL be leveraged to calculate a specific long-term return on investment (ROI)?
• In what ways does ITIL aid an organizations financial element?
• Elaborate on the relationship between KPI’s, ITIL, and IT services.
• What does a service level manager actually do?
• How can ITIL ensure that any service design is effective (from the customer’s viewpoint)?
• Can you detail the stages of the IT / ITIL lifecycle?
• How can ITIL be used to manage / maintain / utilize Enterprise architecture(s)?
• How does ITIL affect / interact with / reinforce the service culture mentality?
• Why is SoC (separation of concerns) important for service operation security?
• What is the purpose of CSI?
• What are the roles of the service desk?
• What is a SLA, what function(s) does it perform?
• Compare and contrast serviceability with maintainability.
• In ITIL service operation, how are cost and reliability related?
• What is the purpose of a service portfolio – what function does it provide?

In order to truly gain a more complete grasp over the material in any area of ITIL it is necessary to find a quality e-learning program.  It is imperative that your certification course not only provide all the relevant information required, but also do in a manner which truly facilitates comprehension / learning.  This excellent program covers everything one needs to achieve certification in the latest build of ITIL (2011).

Here’s to ITIL certification and future career opportunities!

What you won’t learn about ITIL from a Wiki page…
How ITIL training has positively impacted the IT industry

If you’re just discovering and/or researching ITIL for the first time you’ve probably stumbled across a great deal of information detailing the IT methodology resource (like this wiki page, for example).   Most of the top search results for ITIL deal with fairly straightforward topics / subject matter, like what ITIL is, and of course, what ITIL does.  However, while it is certainly necessary to grasp these (simple) ideas, you should also be made aware of the many ways that ITIL has influenced the IT industry at large.  When you step back and look at the big picture it’s clear that, through the influence of ITIL, new possibilities are emerging, infrastructures are more organized / standardized, and IT groups are able to help businesses achieve specific goals.

ITIL bolsters emerging technologies, concepts & methods
One of the great things about ITIL, and the system that is used to perpetuate it, is its inclusive nature.  Let’s say that someone creates a revolutionary new IT infrastructure-based application (perhaps by way of cloud computing technologies / or a deployed service), if it is truly functional and offers direct benefit(s) for managing or maintaining IT infrastructure, ITIL will include references to this application in subsequent releases.

The exact same thing can be said for ITIL user-derived solutions and methods, if they work, the ITIL board will probably include them as well.  You see, unlike other organizations which might only collect resources from academics or bureaucrats, the group that publishes the ITIL has a reputation of actively listening to its user and training communities.  This means that they are also introduced to emerging concepts and practices before they become widely known.  In many ways ITIL is acting like an aggregate for the absolute best concepts of utilizing IT infrastructure and then judiciously distributing this golden information to the public.

IT departments are becoming more organized thanks to ITIL
ITIL, by its very nature, also seeks to organize the way IT professionals work and think individually, as well as in groups.  In this way, ITIL is contributing to an increasing drive to organize one’s IT assets (which we’ll expand upon in the next heading).    Thanks to ITIL, entire systems of operation are becoming more standardized from location to location.  This means that, as an IT worker, you could basically switch employers and situations and jump almost immediately back into standard career duties.

This is also excellent news for employers and IT managers, as their IT departments are more efficient and “transparent” than ever before.  Use of the term, “transparent” is made in reference to the fact that (because of standardized methodologies like ITIL) it is much easier to differentiate between what is working and what is not.  Likewise, increased transparency means employees are more likely to enact better personal strategies and practices while on the job.

Through the use of ITIL, businesses can better leverage their IT departments
In addition to being able to better understand how their IT assets are being utilized, businesses can also use ITIL to initiate more complex, yet solid, planning.  In the business world, decisions are often made upon timetables which factor multiple items across the long-term.  Simply put, all tangible assets are measured and given tasks based upon their abilities and in turn, expected to deliver.  For instance, if an organization begins to see increased revenue coming from online transactions, greater emphasis will be placed upon developing, maintaining and perhaps increasing potential in this area.  An area like online customer interaction and sales will likely fall under the responsibility of IT, or at the very least, IT will be used to facilitate this.   In this situation, the IT department will be tasked with ensuring functionality, and perhaps even improving upon systems / products / services where applicable in order to increase productivity and sales.   Since ITIL is essentially just a big book of methods and specific solutions for managing / regulating IT infrastructure, employees can use the knowledge it contains to meet the goals and demands of their employers.

IT professionals need ITIL training and certification
For the reasons mentioned above, as well as many others not mentioned here, IT careerists need to strongly consider ITIL certification, and as soon as possible.  Employers are now showing a great deal of interest in job candidates who possess knowledge of ITIL and are even offering salary bonuses / perks to those who can demonstrate its use in real situations which benefit their organization(s).    But you shouldn’t approach ITIL simply because of the supposed perks it might offer, remember, this is extremely useful professional knowledge we are talking about here (ITIL).  The ideas, concepts and practices from hundreds, if not thousands of IT gurus are included in the pages of the ITIL; why would any serious professional not want to be privy to this information?

To get certified in the most recent up-to-date version / build of ITIL, check out this affordable certification course.

Why paid ITIL courses and materials are superior to Free ITIL materials (that are pirated copies)

Unless you’re completely new to the internet, chances are, you are familiar with file sharing (otherwise known as pirating).  While music and movies tend to be the products that most choose to illegally share, there are those who also do the same with a variety of books and other written works as well.  Books are apparently scanned and then transferred to PDF format, in order to cut down on file size.  The world of professional supplementary education has also been affected (attacked) by these self-labeled Robin Hoods.

But enough about the reprehensible actions of these pirates; let’s examine why it is good idea to (legally) purchase your ITIL materials, and what additional hidden benefits might also be up-for-grabs.  

First off, in case you didn’t know, all ITIL materials are actually copyrighted by the royal UK crown (which is facilitated through a branch of the UK government).  While this might not matter to some, you should realize that quite a lot of investment capital has gone into the development of ITIL.   Unlike other organizations which might make it exorbitantly expensive, difficult to undertake/study, or add one’s own experience to the knowledge base, ITIL remains open to all.

How the ITIL community is making a positive impact on the world
One should realize that the individuals who are responsible for maintaining and disseminating the ITIL are actually performing a service to everyone in the global IT community, and should be rightly compensated as such.  With every passing month and year, new methodologies are added to subsequent releases of the ITIL.  These releases in turn, will educate (and update) those who are in a position to best use this knowledge; this in turn improves the quality, speed and capabilities of the entire global IT infrastructure!

“Hollow certification syndrome”
Once some people hear the words, “ITIL certification can increase your salary”, they are instantly motivated to seek it out.  However, if you are the type of individual who is seeking ITIL certification in order to boost your pay without actually taking the time to truly understand and absorb the material, you are doing yourself a disservice.  This is especially true if you are trying to attain certification with pirated educational materials.  The methods and practices contained in ITIL 2011 for example, can transform your understanding of your career and duties, but you have to make an active effort toward gaining this knowledge (and then properly utilizing it).  Those who treat ITIL as if it were simply another hollow certification, are not only missing the point, they are in many ways a danger to the entire IT community.

Specific benefits of paid courses and programs
Aside from simply “doing the right thing”, there are actually benefits to purchasing an ITIL certification course.  For starters, when you buy a program you can rest assured that you are actually receiving all of the necessary materials required in order to help you pass your certification exam.  Likewise, most legitimate certification programs are designed to help you prepare for the most recent version of the cert exam.  In addition to this, paid programs might also incorporate certain discounts, or certification vouchers, which will further cut down or eliminate testing costs.

However, the biggest benefit of purchasing an ITIL certification program has to be access to additional online materials, expert assistance and interactive learning.  That’s right; some ITIL certification programs incorporate online site-specific interactive learning programs which are designed by experts in order to further facilitate your learning experience and aid in comprehension.  Additionally, some organizations might even offer limited remote study assistance.  Why take a chance on some random pirated learning materials when you the real thing is affordable, readily available, and offering useful perks?

…and of course, the legal ramifications
When you download illegal PDF copies of ITIL course materials, you are violating laws that are in place to protect copyright holders.  What do you say to the people administering your certification exams when they ask “what company / study program you used to prepare for your test?”  Perhaps your supervisor or boss is suitably impressed with your drive, initiative and new qualification(s) and asks for you to provide them with the details of the educational package you used.  The bottom line is that you should simply “bite the bullet” and legally purchase a package; there are numerous courses available which are priced to suit any budget.

The supplementary professional development industry exists in order to help organizations like ITIL to distribute their materials.  When a person decides to sidestep these e-learning providers they are removing a link in the value chain, so to speak.  The cost of ITIL certification and training is paltry in comparison to the benefits it offers, and with each package purchase, the growth and quality of future releases are assured.

If you’re looking for a dynamite program covering certification for the latest release / version of ITIL (2011), then click here.

How are most ITIL e-learning programs delivered?

If you’ve been considering undertaking one of the highly valuable and affordable ITIL certification programs which are offered by The Art of Service you probably have a few questions.  

Most of the people who seem to be “on the fence” about jumping into an ITIL certification program tend to be confused about exactly how the courses are delivered, which is often the source of their hesitation.   This little primer will help you understand how these quality ITIL products are delivered, and perhaps why you need to consider them, especially if you are an IT professional.  The following example will underline some of the problems associated with non e-learning methods (of attaining supplementary professional development certification).

Picture if you will, an average IT worker, we’ll call this person “Andy”.  Andy is likely working at least 40 hours per week (full time) with overtime and weekends being on the table as well.  In addition to this full work load, Andy also has a mélange of other commitments to deal with, including relationships; BFF’s, Family, perhaps even children and a spouse are all vying for Andy’s attention.  The point is, Andy is very busy, and it’s amazing that this individual has the energy and time to get things done.  Now, try to factor or fit a series of classroom-based professional development courses into that situation.  Even if Andy is able to somehow fit these physical courses into their schedule, one or more areas of their life are likely to slip or suffer, right?   The best solution for this type of situation is digitally delivered e-learning, especially if the certification is in ITIL.

Through ITIL e-learning, Andy will be able to study whenever it is convenient, and perhaps maintain the delicate schedule balance that they have worked so hard to maintain.  

Now that we have a better solution for attaining additional professional development certification(s) in our sights, let’s go back to address our original concerns:

How is an e-learning program (in ITIL) actually delivered?
The products available through store.TheArtofService.com are essentially delivered over the internet.  Some products however do include physical texts which one may use in addition to digital ones.  Once you pay the paltry fee for the course you may have a limited window of time to complete your study and training.  However, this does not imply that time is limited, most ITIL courses offered give students multiple months of 24/7 access.

Is the quality of ITIL e-learning up to standards?  
Some individuals tend to be apprehensive about e-learning simply because it is essentially an internet-based service.  Rest assured, the programs offered by The Art of Service are / have been designed by industry experts who not only have inside knowledge with regards to what you need to know to pass your certification exam, but also your career.  In fact, many individuals report that they retain a greater deal of information from ITIL e-learning than they have from comparable classroom situations.

What format do most ITIL e-learning programs come in?  
As previously mentioned, ITIL e-learning programs are delivered digitally, via the net, but it’s also important to note that study materials are often transported in PDF format.  Some programs might have supplementary interactive portions which are accessed online or perhaps even physical textbooks for those who prefer them.  What you have to remember is that these course materials have been optimized for view and access on virtually any device you can think of, this includes PC’s, Mac’s, Tablets, Laptops, and even Smartphones.  ITIL e-learning through theArtofservice.com truly epitomizes the concept of “study wherever, whenever you want”.

Why ITIL?
While it might sound somewhat cliché to say that ITIL certification will lead to better jobs and pay, which is actually the truth.  In the IT industry, employers are scrambling to have their long-term employees certified in a variety of supplementary disciplines, ITIL being one of them.  By the same token, those who are currently hiring are expecting to see some reference to ITIL certification (or at the very least, training) on one’s resume’.  Through the process of studying ITIL and becoming certified in it, you will gain a better understanding of a whole new world of top-notch methodologies.  Furthermore, from an employer’s standpoint, you will become a more highly sought-after commodity.

An ITIL certification package from store.theartofservice.com is not only budget-friendly; it will completely surpass your other choices in terms of total value and place you on the “certification highway”.  If you’re looking for a certification course that covers the most recent version / release of ITIL (2011), then look no further – ITIL 2011 certification package.