You go for an interview and are handed this question.

[CK_John]

Define the basic difference between IPv4 and IPv6.

Would you be able to answer this query to get the job???

Welcome to the cyber-era and the reason that 50% of college grads and those over 40 can't find a job.

[dkf]

1. All I know is when ipv6 doesn't work neither does my router.

[Whisp]

4. when mine doesn't work, I have to mop up the floor. n/t

[Electric Monk]

69. Its just awful when IPv8

[pinboy3niner]

78. And then there's the bigger quandary...

V8, V8 Fusion, or V8 Splash?

Think carefully, your job may depend on your answer.

[msongs]

2. got data to prove that? nt

[madinmaryland]

3. I had some douchebag ask me what I did growing up as a kid.

I nearly said to him "WHAT THE FUCK". Who fucking cares, that was 40 years ago.

Douchebag

If you don't know the difference between IPv4 and IPv6, then you probably should not be applying for that job.

[CK_John]

9. Wrong this is a very simple question but it separates out the technophobs, from the tech comfortable

[Posteritatis]

23. In IT that question separates the competent from the incompetent.

And no, those aren't the same thing as "tech comfortable" and "technophobes."

[Xithras]

50. Yep. Questions like that are routine for a lot of employers hiring tech positions.

Programmers, web developers, helpdesk workers, technologists...they all get questions like that. I've never seen the IPv4/v6 question, but I've personally seen "What year was the World Wide Web invented?", and "What does the 'http' in a web url stand for?" One of my former employers once asked the question, "What is the maximum connection speed of a 14,400 baud modem?" and more than half of the applicants got it wrong (hint: the easy answer is "14,400 baud", though they were very flexible in what they accepted).

Of course, I also once got the question: "In 250 words or less, please tell us your thoughts on 'Purple'?" How the heck do you answer THAT? The point of the question, of course, was to guage the applicants creativity.

Questions like these help to weed out the people who know "just enough" to do the job from the people who actually "get" technology and learn it for its own sake. Many employers won't hire a technology person if their technical comprehension is limited only to the skills needed for the job, instead favoring employees with a broader understanding and passion for technology.

The key to avoiding this? Never let yourself get into a rut. If you aren't willing to spend the rest of your life learning new technologies and geeking out on the small stuff, then technology jobs probably aren't for you. There's nothing new about this.

[Posteritatis]

96. More than half getting that wrong is kinda appalling

I can see dialup being off peoples' radars these days, but come on, the answer's in the name of the device. Agh.

(Of course, a proper weeding-out question would be asking them to whistle 14.4k..)

[duffyduff]

43. You need to get out more

Virtually nobody asks this question outside of IT.

The OP is a load of crap.

[catnhatnh]

46. And spelling "technophobe" the way you did...

...separates you from English majors...

[Le Taz Hot]

91. Is a "technophob" anything like a

keyphob or are they completely different? I'm over 40 so you may have to speak using monosyllabic words. Thanks in advance.

[roamer65]

33. Personal life questions in an interview are a "no-no".

Smart interviewers keep the questions related to job experience and qualifications.

[WestStar]

5. If I was interviewing for a job that required that I know the difference

Then I would damn well make sure I knew it.

[NoOneMan]

6. Thats an incredibly basic question

If anyone is interviewing at a place that *would* ask that question and they couldn't answer it, they don't belong there.

[NightWatcher]

7. 2?

[pinboy3niner]

8. IPv5 is SO underappreciated

It's not even mentioned in the question.

[CK_John]

15. That's the problem with odd numbers.

[pinboy3niner]

19. Whatchoo mean by "odd"?

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. IPv4 has a 32-bit address space, IPv6 has a 128-bit address space.

which is very basic; a more realistic question for anyone applying for a job where this knowledge is a requirement would be "how would you handle external IPv6 routing over legacy networks using internal IPv4 addressing", or something similar.

[A HERETIC I AM]

22. "With a hammer"

I probably wouldn't get the job, would I?

[Fumesucker]

35. Ah, but what _kind_ of hammer?

Framing?
Ball peen?
Tack?
Long cross-face?
Claw?
Sledge?

[winter is coming]

58. A bit banger, of course. n/t

[wandy]

60. Considering the size of the environment, I would have stopped counting after.......

32 bit address space.
The devil lies in you're question.

[longship]

63. Let the DNS server administrator sort it out.

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. What a crock of shit. You've deliberately made the question vague and your assumption

Last edited Wed Jun 12, 2013, 02:41 AM - Edit history (1)

that anyone over 40 is technologically illiterate is bigoted. We created the TCP/IP and you under 40 jackasses don't even understand that the 'TCP part is essential. But then, you also think that click and drag - write a script is programming.

I can not only answer that question, I can present a 20 minute lecture, off the top of my head, on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each (the very need for IPv6 is based on a nonexistent problem created by corporation's claims in order to secure, and thereby make proprietary and profit from, IP addresses). Unfortunately, the interviewer has neither the understanding nor attention span to understand the material.

What they do have however, is a massive and well deserved inferiority complex rooted in the fact that they don't understand that which they claim to master and live in terror that somebody above them will notice that they don't have a fucking clue what they're talking about 90% of the time.

[galileoreloaded]

27. just hire a H1B and save yourself the drama, thats what I say. nt

[VanillaRhapsody]

49. or even better...Hire a team of Chinese programmers to do your job for you

collect your paycheck!

[FarCenter]

12. One has been implemented; the other, not so much.

[still_one]

13. That only applies is you are applying for a network job, including network programming. That is not

An unreasonable question

It is also well know that if you are applying for most high tech jobs today you most likely will be tested, which makes me wonder how Snowden got hired.

If you are not dealing with Internet protocols, that question should not be asked

[shawn703]

14. To be fair

IPv6 has been around for quite some time now.

An IT career isn't one you can go into without a plan to keep current on technology. If you hated studying in college you'll hate IT. I've been in the industry for over 15 years now, and I've been certifying and recertifiying constantly, and I expect to continue this until I retire.

[FarCenter]

17. Going by Malcom Gladwell's rule, it take 10,000 hours to master a skill

In IT, knowledge has a half life of less than 10 years.

Therefore, you need to spend 500 hours a year learning new stuff -- usually on your own time.

[limpyhobbler]

16. There aren't enough jobs to go around. Not everybody needs to know IPv6.

There is plenty of work that needs to be done planting trees, building solar panels, insulating houses, helping care for little kids and elderly people, etc.

We have all this societal need right next to all this unemployment. We can't put the two together because our economic system is only designed to serve private profit, and not human need.

The people are not stupid, the system is stupid.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. IPv2

[historylovr]

61. For the win! nt

[Fumesucker]

20. That's what Google is for, so I don't have to hold all that detail in my head

People look shit up these days when they need to know some technical detail, I do it constantly.

What's the FANUC G-code for clockwise circular interpolation?

That question is every bit as computer intensive in a particular field as yours is in networking.

[madokie]

79. I remember one time asking the engineer I was working under

how in the hell do you remember all this shit. He smiled, pointed to the book cases filled with books lining his walls and said there. I said in other words what you learned in school was how to look shit up, he smiled again and said yup thats a big part of it.
He was the best fucking engineer I ever worked under too btw. We worked together for years.

FWIW, I'm a googler too

[ret5hd]

94. G3

[Fumesucker]

95. Close, that's counterclockwise

Clockwise is G2.

[Posteritatis]

21. If I can answer that with two humanities degrees there's no excuse for *any* IT workers not to. (nt)

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

24. Thats easy if you are in the IP networking biz

but a completely different language if you aren't.

[hootinholler]

25. Olive Garden Security?

Was the next question about the difference between a pit bull and a boxer?

[Dash87]

87. Drop the breadstick, ma'am.

Take that crying baby outside before I have to call backup.

[Skittles]

26. larger address space but I could not go into details

f*** I need a hobby

[Chan790]

28. "My answer is I don't need to know that."

"Now perhaps you'd like to tell me what are the tax ramifications of using annuities in the holdings of a charitable revokable trust for the setup of your estate? Oh, you don't know...and you say that has nothing to do with you job? Interesting...perhaps we should both stick to the areas of our expertise? "

[Boom Sound 416]

47. agreed

[Squinch]

29. Michelle Bachmann said the vaccine for it causes cancer.

[Lizzie Poppet]

55. ^^ Best response in the thread ^^

[Ilsa]

88. ^^^ #29 is the answer I was looking for! nt ^^^

[Dash87]

89. DUzy

Oh great god Flying Spaghetti Monster, please bestow a DUzy upon this fine gentleman with your blessed noodly appendage.

[roamer65]

30. That's a question for a network engineer position.

...someone dealing with routers, switches, VOIP and WAN. To ask it of anyone else would be douchy.

[notadmblnd]

31. This would be for a network administator position?

Not every IT professional needs to know this. For example a sysadmin would not need to know the difference between internet protocol version four and internet protocol version 6.

[CK_John]

32. How about a 911 dispatcher?

[notadmblnd]

37. I dont see where they would need to know the difference

they may need to be able to identify an IP address in order to provide it to others. But needing to know how Internet protocol works, unless they're are assigning them- I don't see it

The biggest thing about IPv6 is that it will expand the pool of IP addresses. IPv6 will also improve the IP protocol:

No more NAT (Network Address Translation)
Auto-configuration
No more private address collisions
Better multicast routing
Simpler header format
Simplified, more efficient routing
True quality of service (QoS), also called "flow labeling"
Built-in authentication and privacy support
Flexible options and extensions
Easier administration (say good-bye to DHCP)

So what part of that the list would a 911 dispatcher need to know in order to perform their responsibilities?

[xmas74]

65. As a former dispatcher I answered in another post.

The answer is none of it. The top thing employers look for in the field is sound reasoning, someone who can read between the lines to truly assess a situation, and someone who is inquisitive enough to ask all the right questions-even those not listed in a book or on a screen.

[xmas74]

64. I've been a 911 dispatcher

and that's not something they would ask.

I interviewed three months ago back into the field and that still isn't a question they would ask.

So, what do they ask? The interviewer presents a number of scenarios and wants to know exactly in what order they should be dispatched, what additional info is needed, sometimes if any additional agencies should be alerted, etc. (A good example is a rolling domestic-you'd get as much info about the vehicle as possible, weapons, direction of travel, people involved, if situation is dangerous for the participants and possibly for civilians. In a rolling domestic you would also run an agency assist notification for any agencies that might also make contact-other local municipalities, sheriff's department, highway patrol, etc.)

I used to be an interviewer in round-table interviews with my old agency and every question always leads back to a "what would you do"scenario. What they want is someone who can make quick decisions, even if it overrides what the programs want, and keep a calm head. Everything else can be taught.

BTW-dispatch isn't what it used to be. It used to be a job that paid a decent wage but it's not what it once was. Some decent size departments now pay barely over minimum wage, which is why I left the field.

[alarimer]

34. All I know is that it isn't a fish, so I wouldn't qualify anyway.

I know fish, and some other stuff, but not computers.

[Fumesucker]

41. You'd probably hit it off with my next door neighbor

Fishing is like crack to him, he just bought about ten new rods and reels because the previous twenty are nearly worn out.

Seriously, start a conversation about nearly anything and he can work fishing into it within thirty seconds flat.

[GiveMeFreedom]

36. I don't know the answer

and would not be hired. However, I do know how to operate heavy equipment. Do not need to be to bright to pull levers, the trick is not killing yourself or some one else while doing it. I am sure an IPv4 or IPv6 implemented improperly would not take a life. So, a little sweat and dirt never hurt anyone.

[Recursion]

38. One is actually implemented

The other isn't?

[sammytko]

39. I only knew it long enough for the test

[CakeGrrl]

40. Valid question if you're vying for an IT infrastructure job, IMO

If it's for a developer or project manager, not so much.

[Logical]

52. So true, many IT jobs have no need to know that. n-t

[SidDithers]

42. Apparently, the only jobs in the world are IT jobs...

And if some young tech wizard is interviewing for a bookkeeping job, and doesn't know know the first thing about charts of accounts, debits or credits or general ledgers, shouting over and over "but I know the difference between IPv4 and IPv6!!" isn't going to get them very far.

Sid

[catnhatnh]

44. Hey John...

...do you have any idea how much esoteric knowledge there is on this board? I'll bet at least a dozen posters here could stump you with specialized questions in at least six different fields they have been involved in in their lifetimes. And any one of them could easily act as if whichever one of the six they questioned you in was the most important field going. IT-big deal-I've worked as the captain of a fishing boat and a mistake meant a whole lot more than losing data. I've driven and worked as an EMT on ambulances-have a heart attack and tell me how important internet protocols are. Here's a fun one-I've rewound and redesigned three phase motors-want to tell me how to calculate the magnetic flux density of the back iron of the stator core and how density will effect core temperature and slot insulation requirements?

Lots of jobs have what the practitioners consider basic knowledge that really and truly ain't and playing jargon games looks supercilious...

[SidDithers]

45. Excellent post...

Sid

[CK_John]

54. Then how come 50% of college grads can't find work? Or if your over 40 and looking for work

Because people are not tech savvy, in the most basic way. Like unable to use a smart phone or even do a basic google/bing search.

[catnhatnh]

57. Try this experiment...

...quit your current job. Then apply to both McDonald's and Burger King making sure each application clearly states you know your internet protocols. Since most current job openings are in service industries this will be a good indicator of your theory. Please be sure to tell us if you are offered a job at Mickey's, Burger King, or both.

[Lex]

48. Got a link? Or are you just blowing hot air

"the reason that 50% of college grads and those over 40 can't find a job."

[Logical]

51. Many IT jobs require no knowledge of that. Not sure what your point is. n-t

[House of Roberts]

53. I'd ask, what does that have to do with machine work?

But then, I'm a machinist, so I don't expect I'd get that question.

[ThomThom]

56. 2

right?

[Godhumor]

59. I would have to answer that I pee V8.

It just goes right through me.

[Honeycombe8]

62. You mean WalMart cashiers are asked this question? Or do you mean someone in healthcare field?

Or is it in the tech field? It makes a difference.

[olddots]

66. jeez you're wicked smaht .

[Pelican]

67. What's the maximum effective range of a M240B?

What do you mean that it has nothing to do with the assistant manager job at Staples?

Well, fuck you too! Obviously incompetent... NEXT!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

68. Yes, I can. But such questions are only appropriate in certain IT jobs

[Abukhatar]

70. uhh. IPv4...

I go to bed?

[Samurai_Writer]

71. Depends on your profession

As an RN, they could care less if I knew the ins and outs of computers. Heck, my place of employment doesn't even have electronic medical records yet. Everything is hand-written. We use the computer for email and to order labs. That's it.

Even when I worked in IT for 20 years before becoming a nurse in 2012, they would not ask technical questions unless it was specific to the job you were applying for.

[FSogol]

72. LOL: Better stick with: Do you want to supersize that for an extra $0.85?

[Orrex]

73. I would answer: "All I know is that IP freely."

[pinboy3niner]

74. Good to know

We'll hold the catheter in reserve...for now.

[FSogol]

83. IPv6 her? I don't even know her!

[Lurker Deluxe]

75. You go for an interview and are handed this question.

What kind of alloy would you use to weld stainless steel to carbon steel using the tungsten inert gas method?


Would you be able to answer this query to get this job???


Welcome to the manufacturing world, and the reason most college grads and people under 40 can't find a job.

[reusrename]

77. My guess would be low carbon steel. Something like a coat hanger.

[reusrename]

76. Although I have hired folks who couldn't answer correctly, the question I always ask is:

What is "E" gap?

[Savannahmann]

80. IPv6 has leather bucket seats and a six speed transmission.

While IPv4 has a five speed transmission and is lacking the Turbocharged motor of the v6.

[Ptah]

81. Describe the differences between 18-8 and 17-4.

[TroglodyteScholar]

82. It's a very simple answer

More IP addresses.

[KatyMan]

84. More pertinent:

what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[Dash87]

85. You wouldn't need to know that minus maybe networking related positions.

[KansDem]

86. My experience...

You go for an interview and are handed this question.

Hi, ya, KansDem! Say, I really wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed our golf game last weekend, and the barbecue at the club was simply delicious! Your wife is a really terrific cook! My wife would like to thank her again for her "Three-Bean Salad" recipe. Johnny will be home next weekend and is really looking forward to going sailing with you and KansDem, Jr. He'll call when he gets in. Now, the question I have for you, "When can you start?"

Actually, this has never happened, although I've seen it happen with other folks. I've seen them climb the ladder of success while I watched from the bottom. And "yes": I've been screwed out of a few good jobs because of a variety of "-isms."

I've always worked on the premise that intelligence, creativity, accomplishments, and perseverance would land my that dream job. I was wrong...

[tabbycat31]

90. I would not get the job

But then again I've never heard of either, and it's not my field. It sounds like a term in the tech/IT field, and while my field does use that, it's not my department and only on larger races.

I'm a college grad under 40.

ETA If I interviewed you and asked how many votes a given candidate needs to win an election in his/her district, would you be able to tell me? Would you be able to tell me what you think the estimated voter turnout for a state senate race would be? Would you be able to tell me all about the ins and outs of VAN? Would you be able to tell me how often a campaign needs to contact a voter in order to have an impact?

If you answer no to one of those questions, that does not make you ignorant, it just means that you don't know the jargon in my field and that is fine.

Not everyone is cut out for IT type jobs (I respond to technology problems by hitting the machine) and you're speaking another language to people not in the industry.

[Le Taz Hot]

92. So, because someone doesn't know the difference

between IPv4 and IPv6 AND is over 40, in your world, they have no value? This from a member of the generation that can't figure out how to make change.

ETA: I remember you! A few months ago you started several flame wars that were all basically elderly bashing. You know, stuff like this.

[hobbit709]

93. Depends on the job.

If you're applying for a tech type job you should know that.
If it's not tech related, it's irrelevant.

[loli phabay]

97. wouldnt want the job if i had to know stuff like this. not every job is IT you know

Same as i couldnt do your job, your skillset would be useless in my job.

[drm604]

98. The basic difference?

Length.

[ileus]

99. Konica makes me disable IPv6 on the DS-7 software...