If I were an IT guy...

Philippine Mango

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2004
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Would it be "bad" for me to be resourceful by looking up on google or reading books on Windows 2000 server for example to figure out why a particular problem occurs on a company's server for example? Should I instead have all the answers up front and be able to fix them from the top of my head? What about asking people on an online forum when you encounter a difficult problem with a particular server. I think the only thing preventing me from ever becoming an IT guy for atleast when I'm in my 20s is the fact I wont always be able to solve every problem that occurs. Can you guys who are IT guys fix all the problems that occur from the top of your head? The most it seems like you can do is troubleshoot but not use other souces because anybody could do that....
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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1) Use whatever resources you can to resolve the issue - even asking for assistance in on-line forums.
2) Nobody knows *all* the answers. However, your boss will just usually expect you to know where to look to find the answers.

 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
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If you don't know the answer, you should know where to get the answer. The forums are nice, as is google.
 

johnjbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2001
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Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
1) Use whatever resources you can to resolve the issue - even asking for assistance in on-line forums.
2) Nobody knows *all* the answers. However, your boss will just usually expect you to know where to look to find the answers.

agreed.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
 

Hyperblaze

Lifer
May 31, 2001
10,027
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as the two posters mentioned, no one is ever expected to know everything.

but a successful IT person knows how to do research! ;)
 

PowerMac4Ever

Banned
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
Vacuum tubes don't use "headlight fluid." Neither do headlights for that matter...
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
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Originally posted by: Jero
as the two posters mentioned, no one is ever expected to know everything.

but a successful IT person knows how to do research! ;)

:thumbsup:
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,798
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Your job is to be able to fix the problems that arise. It's only bad when you say you can't find the answer.
 

jtusa

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2004
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Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
Vacuum tubes don't use "headlight fluid." Neither do headlights for that matter...

You're an idiot.
 

YoYoBabyYo

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
606
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ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).
 

PowerMac4Ever

Banned
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: jtusa4
Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
Vacuum tubes don't use "headlight fluid." Neither do headlights for that matter...

You're an idiot.
How's that
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: jtusa4
Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
Vacuum tubes don't use "headlight fluid." Neither do headlights for that matter...

You're an idiot.
How's that

no, you're just bad at noticing sarcasm.
 

Hyperblaze

Lifer
May 31, 2001
10,027
1
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Originally posted by: YoYoBabyYo
ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).

not really. at the speed things change.....no one can even know 60 percent.

Even if you said you know 50 percent I'd say your full of it....

In all computer related things...i MIGHT know 20 percent TOPS (and that is probably pushing it)

The trick is, you research things, you learn things, you increase your knowledge, and write things down.

you forget things, you go back to research

 

PowerMac4Ever

Banned
Dec 9, 2000
5,246
0
0
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: jtusa4
Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: her209
What do you mean you don't know what Event ID 67 means?
Doesn't that mean the vacuum tubes are being readied for headlight fluid replacement?
Vacuum tubes don't use "headlight fluid." Neither do headlights for that matter...

You're an idiot.
How's that

no, you're just bad at noticing sarcasm.
Howard was being sarcastic? I had no idea.. his material is so fresh it just totally fooled me. Damn :(
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
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Originally posted by: YoYoBabyYo
ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).

You only need to retain that 60% of the knowledge when preparing and taking a test for a certification. However, retaining all that "book knowlege" won't do you a whole lot of good during the day-in and day-out routine stuff.

[Edit]: Also, keep in mind a bigger portion of what we do depends on how we respond to a situation. If you don't have a good, positive attitude towards your work, then all the knowledge in the world will not help your career.

 

YoYoBabyYo

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
606
0
0
Originally posted by: Jero
Originally posted by: YoYoBabyYo
ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).

not really. at the speed things change.....no one can even know 60 percent.

Even if you said you know 50 percent I'd say your full of it....

In all computer related things...i MIGHT know 20 percent TOPS (and that is probably pushing it)

The trick is, you research things, you learn things, you increase your knowledge, and write things down.

you forget things, you go back to research

sorry, i meant 60% knowledge contained for the responsibilities people carry. knowing 60% of the whole IT stuff is just too much with its rapid expansion.
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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Yeah like with most things in life its not about having all of the answers but about knowing where to get all of the answers. Also, normally there isn't only one tech, so you would ask your co-workers if they had encountered the problem before. You also learn more with experience. You rely less and less on google and the like the longer you have your job.
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
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Originally posted by: Jero
Originally posted by: YoYoBabyYo
ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).

not really. at the speed things change.....no one can even know 60 percent.

Even if you said you know 50 percent I'd say your full of it....

In all computer related things...i MIGHT know 20 percent TOPS (and that is probably pushing it)

The trick is, you research things, you learn things, you increase your knowledge, and write things down.

you forget things, you go back to research

You should know how to fix the majority of problems that are likely to occur in your situation. There is an almost limitless list of possibilities for things that could go wrong, but the list is significantly narrowed by what will normally happen. For instance I'd say I can fix 90% or so of the problems that I encounter. I wouldn't say I know 90% of everthing there is to know about computers but in the scope of my employment I'd say I'm about 90% on.
 

Hyperblaze

Lifer
May 31, 2001
10,027
1
81
Originally posted by: DaiShan
Originally posted by: Jero
Originally posted by: YoYoBabyYo
ditto with what everyone said above, but an IT person should know most of the solutions (i would say about 60%, perhaps too low).

not really. at the speed things change.....no one can even know 60 percent.

Even if you said you know 50 percent I'd say your full of it....

In all computer related things...i MIGHT know 20 percent TOPS (and that is probably pushing it)

The trick is, you research things, you learn things, you increase your knowledge, and write things down.

you forget things, you go back to research

You should know how to fix the majority of problems that are likely to occur in your situation. There is an almost limitless list of possibilities for things that could go wrong, but the list is significantly narrowed by what will normally happen. For instance I'd say I can fix 90% or so of the problems that I encounter. I wouldn't say I know 90% of everthing there is to know about computers but in the scope of my employment I'd say I'm about 90% on.

I agree, given some research, I'll fix anything eventually. However, that wasn't my point. My point was, it's impossible to know 60 percent of EVERYTHING regarding to computers. If i'm given a job to do, i'll eventually be competent to do everything required of me 100 percent. And then...maybe it's time to move on to something else, unless the tasks are constantly changing and making me learn more and more.

You say you can fix 90 percent of the problems you encounter, well, that's probably 5-10 percent (tops) of all computer related things in the world.
 

DaFinn

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2002
4,725
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0
I are an IT profesional from iNDIA. I knew all teh answer. Just hold the line pleese...
If you haave no answer, just call your local IT support in iNDia. They will help you loong time!
 

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
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I agree with the replies I've seen so far. My question though is if we aren't expected to remember (or know) the majority of the problems that occur, and how to resolve them until we use research, then what is college really for? Especially since most of the IT knowledge received in college becomes outdated rather fast. Is it just to show you can be dedicated to earning the degree for 2/4 years?
 

daniel1113

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
6,448
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Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I agree with the replies I've seen so far. My question though is if we aren't expected to remember (or know) the majority of the problems that occur, and how to resolve them until we use research, then what is college really for? Especially since most of the IT knowledge received in college becomes outdated rather fast. Is it just to show you can be dedicated to earning the degree for 2/4 years?

"College teaches you how to learn." ;)