maybe you shouldnt be in IT

[xSauronx]

if you "hate windows xp professional edition"
and cant copy files
and dont know how to run windows updates
and need help installing msn messenger

maybe you shouldnt fucking be in IT


I've spent all week with the new guy (who is about 45, and used to do some sort of desktop support for a nearby wood products company, or so im told) trying to get him oriented to the (horrible) way we do things where I work, giving him WAY more information than what I was given when I started, and trying to get him to help me because I have been bombarded with service orders all week.

here is what he _can't_ do:

run windows updates.
copy files in windows 7 (which he only saw for the first time this week)
copy files in windows xp (holy shit.)
find files in windows xp ("program files, ok, where is that?"
follow a list of generic instructions
follow a list of specific instructions
repeat work that i walked him through which then has specific instructions
use PuTTy
tell me what PuTTy is
install msn messenger
isolate a windows box to having just a working admin account (he locked us out of a pc)
find the cause of or solution to any error message that is directly in front of his face
use google


here is what he _can_ do:
log in to windows*
go fuck himself


*if that doesnt count as a thing, then that whittles him down to just one thing, which isnt useful in the IT field.

 

[Pantlegz]

I've got one of these at work, only they pay him more than they pay me and he's not my boss...

The guy can't follow printed step by step instructions with pictures, at least not on a regular basis.

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[rh71]

is he from a temp company by any chance?

regardless, how do these people get past the interview process?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

tell me what PuTTy is

He's got a background in lumber and he doesn't know what putty is?

 

[xSauronx]

I am in agreement with your analysis.

I do not believe it is the job of senior engineers to provide on the job training to junior IT people who were hired and are paid for specific knowledge and experience.

If you are hired and do not poses the knowledge or experience needed for the job and this is understood by management and they intend to train you, that's different, but if you're hired because you have knowledge and experience I damn well need not help you with basic tasks because you should know them, and dear god, Google them if you don't.

it gets better

- i am not a senior engineer. im entry level AND i've only been with the company 6 months. theres plenty i dont know, and im a motherfucking genius compared to this dumbass.

- i have no idea what he will be getting paid, but it will almost certainly be more than i do, assuming he doesnt ruin a huge contract for us, because

- he went to high school with the boss, and the boss called him last week and said "you still looking for a job? great. show up monday @ 8"

I gave him a couple of days and a number of simple tasks to complete, and he cant do the first fucking thing right. im well behind because of this guy right now.

someone else gets him next week at a contract customer of ours...i can not wait to hear how that goes.

what he used to do was work with a nearby company as a contracted IT worker through another firm. that company decided not to renew the contract, and instead hired someone to do the same job, but for less
- bonus, they hired one of our senior guys who is a *great* IT guy. very knowledgeable, very quick learner, very valuable, and was a huge loss for us.

i can tell you why they didnt re-up this dude. he's completely useless. i think he even realizes it, so this is awesome.

 

[xSauronx]

He's got a background in lumber and he doesn't know what putty is?

doesnt know the first fucking thing about anything. i was under the impression he could at least do basic desktop support but he cant even do that. not remotely. not a little. he can do nothing.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

is he from a temp company by any chance?

regardless, how do these people get past the interview process?

Because the people running the interview don't know the right questions to ask? I remember sitting in on interviews to hire my replacement for a position I left many years ago. I recommended someone who I felt had the best experience with the software we used; someone else was hired because they were more well-spoken. But that person wasn't as competent from a technical standpoint when it came to the software, and there was a huge backlash after I left when they couldn't keep up. Whatever, should've listened to my suggestion on who to hire.

 

[corwin]

He's got a background in lumber and he doesn't know what putty is?

LOL...and I'm sure we all have dipshits like this that get hired from time to time. had one start with our company last year and while slightly ahead of yours wanted to know why all of our computers weren't using static IP's?

 

[xanis]

is he from a temp company by any chance?

regardless, how do these people get past the interview process?

My guess: Lies. My company just hired a contractor to take on the overflow work. My team's entire job depends on being able to use a Mac and the Adobe Creative Suite. This guy didn't know how to use either. Luckily my boss nipped it in the bud and got rid of him after a week, but my question is, how did he even get the job in the first place?

 

[xSauronx]

edited last post in red, this is why he got a job

he went to high school with the boss, and the boss called him last week and said "you still looking for a job? great. show up monday @ 8"

thats it

for all i know the boss had no idea what qualifications the fucker really has, but i was told he was a desktop support guy elsewhere. ugh

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I think my only criticism is your complaint that he doesn't know what PuTTy is. There are many MANY SSH, Telnet, and Serial session managers out there. While he likely doesn't know about it either way, you are being intellectually dishonest by specifying not knowing putty. One of our team members just completed is CCNP and hasn't used PuTTY a day in his life. His personal program of choice is mRemote.

It's not that *hard* to use another client, but you should at least be using the proper term for what you're saying he can't do (Serial Connection, SSH terminal, Telnet terminal, etc.)

 

[amdhunter]

I've got one of these at work, only they pay him more than they pay me and he's my boss...

This is what I have, and I have been protesting for years.

 

[BrokenVisage]

It's possible he's a Linux super genius and doesn't have time to learn the subtleties of XP...

 

[pelov]

This is what I have, and I have been protesting for years.

Have you tried making a bigger sign?

 

[mb]

Can he at least count to potato?

 

[Pantlegz]

This is what I have, and I have been protesting for years.

I don't expect management to be competent, when it happens I'm impressed and appreciate it but never expect it.

 

[seepy83]

copy files in windows 7 (which he only saw for the first time this week)
copy files in windows xp (holy shit.)

This must be a joke.

His previous "desktop support" position must have been following a script. Stuff like - "Is the power cord plugged in? Did you press the power button? Is there a green light on the front?"

 

[chusteczka]

Clearly he has been hired as a friendly favor. You need to talk with your supervisor concerning the amount of time training this person will take away from your other responsibilities. Let your supervisor discuss time and costs with the person above him.

You need to make sure your supervisor expects you to train this person while your other responsibilities go unfulfilled.

 

[CZroe]

My boss is CISCO and A+ certified and has a huge list of technical training and diplomas and and yet he is probably the single worst computer user I know. He doesn't know sh*t and doesn't even seem to know the difference between an executable file and a data file. He always says things like "between the two of us, with our knowledge, we could start our own business doing this stuff" and all I can think of is how I would never let him touch mine or anyone else's computer. For example, I clean all kinds of spyware/malware off his computer on Friday last week and intended to help set up Office that night but I couldn't get there until Sunday. When I did, he already had his useless "smartbar" toolbars and web search hijackers/unwanted homepages back on the same PC. I removed it all again and when I saw him again on Wednesday it was all back on there AGAIN. Before anyone says anything about persistent malware that reinstalls itself: Yes, I am thoroughly removing it each time. The idiot just keeps downloading free stuff that comes with this crap.

 

[xSauronx]

I think my only criticism is your complaint that he doesn't know what PuTTy is. There are many MANY SSH, Telnet, and Serial session managers out there. While he likely doesn't know about it either way, you are being intellectually dishonest by specifying not knowing putty. One of our team members just completed is CCNP and hasn't used PuTTY a day in his life. His personal program of choice is mRemote.

It's not that *hard* to use another client, but you should at least be using the proper term for what you're saying he can't do (Serial Connection, SSH terminal, Telnet terminal, etc.)

thats fair

typically doing some level of network support is a requirement for what we do, because each of us is expected to be able to go to a client and at least determine *What* a problem could be and know where in the documentation to look for an answer, or know what to tell another tech if we have to call for help.

he knows zero things about networking, which is worse than not knowing a specific client. he doesnt know what telnet is, or ssh, or what a serial connection is.

and i dont mean he doesnt know cisco or something, i mean if i told him to get the ip address of a machine it would be an iffy request, because when i asked if he could *Change* the dns servers a workstation used (on xp, for christs sake) he didnt know what i was talking about.

 

[SithSolo1]

I have no idea what PuTTy is or how to use it and I don't know off the top of my head how to isolate a windows box but I can do everything else you listed. Where do I apply?

 

[shortylickens]

They should just hire nerds in junior high. Work each of them 10 hours a week, no health, no dental, no pension, no overtime.
Win win.

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[xSauronx]

I have no idea what PuTTy is or how to use it and I don't know off the top of my head how to isolate a windows box but I can do everything else you listed. Where do I apply?

the owners high school, apparently.