maybe you shouldnt be in IT

[Demo24]

I too am beginning to hate xp pro. Was a good OS, but damn I want to get off it. Hoping we can swing a win7 volume license here in a month or two and then at least we will have something up to date.

 

[xSauronx]

These days much of IT management is not from IT, they have a CompSci or MIS degree and have never done the job, don't know the tech side of IT at all. So you get this person and an HR person in the room with an IT candidate and he's in the door if he meets the check list. What's on the list?

Certs or Degree? Check.

Jokes about users being stupid? Check.

Claims to have been an administrator? Check.

Has a pulse? Check.

Congrats, you're hired!

This isn't everywhere, mind you, but it's a LOT of places. When the system engineers are not involved in the hiring process this is what you get a lot of placed though.

i worked at a large health system until last year...the supervisors and technical team members are generally pretty competent and are involved in the interview process for new hires. its mostly worked out well, but a few people are meh, and someone meh would get in now and again, but were generally not entrusted with doing much more than entry level work

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[xSauronx]

Feck, I ditched XP back in 2006. I understand the business needs to stay on it... actually, I don't. Upgrade your chit people. If your inhouse apps don't run on anything but XP with IE 6 make your inhouse devs upgrade the software or fire them!

the aforementioned health system couldnt do things so easy, even though most of the technical people wanted to.

see, in their system, doctors reign supreme. so if a department says "we want software x" the IT people had to say "itll cost this much and take x time" and the doctors would say "well, we have the money, get it done" and thats how a number of oddball, old, unsupported applications keep a home there.

their main health record system is adding more parts every year, and someone decreed that this record system is king and trumps any other request, so they get to migrate away from things IF the system can handle that functionality. they only stay 12 - 18 months behind the most current release of the system, as i understand it.

unfortunately, theres a lot it still cant do, or that they havent migrated from yet. a lot of vendors use a web console to manage their data/application and many do it POORLY and refuse to adhere to modern web standards, nevermind older web standards.

there are a number of group policies to handle IE exceptions to make certain vendor web apps work. IT hates it, but they dont get to dictate what is used unless its part of the main health record system. i interned on the app support team and i dont envy that teams job in the slightest.

edit: they moved from Win2k to XP over about 18 months and finished early 2011. moving to windows 7, which many acknowledge as necessary, was estimated to need AT LEAST 12 months of app testing.

hell, just upgrading their desktop management suite (novell zenworks, uigh) was going to take over a year to test and roll out.

there is a large project there to roll out thin clients with a VMware backend (Which is in place, and is powerful) and try to use citrix to virtualize as many apps as possible, but its going to take a while to roll out (testing was supposed to start early this month). they already do a lot with citrix, they just have to do more, and oddball vendor apps make it difficult.

 

[SMOGZINN]

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.

I don't know, the last time I worked desktop support I had plenty of people that requested that I do both of those things.

That was a number of years ago, but when I interviewed for that job the first thing they did was put me in a room filled with cardboard boxes of computer parts. One of the interviewers told me that they were going to leave me alone for a half hour, if I managed to build a running computer in that amount of time we could continue the interview. Oh, and these parts are from computers that would not power on, and has not been tested.

 

[brianmanahan]

lol, desktop support

when i was a little kid i thought sys admin and desktop support would be cool

but then i learned that its not nearly as good as programming

 

[xSauronx]

I don't know, the last time I worked desktop support I had plenty of people that requested that I do both of those things.

That was a number of years ago, but when I interviewed for that job the first thing they did was put me in a room filled with cardboard boxes of computer parts. One of the interviewers told me that they were going to leave me alone for a half hour, if I managed to build a running computer in that amount of time we could continue the interview. Oh, and these parts are from computers that would not power on, and has not been tested.

sounds like a pain, but at least sort of gives you an idea of what someone can manage.

maybe he could manage that, but i really doubt it.

he said before that he could do printer repairs...maybe thats all he used to do, i have no idea. after this week if i asked him to his face what he actually did it would be pretty shitty of me. hes clueless...but hes also nice and hasnt really done anything to me, or broken anything. just held me up and got nothing done himself.

 

[DigDog]

i'm teaching myself java, studied and memorized "the complete advanced excel workbook" in 3 sleepless days, love PCs inside and out and can't get a job anywhere near a computer for the life of me - because i have no prior IT-related work history *bangs head on the desk*

 

[brianmanahan]

i'm teaching myself java, studied and memorized "the complete advanced excel workbook" in 3 sleepless days, love PCs inside and out and can't get a job anywhere near a computer for the life of me - because i have no prior IT-related work history *bangs head on the desk*

no degree?

 

[xSauronx]

i'm teaching myself java, studied and memorized "the complete advanced excel workbook" in 3 sleepless days, love PCs inside and out and can't get a job anywhere near a computer for the life of me - because i have no prior IT-related work history *bangs head on the desk*

yeah i lucked out. i volunteered to work for a network admin at a community college i was attending for about half a semester, then the next semester he requested a work study student so i could get a few bucks while doing it

he knew someone at the health system that was looking for interns so i ended up there for about 18 months, initially doing XP upgrades then a few other tasks

then a buddy of mine told me about an opening where he worked and ive been there a few months. i dont love the place but its good experience...mostly because i just get sent wherever there is a problem, and either i fix it, or i work with the right people or support to get it fixed.

a friend of mine at an international IT company says they are hiring, but i dont think i want to move on after just 6 months, and im not sure i want to do linux support. right now im doing windows server/desktop and cisco/gen networking support.

 

[clamum]

lol, desktop support

when i was a little kid i thought sys admin and desktop support would be cool

but then i learned that its not nearly as good as programming

Same here. I think I'd rather take a shotgun blast to the face than do desktop support.

The quote about "count to potato"... LOOOOOL. Sounds like a real mongo there, OP.

 

[Baked]

Life is not fair, and never will be. Just be blessed that you're alive and don't live in some shit hole 3rd world country.

#firstworldproblem

 

[nsafreak]

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

It's also possible that I have the winning ticket for the next Powerball drawing in my hand.....

 

[Svnla]

How the hell the guy in the op was able to get hired? I am not an expert in IT at all but even I know how to do all of the tasks in the op.

 

[ColdFusion718]

it gets better

- 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'm sorry for your situation, OP. When I read your post, it made my blood boil because it reminds me of my previous job. I'm not trying to jack your thread with my story, but maybe it'll give you a sense of vindication (when it does come eventually).

Almost 5 years ago, I got a job as a novice SharePoint admin working for a totally awesome manager. I also reported to a supervisor who was below the manager. This guy was OK but he left after a few months of me working there. Then almost a year later, the really cool director left and then after that the nice manager left. Some dick head became the director and then promoted this weird guy I worked with to be my supervisor. This caused a lot of people to leave.

Before he became my supervisor, he was an OK guy but I got weirded out by him when he kept asking me to show him more pics of my gf (now my wife). I stopped talking to him during work.

When he became my supervisor, the first he did was tell me that I hurt his feelings when I ignored him a few times. A few weeks later, I was put on probation! He made my life a living hell. During that time, I was petitioning to get my wife (fiancee at the time) immigration papers so she could come live in the states with me. My supervisor knew I had to show the government that I was employed in order to stand a good chance of getting the immigration papers. So he basically held the job over my head, constantly reminding me that if I lost my job, I'd have a hard time bringing my wife to the US.

He wanted to get me fired so I started looking for a new job. When I found a great job, but didn't have all of the qualifications, I forwarded to my coworker who landed it. After he left, they couldn't get rid of me. I was taken off of probation almost immediately.

Before I was put on probation, I told my supervisor that he should learn SharePoint because he would need to at least know something about it when he goes to the meetings with the business people. He told me that he didn't need to learn squat because he's a supervisor.

Fast forward 2 years, we finally get a new manager. After a month or so, the new manager realized that my supervisor didn't know squat so he told him he better pick it up. Then that asshole made me teach him everything I knew (he made it part of my evaluation). I didn't want to teach him anything but I had no choice.

After a while, I thought things were getting better. The director saw that I took over all of the responsibilities after my coworker left 2 years earlier. He even talked the CIO into giving me a new title so that I could get a big raise (I hate him less than the supervisor guy).

Back in July 2011 (a day before my birthday), I cut my foot while getting dressed for work (I stepped on something sharp). I emailed the supervisor to tell him that I was going to be working from home that day. He didn't reply for 3 hours and said that I had to either figure out a way to get to work or take vacation (all 8 hours).

A month before that, I had put in 30 hours on the weekend to help him rebuild a SharePoint farm that was screwed up. He told me to remind him later when I want to take a few comp days off for the extra hours I put in. When I got hurt, I wasn't even asking for a free day off; I just wanted to work remotely that day so I could be off my feet.

A week after this incident, someone from LinkedIn contacted me about a Senior SharePoint engineer position. By this time, I've had about 5 years of experience. I interviewed for the job and got it.

I left in the middle of a huge project which went from green to red when I resigned. Later, I found out my supervisor had to work almost every weekend and the 2 weeks during Xmas that he took off every year to pick up the slack. He's still hurting even though it has been almost 7 months since I've left. Last week, I ran into the director and he asked if I ever thought about coming back. LOL!

At my current job, I only have to go to the office once or twice a week. My boss listens to my suggestions and basically lets me call the shots. Whenever I work during after hours, she reminds me to either leave early or come in later.

Cliff notes
- worked for shitty boss
- got put through hell for a few years
- found new, awesome job
- quit in the middle of the project to screw boss over
- profited

 

[her209]

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.

Of course when shit hits the fan, you're fucked!

 

[William Gaatjes]

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.

:hmm:
I think i met him. He uses chrome...

 

[God Mode]

There should be a reverse undercover boss tv show where employees reveal shitty bosses/supervisors and why the business sucks.

 

[shortylickens]

Of course when shit hits the fan, you're fucked!

Yeah but you're already fucked every single day with the typical middle aged American employee. Spoiled, lazy, self-entitled, whiny, stupid, unmotivated.
Better to give the youngsters a shot to prove themselves before illegals take all our good jobs in addition to the menial ones.

 

[Doppel]

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.

I laughed twice, so you get two thumbs up on your rant.

 

[xSauronx]

:hmm:
I think i met him. He uses chrome...

theres no way he knows what chrome is. none.

 

[xSauronx]

** snip **

Cliff notes
- worked for shitty boss
- got put through hell for a few years
- found new, awesome job
- quit in the middle of the project to screw boss over
- profited

that is a pretty shitty situation. it would drive me nuts.

speaking of sharepoint, however...a buddy of mine does sharepoint instruction and has an amazing job. paid travel/room/cab/rental car and makes like 650 a day.

i wont be with this company forever. *most* of the other tech people are pretty good, and the boss is a really smart, nice guy. i really dont think he knows how bad this friend of his is, im not sure how to tell him without coming off as an asshole.

but hes about to spend a week with a royal asshole of ours at a big customer and that guy will probably make it clear how bad the new hire is.

i will probably leave this place after i finish my BS next year; it's run by workaholics. i have no problem working, but these fuckers are poorly organized and the office management people are nuts and almost all of the techs hate it....most people seem to stick around a couple of years by the sound of things

 

[lxskllr]

I want a job like that. I always read about idiots in IT, but no one will give /this/ idiot a job. I can do everything you wanted that guy to do except putty, and I'd know that within a couple hours if it was needed.

 

[xSauronx]

I want a job like that. I always read about idiots in IT, but no one will give /this/ idiot a job. I can do everything you wanted that guy to do except putty, and I'd know that within a couple hours if it was needed.

its just a terminal client. i showed him how to use it...no no, i stood over his shoulder and told him what to click and let him makes notes on his instruction sheet to get a task done. he did everything he needed, i even stood over him while he changed some settings in a cisco PIX device.

then i left him to replace a pc and told him id be back in about 2 hours. it takes me about 45 minutes to 1 hour to do his task, so i figured that would be enough time for him to slowly read the directions and do each task one step at a time.

it wasnt. not at all. i had a lot to do when i got back.

our company really needs 2 good, qualified people, but they are very hard to come by. we work almost entirely in eastern, rural north carolina. theres not a depth of technical expertise in the area to start with; most people head west towards raleigh or something and dont want to work where we go. i rack up 10 hours a week or more pretty regularly in drive time to get between customers.

 

[brianmanahan]

I can do everything you wanted that guy to do except putty, and I'd know that within a couple hours if it was needed.

putty takes like 3 seconds to learn