My job is poo! (job, what job?!)

[metallibloke]

I've been working in my current job for about 10 months as Senior Computer Technician at a university department. Not really sure what makes me senior, as there isnt any one else but my boss. I'm basically IT support for the staff and students. Anyway, ever since day one there hasnt been that much for me to do. My boss claimed he was really rushed and over worked so they hired me, to help ease the pressure.

The fact is that I dont do anything, not by choice, I love to work, both my previous jobs I was inundated with stuff to do which was great, and really enjoyed the quiet periods, like the quiet before the storm. Now my job is just one long quiet period. Its not that there isnt any work. My boss is always telling people how busy we are. I have regular things to do, like check each machine for dodgy stuff the students download, and make sure the printers are working fine etc. I ask my boss for things to do, and he always says there are things to do but never actually gives me something or comes up with a reason why it should wait. Frankly, this is really annoying me.

I saw the department administrators secretary on the stairs the other day and she said "we dont see you much at tea in the mornings, i guess your kind of busy", "yeah, well not really that busy, its a steady trickle of stuff to do", (which is a lie, i didnt want to give the impression that I was busy, but also didnt want to say I had nothing to do, dont want to get laid off again!! (laid off cus company had no money, incidentally)). Anyway, she said "you know you can always go and talk to the department administrator about your job" "yeah, i know".

I've been thinking about going and having a word, but I dont want to get my boss into trouble, or get on the wrong side of him. He's a really nice guy, but when you have to work with them, it gets kinda awkward. I dont want to leave, as my job is reasonably secure, I got made redundant last time and dont want that to happen again. Theres definitly enough work for the both of us, bit none of it seems to come my way.

I've asked my boss lots of times over the months for stuff to do. Should I keep asking him? is there a different way to approach it? or should I go to the department admin and talk to them?

Any input would be appreciated, and thanks for reading!!!

 

[gopunk]

maybe you should think of a project and propose it to your boss.

btw, you guys monitor what students download? nazis

 

[BornStar]

I'm actually in a very similar situation. There's too much work for just one person to do but not enough to do for two people. I end up getting some projects that take me about 15 minutes to complete then I sit at the computer, just sort of staring. I'll click the mouse to make it look like I'm doing something. I don't want to go back and bother my boss after just 15 minutes. I've found that going around and breaking stuff and then fixing it works sometimes but you can only do that so often. I really have no advice for you but I thought I would let you know that I feel your pain.

 

[metallibloke]

<< maybe you should think of a project and propose it to your boss.

btw, you guys monitor what students download? nazis >>



Yeah I thought about porjects, but they are either taken care of already, or my boss always manages to find some reason not to bother with it.

We dont exaclty monitor it, just look at the public directories to make sure that there is only work related stuff on there. If they download other stuff (as long as its not porn etc.) then as long as its moved off the machine and out the dept, i couldnt give a monkeys!!!

 

[Hammer]

Simple, just break something, then fix it.

 

[Migroo]

<< I've found that going around and breaking stuff and then fixing it works sometimes but you can only do that so often >>

 

[tim0thy]

i have the exact type of job. good thing is that i get paid more than a lot of my peers doing nearly nothing, while they are working their ass off left and right.

so what do i do with my time? lately, i've been chilling out, but before, i was certifying myself. in the time i am there, i built up test labs with routers, firewalls, servers, you name it. i proposed projects to make our (manager and i) job easier, as if it wasn't easy enough.

dunno how often you heard this, but think outside the box. describe your work setting, maybe i can give you some advice or some ideas to keep you busy. what are you responsible for? workstations? servers? network? probably a little of each. what are you guys running? Windows NT? 2000? Domain structure?

Instead of checking for student downloads, why not set up a server and reload the machine using ghosting software at the end of the week or something? Symantec makes Ghost software which images PCs, maybe you can set up a multicast server server and set it to automatically reload the machine at the end of the week. There's more to what I'm just saying, but that'll keep you busy for a while.

damn, i think i should start studying for certifications again. once the job market comes back, companies will have to pay me a pretty penny to get me to work for them.