Getting Beyond the Helldesk 474
An anonymous reader writes "I've been working as a helpdesk monkey for over a year in a small-medium sized law firm of around 200 users and I don't know if my patience and sanity can last much longer. I'd like to remain in IT, but in less of a front-line role where I can actually get some work done without being interrupted every five minutes by a jamming printer or frozen instance of Outlook. There isn't really any room for progression at my current employer, and with the weak job market it seems I can only move sideways into another support role. I've been considering a full-time Masters degree in a specialized Computer Science area such as databases or Web development, but I don't know if the financial cost and the loss of a year's income and experience can justify it. Do any Slashdotters who have made it beyond the helpdesk have any knowledge or wisdom to impart? Is formal education a good avenue, or would I better off moving back home, getting a mindless but low-stress job, and teaching myself technologies in my free time?"
i've got some advice (Score:1, Funny)
It's not that bad, just stick with it! (Score:5, Funny)
I've noticed that most people are getting smarter, understand technology, privacy, business, free enterprise, propoganda, and are becoming less reliant on help desks, friends, church groups, retailers, and especially the government for help.
Just stick with it, I'm sure it will get better! How bad can it really be, they are just lawyers?
What! (Score:5, Funny)
They have master degrees in "database" and "web development?"
Ahhhh, my Television is moving!!!
Re:i've got some advice (Score:3, Funny)
First thing you should do is get a first post on Slashdot, like the parent did. Trust me, within the week anonymous here will be getting a call from a fortune 50 company, with a job offer most of us only have wet dreams about. Why do you think people keep getting first posts?!
However, if you're a slow typer (like me), just reply to the first post and you might get a job sharpening Anonymous Coward's pencils, junior pocket protector executive or something. But let me be blunt (like the pencils): nobody got nuttin' in this world for a second post, as Abba sang: 'First Post takes it all'.
Not sure what you get for a last post, maybe a job as a barman, 'last post at the bar gentlemen, please!'
Huh (Score:1, Funny)
Not only is that job, but is it REALLY that hard to say "reboot your computer"?
Funny Helldesk story (Score:5, Funny)
Way back in the day, I worked at Creative Labs tech support, and those of us in higher positions were made to sit on a Helpdesk, consisting of 4 stations. When an agent would get stumped, they'd call the helpdesk and get one of us at random. Now, some of the folks who had to sit on this thing were not the sharpest tools in the shed. So one day, to screw with a particularly stupid self important idiot, I sat next to him, just up the hunt group chain, so that if my phone was busy or didn't answer the call would go to him.
So I turned my phone down to almost no ring volume, and every time my phone would ring, I'd wait til the 3rd ring, point over to his phone, and say "Your phone will ring... now". The dumbass got mad because he couldn't figure out how I was doing it for over an hour.
I did of course, get a "stern" talking to afterward, BUT, the supervisor was doing his best to not laugh his ass off as he was telling me to please not do it again.
first off... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:That is your job. (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, being interrupted while reading from / posting to Slashdot is just awful!
Re:Funny Helldesk story (Score:3, Funny)
Aloha AC!
Ahhh yes... Good old Stillwater. I did my time @ Creative back in the day, and remember the second level helpdesk station quite vividly. And no I wasn't the victim of the prank.
I do remember working with a certain cute female, and there were some guys on the floor who would hang up on you, only to call back hoping they would get a chance to talk to the cute girl. hehe
Wow! I haven't thought about those days in a long long time.
It could be much worse... (Score:4, Funny)
The Taxonomy of IT professionals is as follows... (Score:5, Funny)
Engineerus Originalus:
At the very pinnacle of the IT world, these are the people who invent the things that the rest of the IT world relies on for THEIR jobs. The ones who truly deserve the word "engineer" in their job titles. They work for places like Intel, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, etc. Getting here requires nothing less than a Master's degree.
Managerius Pseudogeek:
These people got a four-year CS degree and jumped straight into the job market. They lack the rigors of graduate school, and the practical knowledge that comes with real job experience and/or industry certifications. A lot of front-line software developers fall into this category, though all the really good ones actually belong to the species Scholarus Basementi (see below). In a healthy and growing economy, these folks can get jobs in a variety of fields, from webdev to DBA. In a down economy, they are frequently passed over by experienced people who are already in the industry and desperate to do whatever is necessary to stay there. It should be noted that this species belongs to the Genus Managerius because four-year degrees carry power in the corporate world, but these individuals lack the real intellectual rigor to rise to the top of their fields technically. This leaves middle management as the usual endpoint for their careers.
Genericus Certificans:
Probably the single largest species of IT professional, they bear a great superficial resemblance to Scholarus Basementi but lack the distinctive colors, odors, and sounds that Basemeni uses to distinguish itself when interacting socially. Many have two year Associate CS degrees, but the majority can be identified by the way they build their nests out of an accumulation of IT industry certifications. If you look inside their cubicle and find both Project+ AND "IBM Certified Solution Designer" certificates posted up then you know you've identified a Certificans. Older members of the species will still proudly display their Novell CNAs. Virtually all IT professionals with the word "Administrator" in their job title belong to this species, though the ones that self-identify as "BOFH" will desperately try to pass themselves off as Basmenti.
Scholarus Basmenti
This species is entirely self-taught, and their individual skill levels vary wildly. The less able members of this species frequently flock around the more advanced individuals in order to camouflage their weaknesses. These packs of Basmenti, led by an Alpha, are highly territorial and competitive. It is believed that their incessant desire to compete for control over FOSS projects or to get credit for "clever hacks" is rooted in their job insecurity. Those who are not unemployed are often found working entry-level helpdesk jobs. Those who do better economically are typically Alphas who went out and obtained a degree or an industry certification to validate their ample innate talents. Basmenti can easily be distinguished from Certificans when asked about their credentials. While Certificans will speak proudly of their achievements, Basmenti will ridicule their own credentials as "worthless paper" or boast about how they passed their exams hung over without bothering to study. Occasionally, especially talented Basmenti who also show aptitude forming healthy human relationships will be able to obtain Venture Capital and will eventually rise to the very top of the "Foo Chain." Once at this point, they will spend lots of the "Foo's" money to hire members of all three other species, who will look at the unschooled savant with naked resentment and envy.
Re:What degree do you have? (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah an economic crisis is a GREAT time to stop working and reduce your income to near zero while increasing your expenses.
Re:Take the shit to get the cream (Score:2, Funny)
Re:That is your job. (Score:3, Funny)
You forgot to start this with:
>If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience
and end it with:
>But trust me on the sunscreen...
Otherwise.. a nice post ;P
I'm in the same helpdesk hell situation.. it's been a real turnoff for advancing further into IT and I'm doing evening classes in something completely different (whether something comes out of it, no idea). It is a dull, but safe job.. you're not going to get fired if you can stick out the first couple of months, and it is quite regular so you do have time for other interests. It's a wonderful platform for taking the next step, but it's a horrible career choice as it's soul-suckingly dull, repetitive and the bureaucracy... I can't go on without increasing stress levels, so I wont.
Re:That is your job. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Take the shit to get the cream (Score:5, Funny)
But before you do, listen in the above poster so you can learn the lingo.
Until you can optimize the ROI of a value added function by providing excellence in service provisioning within the ITIL framework, you really haven't lived.
Re:What degree do you have? (Score:2, Funny)
I program in my parents basement to facilitate a speedy commute to work you insensitive clod! ;)
Re:That is your job. (Score:4, Funny)
Outrageously NSFW. Sound required.
Re:What degree do you have? (Score:5, Funny)
my professional colleague in London is having to beat off recruiters
Dear god, is that how you get a recruiters attention in the UK? I hope he at least calls you the next morning or sends flowers or something.
Re:What degree do you have? (Score:5, Funny)
Kid: "Hi, I want a job writing software!"
Manager: "Tell me what you know about writing software."
Kid: "I saw some C++ code in a textbook once!"
Manager: "Will you accept $80,000 and start tomorrow?"
Today:
Applicant: "Hi, I want a job writing software!"
Manager: "Tell me what you know about writing software."
Applicant: "I have a bachelor of science degree in math with a minor in computer science. I've written 10,000 lines of code in widespread use in an open source project. I've written my own cell phone operating system. I've written 4 applications in the iPhone store. I'm a contributor on the specifications for C++0x."
Manager: "We're sorry, you are woefully underqualified for this junior position. We're looking for someone with ten times as much experience and a master's degree, and we will offer them $35,000 per year."
I'm genuinely happy for you and your success. But I'm guessing you got your start during the dot com boom or something similar. I love developing software, I can't believe I get paid money to do something this interesting. But the opportunities for a self taught person to break in to the industry, as far as I can tell, are tremendously fewer now than in the past.