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joe944 posted:Had a very optimistic first round of interviews with another company, where I was told by the VP I interviewed with that they were looking to create a new role for me not bound by any of the current departments, so that I can have the freedom to work on the most important and critical projects and drive each department towards accomplishing those goals. I was not really expecting this when I first came in, but it sounds challenging and exciting. e: come at me project managers
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Jul 23, 2015 05:05
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The thought has crossed my mind. Have to see how it plays out.
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Jul 23, 2015 05:35
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worked at an IBM help desk for almost 4 years, quit on Friday. the warm bodies they've been bringing in the past three months have reached critical self-parody level I saw this exchange in sametime about two days before I quit: idiot warm-body: 'this guy has a couple megabytes left on C and says he needs more RAM can I send him RAM?' idiot "SME" : no that is a request form idiot warm-body: "oh, a software request form?" idiot "SME": hardware request
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Jul 23, 2015 06:05
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goobernoodles posted:I'm looking into options for replacing our main switches at our main Seattle office with about ~50 desks or so. It's going to become the internet gateway for our Portland office, which is growing to about 40 desks. I use desks because a lot of users come and go so the number of people in the office can vary fairly significantly from those numbers up and down. Currently we have 20Mbps EoC in Seattle and 12Mbps bonded T1's in Portland connected over a MPLS and network behind a ~*~cloud firewall~*~. We have just shy of 200 employees and about 130 computer users. Everyone else will be getting email addresses within the year. Overkill. You don't need the 5406's backplane. I'd consider a pair of Juniper EX3300-48Ts (on sale for $3K each at CDW right now) in a virtual chassis configuration unless you really like the HP UI. in a well actually fucked around with this message at 06:29 on Jul 23, 2015 |
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Jul 23, 2015 06:27
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PCjr sidecar posted:Overkill. You don't need the 5406's backplane. I'd consider a pair of Juniper EX3300-48Ts (on sale for $3K each at CDW right now) in a virtual chassis configuration unless you really like the HP UI. goobernoodles fucked around with this message at 17:00 on Jul 23, 2015 |
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Jul 23, 2015 16:54
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So I've read almost all of the thread and I am trying to break into IT as a career change. I'm a pretty advanced user. I can troubleshoot my own problems, I flatten and reinstall on a regular basis, can install and replace hardware, set up my home network and configured the router, etc. I'm about a 3rd of the way studying for the A+ and not much is new information to me. So I have three questions before I update my resume and jump in. 1. What are the chances of skipping pure helldesk and jumping into a more desktop support oriented role? My Google fu is strong and I don't want to spend my life on the phone remoting in, although I will if I have to. I like to get my hands dirty. I also have a decade in customer service so that helps. 2. Do salary negotiations apply when angling for an entry level job? My current salary is somewhat irrelevant (currently a desk jockey). Do I have any leverage whatsoever? 3. Kind of embarrassing but I do not touch type. I type quickly and accurately without looking at the keyboard but its a mutant self taught technique. If I go in for a technical interview is the manager going to look at me like a UFO flew out of my head? I'm going to teach myself but it might take a while to break bad habits. TIA and god help me.
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Jul 23, 2015 19:41
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1) Helldesk/Desktop Support are pretty much the same thing depending on what company you end up at. Look for jobs that have the title Desktop though and you should find something that is more in line with what you want. 2) You can always negotiate. Just ask for more money when the time comes and they say yea/nah 3) I want to see this mutant way of typing. Really though you should be fine as long as your knowledge is there.
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Jul 23, 2015 19:51
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Critical posted:3. Kind of embarrassing but I do not touch type. I type quickly and accurately without looking at the keyboard but its a mutant self taught technique. If I go in for a technical interview is the manager going to look at me like a UFO flew out of my head? I'm going to teach myself but it might take a while to break bad habits. Can you, uh, elaborate on this?
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Jul 23, 2015 19:52
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Can you type fast enough to keep up with your work? Then who cares?
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Jul 23, 2015 19:58
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Kind of hard to explain. I kind of started as a really quick hunt and pecker without the hunt. Now I kind of use the shift keys as my base and just kind of go. My computer lab teacher in high school said it was the weirdest thing she had ever seen but didn't correct me because I typed faster than most everyone in the class and that was 15 years ago. I am going to train myself to touch type since I'm sure it will help with scripting but if I get an interview before I'm fully comfortable I don't want anyone to close me out because I type like a mongoloid.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:01
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your typing is irrelevant as you won't get more than a sentence in before you have to stop to listen to some retarded poo poo from a co-worker
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Jul 23, 2015 20:03
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People in my office give me weird looks when I am making eye contact with them while typing up my notes, so I don't think touch typing is really a skill anybody gives a gently caress about anymore.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:03
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Isn't "touch typing" typing using muscle memory without looking at the keyboard so you'd be able to look at people anyways? This is so weird.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:05
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CLAM DOWN posted:Isn't "touch typing" typing using muscle memory without looking at the keyboard so you'd be able to look at people anyways? This is so weird. Yeah, I mean they are like "Wait, are you actually typing or just mashing gibberish?" Nobody cares if you can touch type and I think the expectation these days isn't even that you'll know how.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:08
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I think in my department there are only like one or two people besides me who can touch type. Most other people just stare at their hands while they type and it works for them. One guy just straight up does hunt and peck.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:16
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Critical posted:3. Kind of embarrassing but I do not touch type. I type quickly and accurately without looking at the keyboard but its a mutant self taught technique. If I go in for a technical interview is the manager going to look at me like a UFO flew out of my head? I'm going to teach myself but it might take a while to break bad habits. Why would this be an issue? Critical goes into an interview, gets dressed up in a suit and tie to make a good impression. He seems like a great culture fit easily getting along with everyone as he tours the office, even making light flirty banter with the receptionist at the front door. He gets ushered into the managers office and starts answering technical questions lightening fast and accurately. "One last thing," says the manager almost sheepishly, "The CEO likes to hire really fast typers, kind of weird but we have to issue this Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing test. Let me just start the program here and I'll have you type out a quick submission and we can get started on your new hire paperwork". As Critical begins to type his fingers blasphemously hovering over the shift keys the managers brow begins to furrow and light beads of sweat start to form. Critical begins to hammer away at the test, each finger blazing along striking character after character, as if his fingers were hunting and pecking fresh game from the wild to feed his family. The speed of his typing increases as he gains some steam. The managers stomach begins to twist and grow unsettled as he watches Critical type while his hands as crooked as a politician float effortlessly over the keys. As he nears the end of the test, proceeding at record breaking speed, the manager can take no more. "FFFREEEAAAKKKKK," he yells. "This company has no place for you! I won't have someone like you at this company EVER work entry level helpdesk or desktop support. The DEVIL is in your hands!" he loudly exclaims. He forces Critical up out of his seat and rushes him out of his office towards the entrance. As he does he motions towards the receptionist to call security. "Have security escort this abomination out of here, we don't need the likes of you in here ever again".
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Jul 23, 2015 20:20
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Critical posted:... As others have said, it doesn't really matter so long as you type reasonably fast. Most of the people in my department aren't even touch typists. That reminds me - A few days ago I responded to a ticket for installing some software on a PC, and it turns out the user brought in their own DASKeyboard with blank keycaps. It's a good thing the ticket went to me since I was the only touch typist in that day.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:22
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BaseballPCHiker posted:Why would this be an issue? This was wonderful, thank you.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:23
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BaseballPCHiker posted:Why would this be an issue? Good poo poo op
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Jul 23, 2015 20:24
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 is touch typing really that uncommon? I've been doing that poo poo since I was in elementary school, and I'm still in the first half of my 20s.I do prefer to look at my screen while I do it though.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:25
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BaseballPCHiker posted:Why would this be an issue? This owns and made me laugh. Thank you. Honestly everyone I work with touch types and my mother was a secretary and touch types. She thinks I'm weird for never learning. So I didn't realize how dead the skill actually was. I'm obviously not going to worry about it at all.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:36
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Echoing the "fast enough is good enough" for typing sentiment. I manage to hunt and peck at 60 WPM, that's good enough for me. And really, your speed around the computer is going be affected more by (1) good command over the shift, ctrl, alt, and tab keys - usually with help desk or sysadmining you're bouncing around between things and typing short phrases rather than typing out essays (2) anticipating what's coming next - someone who recalls that hitting tab twice will put them in a certain field and can just start typing will probably get through the task faster than someone who hits tab, looks for the cursor, hits tab again, and starts typing. And god help you if you use the mouse to navigate more than occasionally, at that point it will not matter if you are the second coming of typing jesus himself.
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Jul 23, 2015 20:39
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CLAM DOWN posted:This is so weird. Next you're going to try to tell us you don't use checks to pay for things. 
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Jul 23, 2015 20:43
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Dick Trauma posted:Next you're going to try to tell us you don't use checks to pay for things. I don't, because they're spell "cheques" 
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Jul 23, 2015 20:45
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I'm going to have to start having all my candidates take typing tests. Mavis Beacon ain't got nothin on me! On the first two points: 1. You can definitely skip HD, but the rest of your game is going to be top notch. I did back in the day because a guy took a blind chance on me but that was during the tech boom leading up to Y2K. Your best bet is to find a smaller shop just looking for someone to help out. Not sure what you do at your desk job but if you can somehow leverage what you do as a "power user" (like reimaging your PC or helping other users or anything like that) and can articulate that on your resume, it's going to help. Tech support is only have tech knowledge and the other half is confidence and charisma so hopefully you've got that down even though your 3rd question makes me wonder... 2. Salary-wise, look at it from a company's perspective and know your competition. You're starting a new field and you're pretty much at entry level. Unless you're the most likable person they've ever met, why would they pay you more than a kid out of school just graduating with an IT degree. Sorry, but you're likely going to have to eat it and take what they give because you just don't have the skills yet. But that first year in IT is worth getting paid pennies, and assuming you're passionate at it and somewhat talented, you will hopefully learn enough to make a bigger jump in your next position. References help a ton, so hopefully you can get some good ones from your last employer(s). To get looked at, I might even front load a few quotes from them on your resume talking about your professionalism and tech skills. Good luck!
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Jul 23, 2015 20:53
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I work with a bunch of keyboard nerds, and one of the has a blank key mechanical keyboard. Our passwords have to be very complex so for a while he kept getting himself locked out of his account because he couldn't get the special characters right.
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Jul 23, 2015 21:12
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Confidence is a weakness due to personal poo poo no one gives a flying gently caress about, but it is getting better. I'll probably just suck it up and learn as much as possible in a HD position for six months to a year. I am good with people and explaining things so they don't feel dumb, which is the most important part. Looking at the median income for help desk in my area seems like it would be a step up financially, so if I have to take a little under that it's not a big deal. Figured I would learn how to haggle from the outset. The worst they can do is say no as long as I don't insult them with a huge figure. Thank you everyone for the help.
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Jul 23, 2015 21:19
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Critical posted:1. What are the chances of skipping pure helldesk and jumping into a more desktop support oriented role? My Google fu is strong and I don't want to spend my life on the phone remoting in, although I will if I have to. I like to get my hands dirty. I also have a decade in customer service so that helps. Please don't skip Helldesk. In the long run it's valuable experience. I really hate when a senior IT engineer wants to do something that will obviously negatively impact the end users and just doesn't care or even think about that impact. These people actively damage any relationship between IT and the Business. Working Helldesk in my experience helps you empathize with the user base and helps you understand the impact you have on the business.
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Jul 23, 2015 21:47
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I'd challenge all candidates to Typing of the Dead. 
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Jul 23, 2015 21:51
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Fiendish Dr. Wu posted:I'd challenge all candidates to Typing of the Dead. If you haven't got TOTD:Overkill with the vulgar addon pack you're missing out.
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Jul 23, 2015 21:52
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CLAM DOWN posted:I don't, because they're spell "cheques" Cheque yourself before you wreque yourself.
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Jul 23, 2015 21:54
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Zaepho posted:Please don't skip Helldesk. In the long run it's valuable experience. I really hate when a senior IT engineer wants to do something that will obviously negatively impact the end users and just doesn't care or even think about that impact. These people actively damage any relationship between IT and the Business. Working Helldesk in my experience helps you empathize with the user base and helps you understand the impact you have on the business.
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Jul 23, 2015 22:21
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SIR FAT JONY IVES posted:I work with a bunch of keyboard nerds, and one of the has a blank key mechanical keyboard. Our passwords have to be very complex so for a while he kept getting himself locked out of his account because he couldn't get the special characters right. I would laugh so hard if one of my coworkers did this to himself
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Jul 23, 2015 22:22
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evol262 posted:Conversely, skip helpdesk. Understanding the business impact of what you do isn't predicated on spending half a year or more doing something you hate. If senior IT engineers don't care or don't think about the impact, it's not because they haven't worked helpdesk, but because they're unable to see beyond their particular scope, which probably also applied to them when they worked helpdesk and didn't understand why they couldn't get domain admin access to resolve tickets. I totally agree and if your goal is to come up on the infrastructure side there is nothing you learn in helldesk that you can't learn in desktop/T2 support.
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Jul 23, 2015 22:28
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You can potentially find a combo role like my first IT job. I had technical support experience, but there were guys that had zero experience whatsoever there, and it was a mix of helpdesk, noc and even some actual sysadmin work.
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Jul 23, 2015 22:41
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mewse posted:I would laugh so hard if one of my coworkers did this to himself Get on his computer and install one of those programs that remaps the keys. Just remap the top row with the symbols. See how long it takes him to figure it out. Speaking of keyboards, we had a user request a keyboard that goes abcdef instead of qwerty. She didn't get what she wanted.
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Jul 23, 2015 23:38
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22 Eargesplitten posted:Get on his computer and install one of those programs that remaps the keys. Just remap the top row with the symbols. See how long it takes him to figure it out. http://www.fastfingerkeyboards.com/ Their store link is broken though, so oh well.
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Jul 24, 2015 01:47
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the future of typing is everyone using a stenograph
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Jul 24, 2015 02:12
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what's sad is that I can type faster than i can think about the individual keys, so even if there was a direct neural interface it is very possible that the keyboard will still be faster for me.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:18
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The Fool posted:http://www.fastfingerkeyboards.com/ I'm surprised it's not more expensive, I found the buy link elsewhere. $33 including shipping. I feel like we refused that on principle as much as anything else. We start buying stupid poo poo like that for one person, word's going to get around and we keep getting requests for dumb poo poo.
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Jul 24, 2015 03:36
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