The pain of Helpdesk work (665 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.26 on 24 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by -=<Psycosis>=- psycosis053.at.gmail.com (View user info) at 2006-01-19 00:41:10 EST
It can be said that when it comes to work I could do with a slight attitude re-adjustment, but I swear the only reason I am employed here is so that everyone can piss me off, it's almost like some weird twist of that Truman Show movie. Everything is a set up waiting for that final moment in which I snap and tear something apart.
Anyone that has worked in a helpdesk environment understands the anguish that is suffered. Every phone call taken seems to suck a little more intelligence from the already rapidly depleting stock, until at the end of the day, you're left a mere shell, drooling on your shoes, just waiting for 5 O'clock to arrive.
Sure, annoying users are part of the job, a part of the whole experience really, but for the most part I can deal with them, no problems at all. Realistically, users are supposed to have no idea about the Workstations and Servers that they use daily, all they need to know is that when stuff breaks, which people they need to call to fix it.
The company I work for has over the past year or two, started to employ IT staff with a strong customer service orientation, rather than, making their decisions based on the applicants technical knowledge. The kind of people they've been hiring lately couldn't troubleshoot an abacus even if it came with an instruction manual. Now I'm sure that the users are much more happy now that their problems take 10 times longer to be fixed, but at least the person fixing it is super friendly about it, right?
It has come to the point that the majority of my day is spent coaching all these staff members on how to perform the technical aspects of their work. It's almost what I imagine babysitting a group of ADD suffering children would be like.
What do other people in this position do? I've thought about getting another job in a different organisation, but I know everywhere else will be the same. I think the easiest solution is to just have an intelligence destroying week long alcohol binge, come to work, put on my customer service face, and be re-assimilated back into the whole Helpdesk culture.
User Reviews
Submitted by Psycosis (user info) at 2006-01-20 00:15:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by freebie (user info) at 2006-01-19 10:46:53 (#)
Ranking: 0
Suggest to management they outsource all the IT/Helpdesk/computer nerd jobs to india.
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I'd prefer they outsourced the management team to India.
It's not like i understand what management say at the moment anyway.
Submitted by freebie (user info) at 2006-01-19 10:46:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Suggest to management they outsource all the IT/Helpdesk/computer nerd jobs to india.
Submitted by Astropath (user info) at 2006-01-19 10:00:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Find someone to flirt with. Dirty emails make the day go by quicker.
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-01-19 09:47:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sorry to break it too you sweetie, but it NEVER gets better.
I used to do the ol helpdesk thing, but got out. Now I work in an office where people bother me for everything, and it's not even my job anymore. Here's an example:
Salesguy: My computer won't start and it says "Disk not found" I don't have any disks do you have one I can borrow?
Me: Sounds like you need a new hard drive. Call support and tell them that.
Salesguy: Okay
****** 4 hours later ********
Salesguy: You remember that problem with the thing?
Me: Yeah? When are they sending a new drive?
Salesguy: I just talked to 7 different people and it took them all this time to came up with the same answer you gave me in 30 seconds.
Me: Well of course? This blond is fake you know.
Submitted by MichelleNJ (user info) at 2006-01-19 08:50:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
i give lots of props to the help desk people... i could never do it. i hate talking on the phone. and i hate stupid people. put them together and i'm sure there would be a huge explosion.
i had an abacus in my 1st grade room. we didn't use it, i think it was more for decoration.
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-01-19 06:37:14 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Wow.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-01-19 05:15:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Abacus. I had one as a child. I think my parents wanted me to grow up to be an accountant. Urgh.
Also, we had them at primary school. Poor fucking school I'm telling you. We had no computers in primary school.
Now I feel old, and I'm only 24. For those abacus users out there, that's 2 beads on the second row, 4 on the bottom row.
Submitted by Calios (user info) at 2006-01-19 05:09:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you need to suggest they add a slide rule
calculation component to the interview process
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 02:59:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Aw, that's okay. I like dirty old men.
Submitted by Phate (user info) at 2006-01-19 02:42:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 02:13:10 (#)
Ranking: 2
Nope. Not even kindergarten, ole man. I remember learning about them when we learned about those semi-automatic weavers (spindle? what the hell are they called.. so long ago...) and those record things that everyone always goes on about.
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You make me feel old.
I hate you.
*single tear rolling down cheek*
Submitted by Banga3386 (user info) at 2006-01-19 02:25:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Just get yourself a flask and take a sip every time someone is showing signs of ruining your day. That way by 5pm you should be good and toasty, or good and fired, i can't remember.
The Bananga
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 02:13:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nope. Not even kindergarten, ole man. I remember learning about them when we learned about those semi-automatic weavers (spindle? what the hell are they called.. so long ago...) and those record things that everyone always goes on about.
Submitted by Phate (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:59:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I feel your pain.
The following is for the youngster that doesn't know what an abacus is.
I am sure you remember these from kindergarten
http://www.gummylump.com/files/product/a_151.wooden-abacus.jpg
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:53:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Something's wrong with me...
But, seriously. I've seen one. It was... Amazing.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:53:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I SEEN ONE!
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:50:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Do you play the piano?
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:50:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Tehehe. I bet old timers read my last comment and just felt so.. old.
But really, I've never even seen a real one in life, much less used one.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:49:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What's an abacus?
Submitted by Blinkish (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:27:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
When I was younger I worked at MSN doing Tech support for Americans. I still think Texans should not be able to buy computers. (If you're an intelligent Texan, I apologize .. move now before the state taints you!)
I feel your pain.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:25:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
EY DONT NO WUT IT IZ U R SAING BUT EYE CEE MANY TONZ OV BIG WURDZ IN TEH POZT AN THAT ECSITES ME ALOT OV TYMZ EYE THEENK!
Submitted by Psycosis (user info) at 2006-01-19 01:08:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2006-01-19 00:51:06 (#)
Ranking: 0
Get a real fucking job, not some entry-level bullshit, read the script off the screen, barely better than welfare waste of space job.
You fucking moron.
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Meh. Whatever. I do high level support, not call center bullshit and I don't have scripts to read off. Money is not an issue, I'm in the 2nd top AU tax bracket which is plenty more than welfare.
It just sounds like you think you're better than me just because you make a 6 figure salary sucking sailors cocks down at the dock.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2006-01-19 00:51:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Get a real fucking job, not some entry-level bullshit, read the script off the screen, barely better than welfare waste of space job.
You fucking moron.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2006-01-19 00:48:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My helpdesk pain http://www.ubersite.com/m/78106
Enjoy.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-01-19 00:46:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
oooooh fun.
+2 Empathy