Co-worker Problem

[ixelion]

I recently started a job in the technology department at my university where I study. My job entails doing repair work, setting up computers etc.

I am not on salary, just a low hourly wage I work under the full time technician there.

Here is my problem: I am very competent with computers and I am able to work independently with little or now help. I fear that the technician I work with expected that I would be some idiot, and he would have to teach me how to use the command prompt.

It is obvious I don't need his help most of the time, and I fear he may be threatened by me, and therefore takes every opportunity to belittle my efforts and point out every minor mistake.

An example:

A professor brought in his laptop that was crashing all the time (overheating), switching to low power mode stabilized the (very old) computer.

My supervisor's response: he says to me: "You are getting worse everyday"

How do I deal with this person?

 

[sygyzy]

Have a talk with him then if that doesn't work, talk to someone over him.

 

[purbeast0]

you sure mix up your lettter S with quite a few other letters.

 

[d3n]

Look for jobs with the core university IT group. Become his boss.

 

[Fraggable]

Is getting his job something you would be interested in? On other words, should he feel threatened?

If you don't want his job and are only doing this for a little money on the side rather than as a career, then tell him you don't want his position and wouldn't ever take it if it were offered.

If you do want it, then he should be keeping up with the times and be better than you, and should realize that there is a competitive market out there. I worked at a university help desk and no one wanted their jobs, they didn't pay enough. The people who had them were glad to be there because virtually nothing was demanded of them and they were never rushed.

 

[OutHouse]

Be blunt and tell him dont be a prick and rude.

 

[NuclearNed]

Look at it from his point of view. If you screw up something, he is the one who is going to get reamed over it. He doesn't know you well enough to trust you to do things by yourself. He probably thinks that you are just another know-it-all idiot (there are lots of them out there). Heck, if I had a student working under me, I would keep a super close eye on him until I was real confident with his abilities. Show a little patience with the guy and do your best work without getting too offended by how he is treating you. Given enough time, he will lay off as you gain his trust.

 

[pontifex]

sounds like my boss. he does the same type of garbage to me, however i was hired to take over for him should something happen to him. maybe he thinks i'm trying to get him out early?

pretty much almost everyone prefers me to work on their computers or answer their questions over him. Several people have told me this out loud as well.


he's not very good with people, he's forgetful, and he makes stuff up if he doesn't have an answer. if i try to correct him or make a suggestion, he gets defensive and tries to make me sound like i don't know what i'm talking about.

 

[BooGiMaN]

there used to be a guy..lets call him Milton....that had problems with his co-workers just like you...

he never got cake when it was someones birthday and they brought in cake

they never let him play the radio even though they told him that could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven

they kept moving his desk, they even finally moved him downstairs to a storage area

he finally snapped when they took away his red swingline stapler....

he got back at them though oh yes he did....

 

[Platypus]

Get out of academia, it will get better.

Either that or call his ass out on this stuff. Your supervisor sounds like he never finished school or has no future in computing and holds on to title like it means jack sh!t in the real world, put him in his place.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
there used to be a guy..lets call him Milton....that had problems with his co-workers just like you...

he never got cake when it was someones birthday and they brought in cake

they never let him play the radio even though they told him that could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven

they kept moving his desk, they even finally moved him downstairs to a storage area

he finally snapped when they took away his red swingline stapler....

he got back at them though oh yes he did....

:laugh:

 

[sixone]

Seriously, OP - I'm getting the impression that English is not your first language. Does he make an issue of it?

 

[meltdown75]

Since you work for low $, you can either tell him to stick it and get another job or grin and bear it. If he keeps it up, you'll think of a way to screw him over in time.

edit: OMG SIX - SIGnificant bandwidth wastage! I'm reporting you to teh mordoret0rz