do you work in a technical job but you're surrounded by non-technical people?

[Maverick]

It surprises me how many non-technical people there are in the IT world.
My manager claims he should be a technical architect...but he didn't know the difference between MySQL and MS SQL server. Also he claims technology changes too fast for him to keep up with it.

Then there's this guy who thinks the CD-burner he bought in 1999 should never need replacing even if he can get a faster, better one for 20 bucks. His job title? Software Engineer.

How did all these clueless people convince someone to hire them?

 

[Aves]

Yes, definitely. I don't know how all these people got hired to be honest.

 

[rh71]

there are those who get by, and then there are the tech geeks.

Also, even IT firms need finance people... and we get them asking silly questions all the time...

 

[imported_Strang]

In a group meeting for our company's client services team, my boss (who is the head of desktop support, among other things) told us how his new computer is so legacy free that it doesn't have PCI slots -- only AGP.

A co-worker called him on it and asked if his network card and sound card also plug into AGP slots, to which he replied yes.

*sigh*

 

[Megatomic]

I work at a technical job and am surrounded by scientists. What a lofty yet clueless bunch they are.

PhD physicist /= EE/ME/CS/MBA :roll:

 

[Jzero]

I don't expect software engineers to be up on hardware.
I'm not sure what a tech. architect is supposed to do, but if it's anything like a Systems Analyst, he really should know the pros and cons of common RDBMS solutions.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Strangone
A co-worker called him on it and asked if his network card and sound card also plug into AGP slots, to which he replied yes.

*sigh*

Should have asked him what AGP stands for.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: Strangone
A co-worker called him on it and asked if his network card and sound card also plug into AGP slots, to which he replied yes.

*sigh*

Should have asked him what AGP stands for.

:thumbsup:

 

[nater]

yes same here...I work with a lot of those know-enough-to-get-by tech people...and it drives me insane...they constantly refer to things incorrectly, such as calling laptops with docking stations workstations, calling the tower/actual computer the CPU...can't stand it sometimes.

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: Maverick
It surprises me how many non-technical people there are in the IT world.
My manager claims he should be a technical architect...but he didn't know the difference between MySQL and MS SQL server. Also he claims technology changes too fast for him to keep up with it.

Then there's this guy who thinks the CD-burner he bought in 1999 should never need replacing even if he can get a faster, better one for 20 bucks. His job title? Software Engineer.

How did all these clueless people convince someone to hire them?

Why replace the cd-rw if it works for him? I have a 32x cd-rw and don't plan on upgrading ever unless it breaks. Sure they have faster, but to what end? Takes me like 3 minutes to burn a cd now, I don't see the point in wasting even $20 to get a new one. BTW you think thats bad try working help desk at a large corporation, you see all kinds of crazy things (zip disks in floppy drives, people put in a ticket that "computer does not work" so you call them to get some information over the phone and that goes no where so you prepare for the worst and head up to their office, spend 2 hours trouble shooting to find that they can't get to their email because the server is down.) It's frustrating, but fun, I mean there are periods of time when you are so busy you only see your office when you get in and when you check out, but then there are weeks at a time where you just sit on your computer and surf the net for $12 an hour 8 hours a day for 6 straight weeks

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: nater
yes same here...I work with a lot of those know-enough-to-get-by tech people...and it drives me insane...they constantly refer to things incorrectly, such as calling laptops with docking stations workstations, calling the tower/actual computer the CPU...can't stand it sometimes.

Heh that used to get to me, but then I realized why bother, I get paid if they are idiots are not, I just kind of tune them out when they talk about tech, that way I can be friendly with them without wanting to pull my own hair out.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: Strangone
A co-worker called him on it and asked if his network card and sound card also plug into AGP slots, to which he replied yes.

*sigh*

Should have asked him what AGP stands for.

My co-worker did when he asked about the NIC and sound card.

"So you have your network card in your accelerated graphics port?"

He still said yes without missing a beat.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: nater
yes same here...I work with a lot of those know-enough-to-get-by tech people...and it drives me insane...they constantly refer to things incorrectly, such as calling laptops with docking stations workstations, calling the tower/actual computer the CPU...can't stand it sometimes.

Those examples don't bother me as much as people referring to the computer itself as a "monitor" or vice versa -- it can be very hard to understand what someone wants when they say they want their "hard drive" moved and they're actually referring to their monitor.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Strangone

Originally posted by: nater
yes same here...I work with a lot of those know-enough-to-get-by tech people...and it drives me insane...they constantly refer to things incorrectly, such as calling laptops with docking stations workstations, calling the tower/actual computer the CPU...can't stand it sometimes.

Those examples don't bother me as much as people referring to the computer itself as a "monitor" or vice versa -- it can be very hard to understand what someone wants when they say they want their "hard drive" moved and they're actually referring to their monitor.

You have to consider the context. Who in the world would want their hard drive moved? That doesn't even make any sense. Part of the job is to translate the needs of customers who don't know any better, and that's the case in any specialization. I know that whenever I do business with someone very specialized I almost certainly say things that are not "right"; however, I also know that it's his place to respond to customer needs without condescending those who aren't as specialized. After all, if you were specialized you wouldn't be seaking outside help in the first place.

 

[fw3308]

yes and no.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Strangone

Originally posted by: nater
yes same here...I work with a lot of those know-enough-to-get-by tech people...and it drives me insane...they constantly refer to things incorrectly, such as calling laptops with docking stations workstations, calling the tower/actual computer the CPU...can't stand it sometimes.

Those examples don't bother me as much as people referring to the computer itself as a "monitor" or vice versa -- it can be very hard to understand what someone wants when they say they want their "hard drive" moved and they're actually referring to their monitor.

You have to consider the context. Who in the world would want their hard drive moved?

So do you -- I would take "hard drive" to mean computer in that instance, not the monitor.

 

[MalikChen]

Well, I work in an IT dept, but in a small environment (maybe 100 computers/users), and I'm one of the "technicans." That just means I'm the guy who tells people to reboot their computer. And then plug stuff in or turn stuff on when necessary.

I've found that the people who know nothing about computers, and are honest about it, are the easiest to help. They know that they are completely lost without you, and listen very hard. They also know that it is to their advantage to be on your good side. However, the people who think they are "computer-savvy", are the worst, because they know just enough to misuse jargon.

Train your co-workers to say "box" and "screen", it's just easier that way. I started doing that, and it makes for easier communication on both sides when I get a call.

 

[Maverick]

I'm mainly bothered by the software engineers that don't even know the most basic stuff. Especially the ones that claim to be so technical and knowledgeable.

They try to pass off their use of buzzwords as real technical knowledge. Just pisses me off.

 

[Quixfire]

I work in a call center to a automotive vendor. I am the lead technical advisor to about 30 phone operators. A good portion of my day is spent explaining the technical aspects of automotive repair to these operators so they can assist the callers.

And I get to do all the related damage claims. :|

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

No

Yes

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: MalikChen
I've found that the people who know nothing about computers, and are honest about it, are the easiest to help. They know that they are completely lost without you, and listen very hard. They also know that it is to their advantage to be on your good side. However, the people who think they are "computer-savvy", are the worst, because they know just enough to misuse jargon.

Oh, I totally agree. When I worked helpdesk, the worst calls were prefaced with "I have an MCSE."

 

[johnjbruin]

Opposite.
Work with a pretty good bunch of tech savvy people. Glad i dont have to face people who want to put sound cards in AGP slots as stated in one of the above posts.

 

[CPA]

I'm semi-technical working with a lot of techinal guys. "Speak English Please!" <---referring to all the tech jargon they throw out, as if everyone understands programming lingo.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
Opposite.
Work with a pretty good bunch of tech savvy people. Glad i dont have to face people who want to put sound cards in AGP slots as stated in one of the above posts.

Dude, this is worse than that. In my case, it's my *boss* and the guy who is basically in charge of all of our company's desktop computers.

If it was the janitor's administrative assistant, that'd be one thing.

 

[Pex]

yes, some.