Working in tech support?

[Red Squirrel]

Tech support is not that bad, and can even be fun at times. Though it can also be very frustrating when users have no clue and are arrogant and expect you to pull off some dumbledore moves like remote into a computer that is unplugged.

Not something you want to do all your life, but it gets you a foot in the door, and lot of experience with the various systems/customers that have to be supported. I did it for about 2 years until I got a server support job.

 

[TXHokie]

1D10T - remember this well while you are typing out your call tickets.

Seriously though, it's a good start. You'll eventually move up, just don't let the call center determine what path you want to take. Continue to work on your skill sets, learn new skills sets, and move on when the opportunity arises. It took me about 8 years to get where I am now, but I have a good job, I love what I do and I'm learning a lot.

Haha...I entered this code in to resolve my tickets back in the days. "Error code ID-10T". My manager called me to explain what it meant and I got in trouble. Those were the days. Do a year to two and move on up to sysadmin if you can stand it. Best of luck.

 

[Wyndru]

Do a year to two and move on up to sysadmin if you can stand it. Best of luck.

I'm surprised to see so many people here suggest this. In my experience the sad reality is sysadmins don't leave their jobs, so there are rarely openings. It's not like the old days where companies were constantly expanding IT and promoting their techs up. Hopefully your sysadmin(s) are old and ready to retire.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Job is a job. Be happy you have one.

Do you best and make the best out of it. Every support job is different in their own ways.

If you don't like it, start looking for another job >quit when you find one.

Good luck

 

[JimmiG]

I'm surprised to see so many people here suggest this. In my experience the sad reality is sysadmins don't leave their jobs, so there are rarely openings. It's not like the old days where companies were constantly expanding IT and promoting their techs up. Hopefully your sysadmin(s) are old and ready to retire.

This is true, but like Vdubchaos sais, it's a job and a stable income. I'm no longer in panic to find a job before my savings account runs empty, which is nice

 

[Wyndru]

This is true, but like Vdubchaos sais, it's a job and a stable income. I'm no longer in panic to find a job before my savings account runs empty, which is nice

Oh yeah, I absolutely agree. I've just had a bad run, and sometimes I wish I never started with tech support. After 12 years in it I'm still a level 2 tech, and actually making less than when I started after 3 layoffs over the past 4 years. Mileage may vary though...I'm probably just unlucky.

In my current job the next position up is probably going to take 10-15 years to get to since the guys are all young, and aren't going anywhere because the market is so bad. Now I'm hearing rumors of pay freezes and layoffs, and I'm the next in line. I'm starting to apply for entry level programming jobs now, maybe that will be a little more stable, but I doubt it.

 

[JEDI]

The good news is I got a job. The bad news is that it's in tech support. I've read quite a few horror stories about working in tech support. How bad is it, really?
It's a fairly large organization (about 3000 users). The computers are pretty much locked down and controlled with GPO's and SMS. I guess that minimizes the damage users can do at least. It's sort of a combined first-line/level 2 support job, so you're supposed to do most of the troubleshooting yourself rather than just escalate the support tickets. That makes it somewhat more satisfying.

I've actually studied to become a system or network administrator, but I guess you have to start somewhere and that this experience will count when applying for different job later. I just hope I don't forget everything I've learned while I rack up some work experience doing support.

lvl2 is good.
i hated phone support back in the day. i would always rather go visit the user.

also back in the day i would close up the shop for a couple of hrs on every other fri to treat the crew to whatever the new movie that came out.
"off site meeting"