(no subject)

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

This is my job: Technical Support Agent, encompassing narrowband, broadband, home networking, line faults and...anything else that Customer Service/Sales don't feel like handling.

These are my qualifications: 1 year of university (Software Development, *hated* it.), Microsoft Certified Service Engineer (no comment), Certified Internetworking Professional (yeah, I still don't know what that is), 6 years of getting drunk with scarily intelligent people and soaking it all up like a good little sponge.

These are a few of the descriptions of my job/career/self I've heard so far:

Network Administrator (if only. Mmm..root)
Systems Administrator (wha?)
Computer Engineer (I don't even know where to start with that one...wouldn't I need a degree for that?)
Her what fixes computers (the most accurate title so far)
Computer Genius (can't you guess that's my parents?)
Geek (hoohah.)
Internet Goddess (best. customer. ever.)

I actually have no idea how to describe myself accurately, without going down the road of Domestic Engineers and Crowd Control Technicians.

How do you guys describe yourselves? And what's the biggest misconceptions people have about your job? Because to be honest, I'm getting kinda fed up with people assuming that my job is easy, and pretty much a doss. The next person who implies it, will be sat in front of my desk, have a phone planted on their head, and left alone to the mercies of a customer who's spent the last 4 hours being ping-ponged from department to department, only to land on me for a router set-up. And then we'll see how smug they are when they emerge, 2 hours later, pale, shaken, broken. And in dire need of a Smirnoff IV.

Comments

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

How do you guys describe yourselves?

"Leaving."

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

Possibly also as "You know when your brain dribbles out your ears and you have the mental capacity of a retarded newt, so you pick up the phone and dial the only number you can remember? I'm the one who answers."

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

That'd look good on a t-shirt too :)

[ace-brickman.livejournal.com]

Damn man, I want to metaquote you so often. Maybe it's just because I agree so whole-heartedly, or maybe it's because you say what I'm thinking before I can materialize it.

I should never try to drink pop and read your contributions at the same time again

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

I think it's because after ten years of support, there's no-one left in my two-billion-dollar-a-year organisation who has the remotest chance of pulling me up for saying this stuff. And I've tested this by emailing the CEO directly on multiple occasions. I've even got replies.

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

Make them listen in when you have to deal with Mr. "I was around when Jesus was but a twinkle in Gods eye". They'll change their mind once their brains stop bleeding.

[supportbitch.livejournal.com]

"Support bitch".

No, seriously. If I'm around someone with whom that sort of language is aceptable....

My business card says "Assistant Technical Support Engineer" or something like that.

But I really think "support bitch" convays both my general attitude to customers as well as the job itself.

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

Support Bitch. I like it. It implies a certain level of...shut up the hell up and do what you're told.

[guitarguy1980.livejournal.com]

If only it were that easy. I'd give my left one if the customers would tell me their problem, and do exactly as I told them. I'd cut my phone time in half.

[dudeitsawesome.livejournal.com]

My "official" title is Operations Analyst.
That's so vague and non-descriptive.
I usually just say tech support.
Because while we do support mainframe operations, the tape monkeys are the night-shift people, and "tape monkey" is usually what people think when they hear "mainframe operations."
I work days. My job encompasses things like.. fixing bad JCL in mainframe batch jobs, answering phones, installing software, working tickets (anything from troubleshooting/fixing VPN connectivity issues to resetting passwords to doing maintenance on printers to doing maintenance on PCs to replacing keyboards to telling people who work from home that we're NOT their ISP... you get the idea).

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

Aye, tech support is what I say too mostly, except it leads to a smart comment along the lines of "Ah sher, you have it great, sitting down all day, talking to people."

*strangle*

[jecook]

I'm running under the title "Support Specialist Contractor". the 'Contractor' portion of the title goes away in a few weeks, thankfully.

To my friends, I'm a BOFH. one of my friends is also a BOFH. He actually has a PFY.

I've also held the titles (in order)
PC/Network Support
Field Engineer
IP Field Engineer, [departmentname]
Field Technician

amongst others.

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

I occasionally have my BOFH moments. Usually when a customer is screaming obscenties into my pink-and-shell-like and my mouse is hovering over the "Kick Offline" button.

I haven't done it yet though. 'Cos my conscience is a pussy.

[jecook]

Oh, my conscience is the BOFH, but it usually gets bitch-slapped by the rest of me who values the meager pittnce of a paycheck I get. :)

[gotica.livejournal.com]

Official title:

JOATMON
Jack/Jill Of All Trades, Master Of None.

I suppose I am running down the line you are taking, but with none of the qualifications ;) Still I pull the jobs, yay for contract being up in a month and 8 interviews under the belt to come.

[bornofchaos.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the interviews :) And screw qualifications, once I actually started this job, my "MCSE" might as well have been bog roll for all it was worth.

[fearrett.livejournal.com]

My title? Holder of the Big balls and the percussive maintenance instrument.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

AHH FICKS COMPYOO-TRS

Work calls me "PC Technician I," but really I think I deserve a "II" 'cuz I'm the only one wot knows how to work a Mac. Maybe next year. I think if asked I usually say I'm a computer technician. That's a good enough blanket term.

[samwize.livejournal.com]

At work I'm a "technician" (though this should really read "DBA".). Usually I've been a Systems Administrator.

When people ask what I do for a living, I usually just say "I'm a computer geek." and leave it at that. If they know enough for the various distinctions of computer to matter to them, they'll ask.

[spacebird.livejournal.com]

I'm a "Second Level Networking Technician." I tell those who ask that I work in tech support. They usually just grimace and nod, or else smile and give me that "oohhhh, you're that asshole" look.

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

One job gave me business cards with the title Micro System Analyst. Just the world analyst is vague enough to mean anything.

[ghostdandp.livejournal.com]

Yup. A job had me as a network analyst. The reason for this title? There were 2 networks, one being a netware network that I didn't touch, and the other being a Windows NT network, they didn't want to get the two administrators comfused.

[ghostdandp.livejournal.com]

Lead Desktop Support Technichian
I've also head Senior Desktop Support Technichian, and a very short time Desktop Support Technichian with the same company. I've been with this company 4 months.

I've also head the following roles:
Network Analyst
Network Administrator
Network Engineer
Server Engineer
Technical Support
Technical Support Manager
Webmaster (I suck at graphics, don't know how I landed this one)
Retail Store Manager
Retail Store Assistant Manager
Facilities Administrator

The last 3 are thanks to the dot com bust.

My favorite title (former, now)

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Printer Queue Manager - I have no idea exactly what that means, but it paid at $25 an hour.

[kerberos.livejournal.com]

I now have the title MIS technician. Apparently MIS is Managment Information System.Some kindoff bullshit label they put on the support/server team here.
Ain't heard of the title with any other Swedish company.

MISery is more like it.

My title Should read Senior Support Techician.
6 years in the same position seeing the support be
eroded from 5 techs down to ME. Now the company having merge finds that our firstline don't know shit so they want me to supervise and train 5 "techs" but not pay me a dime for being a supervisor. So I told'em to stick it.

Still working there but sure as heck ain't gonna take responsiblity for something if they ain't gonna pay for it.

[guitarguy1980.livejournal.com]

My technical position name is Technical Support Specialist. But, my customers should just refer to me plainly as God.