I start my new job & career in IT tomorrow. Any tips?
Discussion
Hi folks,
Tomorrow is my big day and I am really looking forward to it. Not only is it the first step in the right career path for me, but something I've wanted for such a long time.
The position itself is a trainee role, where I will be doing lots of different things. I am guessing for the first couple of weeks I will be doing help desk support, which I have never done before. What concerns me is; not knowing the answer to a question, would it be a good idea to Google the answer? Or ask one of my colleagues?
Also, my first month is a trial which I've never done before. What would be your advice on how to excel?
Any help/tips will be massively appreciated. Tomorrow is a big day and I want to have a calm/ clear head.
P.B
Tomorrow is my big day and I am really looking forward to it. Not only is it the first step in the right career path for me, but something I've wanted for such a long time.
The position itself is a trainee role, where I will be doing lots of different things. I am guessing for the first couple of weeks I will be doing help desk support, which I have never done before. What concerns me is; not knowing the answer to a question, would it be a good idea to Google the answer? Or ask one of my colleagues?
Also, my first month is a trial which I've never done before. What would be your advice on how to excel?
Any help/tips will be massively appreciated. Tomorrow is a big day and I want to have a calm/ clear head.
P.B
Firstly, congratulations on the job!
Don't run until you can walk, learn the fundamentals and learn them well. Other, more advanced stuff will seem attractive and exciting but you need to have a good grounding so get that first.
Assuming this is 1st line support? Show aptitude and you'll be doing 2nd line in no-time
Don't run until you can walk, learn the fundamentals and learn them well. Other, more advanced stuff will seem attractive and exciting but you need to have a good grounding so get that first.
Assuming this is 1st line support? Show aptitude and you'll be doing 2nd line in no-time
Good luck with your new career 
For me, I much prefer "I don't know, let me ask someone" to a question than being bluffed/bulls
tted - especially in your early days when there is nothing wrong with that response. And then if you learn from whatever the answer is, so that next time you can answer with authority, you'll go far.
For me, I much prefer "I don't know, let me ask someone" to a question than being bluffed/bulls
tted - especially in your early days when there is nothing wrong with that response. And then if you learn from whatever the answer is, so that next time you can answer with authority, you'll go far.The beautiful thing about my new job is that, it won't just be help desk work. They want me to get involved with all aspects of IT; I will even be going to their clients work places and fixing any issues they have etc. Also, the job will enable my skills from other positions in marketing and sales. To say that I am excited would be an understatement.
My technical knowledge is pretty good and I am not afraid of asking someone how to do something, or even becoming a human interface to Google for a while. I just don't want to come across as clueless, as I'm really not.
In a one month probation, what would be expected of me? I ask, as I want to really show my new employers how much I want this job/opportunity and won't let them down.
Thank you for your kind words so far guys, I appreciate it. Tonight I am just going to watch the F1 and try to relax
P.B
My technical knowledge is pretty good and I am not afraid of asking someone how to do something, or even becoming a human interface to Google for a while. I just don't want to come across as clueless, as I'm really not.
In a one month probation, what would be expected of me? I ask, as I want to really show my new employers how much I want this job/opportunity and won't let them down.
Thank you for your kind words so far guys, I appreciate it. Tonight I am just going to watch the F1 and try to relax
P.B
Pig benis said:
In a one month probation, what would be expected of me? I ask, as I want to really show my new employers how much I want this job/opportunity and won't let them down.
Aptitude - if you can't do something or can't answer something then learn how. Don't be afraid to use Google, but remember that your company might already have a process/policy for the problem you're dealing with, so use multiple sources. Over time your primary source will become your own knowledge and experience. Exams should become a key indicator of this growing knowledge and experience.Good luck tomorrow.
In order to give some relevant tips, please tell us a little more about the company you are working for and what your aspirations (i.e technical or service orientated?).
However my tip would be: Don't be afraid of making mistakes, always stand up and take ownership immediately rather than digging a hole trying to hide it.
In order to give some relevant tips, please tell us a little more about the company you are working for and what your aspirations (i.e technical or service orientated?).
However my tip would be: Don't be afraid of making mistakes, always stand up and take ownership immediately rather than digging a hole trying to hide it.
Ouze said:
Good luck tomorrow.
In order to give some relevant tips, please tell us a little more about the company you are working for and what your aspirations (i.e technical or service orientated?).
However my tip would be: Don't be afraid of making mistakes, always stand up and take ownership immediately rather than digging a hole trying to hide it.
Thank you. In order to give some relevant tips, please tell us a little more about the company you are working for and what your aspirations (i.e technical or service orientated?).
However my tip would be: Don't be afraid of making mistakes, always stand up and take ownership immediately rather than digging a hole trying to hide it.
The company is a local IT which have been running for 10 years. The founders of the company take a lead role in day to day business. They have now expanded into a new premise where they will be pushing for regular public to drop their computers/laptops off to be fixed.
As for the services they offer for their clients the list includes -
VOIP
Remote Support
Programming solutions
Cisco networking.. Etc
My knowledge comes from being interested in how computers work from a young age and also by going to study ICT practitioners at college when I left school. Since then I have worked in sales/marketing and have ran my own computer maintenance business from home. I have a good overall knowledge of how to build computers/networks/problem solving.
I will be trying my very best not to make mistakes, but the biggest mistake is not learning from one once you've done it. Tomorrow I will be making notes on everything and if I am allowed, picking up the phone and cracking on with things
Get to know who the experts are in each area of technology. Learn if they mind giving advice to a newbie or not.
Some experts will be social idiots most will be good guys, get to know and learn from the good guys, respect the technical knowledge of the expert/social idiots. Ignore the guys that make out that they know it all and are loud yet seem to do very little.
Enjoy it and good luck, don't hesitate to ask questions here as well as the IT forums, there are some helpful geeks here as well.
Some experts will be social idiots most will be good guys, get to know and learn from the good guys, respect the technical knowledge of the expert/social idiots. Ignore the guys that make out that they know it all and are loud yet seem to do very little.
Enjoy it and good luck, don't hesitate to ask questions here as well as the IT forums, there are some helpful geeks here as well.
rog007 said:
3 simple things: show them you can do the job (to the level of your declared competency); show them you enjoy doing the job; and finally, show them that you're a good 'fit' for their organisation. Good luck!
OP, there are three other things; two ears and one mouth.The old rule of thumb, use the ears twice as much as yer mouth.
Goes for the customers, yer boss and yer peers at work.Good Luck!
If your doing a support role your going to need this
wwww.google.co.uk
You will be surprised by how often you will find the answer to the problem there
Good Luck
wwww.google.co.uk
You will be surprised by how often you will find the answer to the problem there
Good Luck
Lots of good advice here. My big tip would be to take ownership of the problems, understand the impact and keep them informed. No normal person will care that it takes the new guy a little longer to fix it but they will care if they feel their issue is disappearing into a black hole.
Hi chaps,
I am two days into my job and I absolutely love it. I have some great mentors to learn from and I have already learnt a lot. Tonight I have been researching nested and parity Raid ready for a server install tomorrow, which will be my first and I can't wait.
So far I have installed a new CD drive on a Dell Inspiron and a CPU battery, which is really easy; I just didn't expect to be doing anything so early on. I have also reset up a Cisco IP Phone and rewired the Ethernet and power socket.
Also, I got involved with trying to fix a HP Laserjet 110Plus printer which turned out had munched it's laser jet. I initially thought it was a jotter due to the size of the thing and the image on the LCD screen, but glad it was a cheap fix.
As for doing 1st line support, the phone hasn't stopped ringing and I've only had a few WIFI related issues which were easy to talk the user through and a few password resets.
It has dawned on me how much I have to learn, but I am SO ready for the challenge and thoroughly enjoying things.
One further thing, my boss is a petrol head and everyone has been really nice and very accommodating for my many questions.
Thank you for all the advice guys, I have really appreciated it and took it to good use
I am two days into my job and I absolutely love it. I have some great mentors to learn from and I have already learnt a lot. Tonight I have been researching nested and parity Raid ready for a server install tomorrow, which will be my first and I can't wait.
So far I have installed a new CD drive on a Dell Inspiron and a CPU battery, which is really easy; I just didn't expect to be doing anything so early on. I have also reset up a Cisco IP Phone and rewired the Ethernet and power socket.
Also, I got involved with trying to fix a HP Laserjet 110Plus printer which turned out had munched it's laser jet. I initially thought it was a jotter due to the size of the thing and the image on the LCD screen, but glad it was a cheap fix.
As for doing 1st line support, the phone hasn't stopped ringing and I've only had a few WIFI related issues which were easy to talk the user through and a few password resets.
It has dawned on me how much I have to learn, but I am SO ready for the challenge and thoroughly enjoying things.
One further thing, my boss is a petrol head and everyone has been really nice and very accommodating for my many questions.
Thank you for all the advice guys, I have really appreciated it and took it to good use
Well done Pig benis - and thanks for coming back.
I think with your attitude you could go far.
You are at the bottom of the pile, and it is an almighty scramble to the top - but you can get there. It will be painful, it will be boring, it will make you exasperated, but the good times can outweigh the bad times. I don't want to disclose my salary here, but I'm now earning approx 5x my original IT salary, and I still find it interesting!
I think with your attitude you could go far.
You are at the bottom of the pile, and it is an almighty scramble to the top - but you can get there. It will be painful, it will be boring, it will make you exasperated, but the good times can outweigh the bad times. I don't want to disclose my salary here, but I'm now earning approx 5x my original IT salary, and I still find it interesting!
Apologies for not following up after you responded to my question. You seem to have a great attitude hopefully the love for IT will stay with you.
I started in IT little over 7 years ago. My first day was working for an IT reseller/consultancy in their warehouse doing an inventory on a pallet of random equipment. Now I'm an 'Architect' for a financial services BPO company. Not the norm by far, however demonstrates that with the right attitude and commitment (and an element of luck) you can progress quickly.
I started in IT little over 7 years ago. My first day was working for an IT reseller/consultancy in their warehouse doing an inventory on a pallet of random equipment. Now I'm an 'Architect' for a financial services BPO company. Not the norm by far, however demonstrates that with the right attitude and commitment (and an element of luck) you can progress quickly.
My tips would be;
Turn up on time. This means be in your seat ready to work at your start time. Do this every day.
Your boss decides what you should be doing, so listen to them, and try to do what they ask. They will rarely be impressed with a new starter doing things their own way to show that they know better.
If you say you'll call someone back, then do it. Don't use that as an excuse to get off the phone or to ignore the harder jobs.
Look at what the better performers do, and try to learn from it.
Ask questions if you have to, but try not to end up doing it as a first resort. People will get sick of answering if you don't at least try to get there without them first.
Don't complain when things are not fair. Your boss, and your company are employing the staff for a function, and probably not as a part of an experiment in utopian working models, and so are not going to fix "unfair" ahead of "effective".
The lessons of he workplace are myriad, and the best way to negotiate them are through pragmatism. Do what works, please the people whose opinion matters, don't decide that you know best, and the chances are that you'll do fine,
Turn up on time. This means be in your seat ready to work at your start time. Do this every day.
Your boss decides what you should be doing, so listen to them, and try to do what they ask. They will rarely be impressed with a new starter doing things their own way to show that they know better.
If you say you'll call someone back, then do it. Don't use that as an excuse to get off the phone or to ignore the harder jobs.
Look at what the better performers do, and try to learn from it.
Ask questions if you have to, but try not to end up doing it as a first resort. People will get sick of answering if you don't at least try to get there without them first.
Don't complain when things are not fair. Your boss, and your company are employing the staff for a function, and probably not as a part of an experiment in utopian working models, and so are not going to fix "unfair" ahead of "effective".
The lessons of he workplace are myriad, and the best way to negotiate them are through pragmatism. Do what works, please the people whose opinion matters, don't decide that you know best, and the chances are that you'll do fine,
Pig benis said:
Hi folks,
Tomorrow is my big day and I am really looking forward to it. Not only is it the first step in the right career path for me, but something I've wanted for such a long time.
The position itself is a trainee role, where I will be doing lots of different things. I am guessing for the first couple of weeks I will be doing help desk support, which I have never done before. What concerns me is; not knowing the answer to a question, would it be a good idea to Google the answer? Or ask one of my colleagues?
Also, my first month is a trial which I've never done before. What would be your advice on how to excel?
Any help/tips will be massively appreciated. Tomorrow is a big day and I want to have a calm/ clear head.
P.B
Good luck. Do 4 years on the helpdesk and then look to move.Tomorrow is my big day and I am really looking forward to it. Not only is it the first step in the right career path for me, but something I've wanted for such a long time.
The position itself is a trainee role, where I will be doing lots of different things. I am guessing for the first couple of weeks I will be doing help desk support, which I have never done before. What concerns me is; not knowing the answer to a question, would it be a good idea to Google the answer? Or ask one of my colleagues?
Also, my first month is a trial which I've never done before. What would be your advice on how to excel?
Any help/tips will be massively appreciated. Tomorrow is a big day and I want to have a calm/ clear head.
P.B
Don't post on forums as Pig Benis, especially from work. Get yourself a new ID.
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