Working outside of my comfort zone!

[Bret]

<span style="color: #FF0000">Warning Rant Ahead!</span>

Holy cow what a week and it’s not even over yet.

For those of you that don’t know I’m a Field Service engineer who works on large commercial grade x-ray imaging systems and that usually involves working alone on my own with the closest support or back up a day or two away should I have a problems beyond my control. That means that I am required to be pretty much a jack of all traits. But usually that means that someone is talking me through a problem over the phone or over the internet. For this to work me & most of my ilk must be able to diagnose & troubleshoot most electromechanical, pneumatic and a little hydraulic systems from time to time.

But on some rare occasions I have to do computer stuff. Troubleshooting and upgrading software, dealing with corrupted files, data retrieval & crashed hard drives etc that operate our systems in some pretty harsh environments. Not my strong point I will admit. Making matters worse – almost all our older systems are ran by NT operating systems and it’s getting to be a Royal PITB to get support for software that is 8-10 years old.

Well for some reason this week has ran amuck with problematic computer & control system errors. Since Monday I’ve been doing nothing but chasing lost or corrupted data and burning or ghosting hard drives. All because some of my customers aren’t properly trained (translated as “Not At All”) and/or don’t follow proper procedures.

While I’ve burned through scores of read-writeable CDs & recovered hordes of data (lost more than I recovered) – I’ve only opened my tool box once to retrieve my medium Philips head screw driver to remove the computer covers to R&R hard drives.

Also I noticed that the only grease under my nails came from last week when I was working on the MG. Oh I've worked in static free clean rooms and in hospital cath-labs where cleanliness is a virtue and highly controlled. So I understand if some of you think this isn't such a big deal – but in my line of work now - if you ain’t get'n dirty, you're doing something wrong.

<Bret takes a deep cleansing breath & lets out slowly>

Whew! I feel better. Ok Rant over.

 

[NutmegCT]

ah how familiar that all sounds.

"All because some of my customers aren’t properly trained (translated as “Not At All”) and/or don’t follow proper procedures."

Discouraging and maddening, isn't it. To realize how easily companies dole out computer systems, but provide little or no training to users, or professional tech support specialists to help those users when the inevitable problems occur. And heaven forbid those companies take responsibility to keep the hardware and software up to date.

You're the poor soul who has to handle it all. You're a field service engineer who works on large scale imaging systems. So where in your job description is the hardware/software maintenance? I'll bet it's strangely missing, but you're a responsible guy who wants things to "run right".

I was director of a university public service program, producing 100s of community programs (speeches, presentations, lectures, concerts, etc.) all across New England. But in 1992 my boss found out I knew "something about computers". He told me I was "now in charge of our four office computers". No change of job description, no change in pay.

Those four computers grew to over 1000 in ten years. I found myself opening boxes, installing network cards, configuring jumpers, running ethernet cable, installing Windows (Windows 86!), managing a Novell network of 200 users (Windows and Macs) and their email - plus my regular public service responsibilities.

Again - no change in job description, no change in pay.

Why did I do it? First, because I never expected it to grow so much, and because my boss asked. I took pride in getting all that done and helping folks get "back on line".

I also take ego-induced pride in knowing that when I retired, they hired four full time staff to take over. Four!

But ask me why I've got grey hair.

Good on ya Bret. It ain't fun with no support - and the longer you do "both" jobs, the longer the company doesn't have to hire more help!

Looking back on it all - if I'd just said "this isn't in my job description", at least one computer support guy would have been hired eventually. But when you start at four computers (and actually enjoy it when it's so limited), it can sure grow fast and lead you out of your comfort zone.

Been there, done that, bought the hard drive.
Tom

 

[Brooklands]

I remember when I asked corporate whether I should go Mac or PC back in the 80's, and they said they did not want us to have computers in our territory offices. It would keep us from making sales calls was their reasoning. So I bought 128K Mac.

In a couple of years, my supervisors were using me and my computer for doing sales proposals for other territories. Then they mandated computers for all 275 offices, ready to be on-line with the home office in less than a year, but no financial support to each territory. And they had to be PC's since the MAC modem did not use carrier detect, so I had to add a PC to my office with four Macs. By the time I retired I had six PCs running and no Macs, and still no real training on the computer. I had upgraded computers, set up my office network, and was almost living on the computer to just keep up with corporate requirements. Sometimes I was way out of my comfort zone, but it was fun most of the time.

But then the last line of the job description of Territory Manager was basically "and anything else that has to be done."

 

[Bret]

But then the last line of the job description of Territory Manager was basically "and anything else that has to be done."

Mine reads "... and any duties as may be required." /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[Brooklands]

Yep,
That is the killer!!!

 

[mailbox]

But then the last line of the job description of Territory Manager was basically "and anything else that has to be done."

Mine reads "... and any duties as may be required." /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

Mine does too!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif