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DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

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Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

“…telling a user that his problem lies somewhere between the keyboard and the back of his chair might be a tip-off that you need a little rest.”

Telling said user that’s where his brains are is another.

Acronym for telling the user where the problem lies

In reply to Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

Problem
Revieled to be
In between
Chair and
Keyboard

Other similar entries to the 15 pound lump hammer include:
Threatening IT equipment with a large screw driver, for some reason this regularly works with intermittent problems.
Advising the user to “accidentally” knock it out of the second floor window and claim on insurance.

I am now considered so far burnt out that I am practicing “would you like fries with that” on a daily basis.

Don’t forget

In reply to Acronym for telling the user where the problem lies

to offer to up-size the meal!

PEBKAC or ID10T

In reply to Don’t forget

Sounds like a PEBKAC (Peb-Kack) or I-D-10-T error to me!

Problem
Exists
Between
Keyboard
And
Chair

Solutions?

In reply to Acronym for telling the user where the problem lies

So we all know the signs of stressing out, and we have all had our share of I-D-10-T errors… so Lets hear the other side.. What have you done to releive the stress?

Here is one of mine:
We run a system that allows us to push patches and software to individual computers on the network. soooo….
There was this one guy who lived in Dilbertville that was REALLY annoying, so I wrote a simple java app that rapidly flashed “PORN FREAK!” on the screen while blaring a siren noise. Then schedualed it to run once every 20 minutes!
It was a blast to listen to him try to explain that he had no idea how the “virus” infected his system, while turining bright red.
heheheeeeeeeeeeeeee

And I THOUGHT I was ‘off center’…ROTFLMFAO @ ya’s :D

In reply to Solutions?

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

Isn’t that #5 or #6?

In reply to Solutions?

when I read those two my first thought was:
I can’t believe anyone would go that far

THEN I READ YOUR POST! – I think you have a
case of burn out based on #5/#6 in the list.

Maybe you should start practicing the “you want fries with that…” LOLOLOLOLOLOL

ocronyms r us

In reply to Acronym for telling the user where the problem lies

Don’t forget PICNIC (problem in chair not in computer)

Acronym other than ID10T

In reply to Acronym for telling the user where the problem lies

I can tell I am on the edge of burn out when I tell a user it is most certaily an IUD (Incompetent User Delay) error. Lucky for me none of our clients have asked what is an IUD error and did that happen?

New Acronym….

In reply to Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

I guess i’m burnt out! My favorite reply to some users is that they have a PEBKAC (peb-kack) Error….

Problem Exist Between Keyboard A Chair…

If they laugh when i tell them that i throw the One D, Ten T error at them…. 1d10T
🙂

H-RAM Error

In reply to New Acronym….

Human Random Access Memory error
(which of course means they are only running on H-ROM) They never learn…
They either need the memory board replaced or a Re-Boot (in the behind) sometimes works.

Also my H-RAM needs input… Somewhere I missed the 1D-10T Error meaning
I guess Im a little out of the curcuit here.

I loved the others though.

PEBKAC(Peb-Kack) = Problem Exists Between
Keyboard And Chair
PICNIC = Problem In Chair Not In Computer
CKI Error = Chair Keyboard Interface Error
DFO Error = Dumb F___ing Operator Error

Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

In reply to New Acronym….

wow you guys are so clever and funny with all your witty acronomyns.

Burnt out = not bothering to have a life other than the computer. Take up a hobbie that doesnt involves computers and make sure you remain active…at least you might have some chace of not ending up a fat computer nerd that lives on caffeine .

Burned out sign

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

When you tell your user they should “RFS” (read the f#%$@* screen) before calling you.

HA!

In reply to Burned out sign

An awesome compliment to RTFM. I like it already.

another sign…

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

Telling users “It’s a ID 10t error”,

The ID 10 T error – Chair / Keyboard Interface Error

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

This one is common around here. We have a lot of over educated people that lack basic common sense (sometimes basic manners). Also #1 is the Chair Keyboard Interface Error. I love this one. I do notice the same people calling with the same issues all the time, so this has to apply to some people. My boss is one of them.

Please replace User

In reply to The ID 10 T error – Chair / Keyboard Interface Error

“ive found the problem and have already advertised for your replacement”

ha!

In reply to Please replace User

that is a great reply that I haven’t heard before. I’ll be sure to use it. Probably in the next 20 minutes.

DFO settings

In reply to The ID 10 T error – Chair / Keyboard Interface Error

A buddy of mine who ran his own shop for a while had a “DFO setting” that he occasionally had to reset for clients (and he would even write “DFO” on the work order). Reserved only for the truly annoying clients, stands for Dumb F___ing Operator. It’s not as common a term as ID 10T, so very few EU’s know about it, which is fortunate for those of us who use the term!

DFO just added to my error code list

In reply to DFO settings

I like that one. I just added it to my error code list. I had 3 CKIEs yesterday. I’m sure I will have the same ones today.

Repair code A-799 in the Air Wing

In reply to DFO just added to my error code list

USMC 1974-1978

Notice all comments are relating to Users?

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

So far, all of the comments posted have been about user intelligence (and the occasional lack thereof). I find this quite amusing; while other people grumble about their computers, we grumble about the other people! The only thing I can think of to explain this is that (from my experience), machines exhibit relatively static symptoms for a problem, and there is no hidden agenda. Example: I used to be a phone jockey for HP printers. When someone called in on a particular model, stating that “it says that the blue ink is empty, but I just replaced it”, I knew instantly what the problem was (a lever on the pump broke), and 99.9% of the time, I was correct. But when you ask a user about a problem (say, a fried CPU), they’ll tell you that they’ve used it for a few months now and it worked just fine; they haven’t done anything differently. What they neglect to mention is that they’re using it for a game server, and it’s been overclocked by 30% since the day they got the computer. It’s that lack of full disclosure that truly bothers me. I’d rather put up with the idiots who truly don’t know how to mess with their computers than those who are smart enough to do so, but realize if they tell me everything, they’ll be at fault for the problem.

Thank god I’m only doing internal admin now! Now I don’t have to pad my responses quite so much! 🙂

But that’s just my opinion.

Tier 1 supporters aren’t the only potential burnouts

In reply to Notice all comments are relating to Users?

I hear you, but internal admin/support is not immune to burnout from internal stupidity. Try middle management in IT support sometime to experience the really big squeeze.

Things I’ve said (omitting the LONG list of technical discussions that showed little understanding on upper management’s part, pettiness of rapidly burning out lower-level employees, all of which lead to the following non-technical quotes) that in retrospect were signs of my pending burnout:

“No, I won’t play Santa Claus at the Christmas party. Find someone that’s both fat AND jolly!”

“The only difference between this place and Hell is we’ve got fluorescent lighting.”

“Maybe I should sell crack. That way I’ll be working with more trustworthy people.”

“No, I DON’T want to go to the lunch room for cake. The last thing I have f###ing time for is to celebrate that fact that Joan couldn’t find a better f###ing job in the last 25 years!”

And the really tell (but far too late)…

“I think I better consult with a lawyer.”

Yet, HR never picked up on my rising stress level…

“Yet, HR never picked up on my rising stress level…”

In reply to Tier 1 supporters aren’t the only potential burnouts

Typical of those who only see $$$$$ instead of 100011111000001101001110………or

Etc., Ad Nauseum:|

Goes to prove the OLD saying:

In reply to Notice all comments are relating to Users?

G-arbage I-n, G-arbage O-ut 😐

Administrator Burnout….

In reply to Notice all comments are relating to Users?

Often comes from an underqualified help desk / PC tech staff. When the Admins start getting password reset calls, you know there’s a problem.

Better yet, getting a ticket for one problem, calling the user and finding out that their problem is something else completely.

WHAT!!!!!!

In reply to Administrator Burnout….

I thought that was the way it is supposed to work. Computers are easy, they only do precisely what they have been told to do within their limitations.

Rig the printer

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

…to sqirt ink at the supervisor!!!

Antother Sign of Burnout

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

Reading through the top 10 list and thinking some of those signs are actually good suggestions.

another sign- ESTO

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

My dept has used this reason on a few of the users who we knew pretty well and had a good sense of humor- ESTO- Equipment Superior To Operator.

Career change

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

You know your burnt when getting up in the morning for your new job as a garbage man excites you because A: it pays better, B: who wouldn’t mind finding a dead body in a dumpster every now and then to liven up the day, and C: nobody EVER pages the garbage man at night because they locked themsleves out of their garbage can!

I hear ya!

In reply to Career change

You are almost exactly like me!! For the last week, I have been telling my coworkers to keep their eyes peeled for any janitorial openings in the area for me. I already have experience cleaning up everyone’s crap, the pay scale is much better, and I won’t get paged at 2AM for someone vomitting in the hallway.

It’s bad enough that people here think that MIS = MIS-C, which means that if the toilet is clogged or someone pops a circuit somewhere in the building, they come to me for help. Sigh… I am burned out…

Every day I pray I get the flu or struck by lightning so I can have some time off from this place, but even then I’m sure they would call me!

So burned out!!!!

if you are not working your attitude will change

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

I have been in IT for over 30 yrs, primarily working in small firms as a “one-man” IT dept. Over the years, I have worked with some rather stupid users who could really try my patience. Best example was a person who said that their computer ate six floppy disks. Turned out they inserted the disks in between the floppy drive and hard drive, thus falling inside the case.

However, after my last employer went bankrupt, I have found that after looking for over two years, any IT position, even help desk working with “moronic users”, would be more appealing than not working at all! People who have an IT job should consider themselves fortunate, because at least in some parts of the US, the number of jobs including IT, is on a rapid decline! Looks like people in Bangalore are going to be the next group of people to suffer burnout!

Maybe I can help

In reply to if you are not working your attitude will change

I have an idea of what you’re going through. My maternity leave went from a planned 1 year off to an unplanned 4 years off before I started here last year.

I work in an IT recruiting firm. We have openings in mostly southern California for people with your skill set.

I’m not sure if this is permitted. If you’re interested, send me your resume and a description of what you want to do: Mindy.Morrison@FoothillsCG.com

I can honestly say…

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

that I’m only guilty of #7 on your list, and that is only occasionally, not all the time.

Good List – it’s very funny, I’m surprised I haven’t seen this list floating around in an email yet!

…cheers 😉

LMAO @ your list!!!! LUUUV IT!!!!!!!:D

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

One could always use MICE for “mice”…especially for those with the ‘special’ passwords 😉

Or change venues altogether if you’re THAT bored or THINK you’re THAT burned out….say for instance obtain the very SAME position you occupy now at a local community college: No need for the ‘playing’ with viruses…you’ll have the Students bringing them to you as ‘presents’:D

Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

and here I thought that this was actually a serious article…..
Got any real advice to measure your burn-out quotient?

Heres a new item to measure by

In reply to Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

Another one for the list:
Don’t take everything so serious.
Don’t get upset just because every article/blog/etc. is not serious and detailed how to or purposefull. if you are doing that then you are going to burnout in no time (or already have). A little fun/laughter/and non-sense in the work place can result in a more relaxed and less likely for a person to burnout. (granted not everything should be light hearted but a good mix is always good).

Clatonaz – Im assuming you were being somewhat ironic and just poking – if you are serious then i appologize up front and If I were you looking for such information – start a blog or ask a questing in the Management questions/answers area to see if anyone has more information.

Don’t get Mad — Get Even!!!

In reply to Heres a new item to measure by

Hey people lighten up Yeah I know Users can be like the plauge and Yes they should be beaten with a book about common sense. But I have come to learn my users and I know what each one is able to do and Can control them at where I am there are 2 bosses one president the other vice. pres has had horrible experience in the past it seemed that he lent some body his laptop (which is against company policy) and so somehow when he got it back (it should have come to the IT before regualr use you know so we could check it out) when ever he opened his IE a big brea$7ed lady would pop all over his desktop. Now I deny having anything to do with it (and the boss never thought i did. see cause he always use to not lock his laptop) point being don’t get mad or stressed or reach criticial burn-out get smart get clever get even!! Use the power of AD and Group Policy the Enterprise Administrator giveth and he taketh away!!!

Power

In reply to Don’t get Mad — Get Even!!!

> “Use the power of AD and Group Policy the Enterprise Administrator giveth and he taketh away!!!”

Easier said than done. There are 4 partners to my company. One managing partner. And he pulls all the strings. I’m not even allowed to block known bad sites!!!

Serious Answers

In reply to Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

There are serious signs indeed:

You can’t fall asleep at night or wake in the middle of the night, your mind churning on work issues.
You have physical issues – stomach aches, recurring headaches.
You can’t sleep Sunday night because your work week starts on Monday.
You don’t have weekends any more – period.
You feel there is nothing in your life but work.
You find your personality is changing at work – and you don’t like what you have become.

If this is you, seek help, seek a new job, and know that there is more to life than users and computers!

If you asking about that…

In reply to Reply To: DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

If you are looking into burnout and or asking questions about it, then it’s too late and your already there. The whole idea is that there will be issues some serious and others that can be made fun of. You have to know your culture as to which is which and go from there. If you aren’t in management and or they don’t seem to care then create an esprit de corp by finding a way for you and your coworkers to blow off steam and vent your frustrations without showing them to your end users. They have feelings, and don’t appreciate the attitude it makes them cause further problems and a negative spiral is all you get.

Old News read the BOFH

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

There is nothing new in IT read the “Bastard Operator From Hell” for suggestions on how to deal with Lusers. Just search on BOFH it’s all over the net.

The difference between Networking and Not Working is the “O”……..Oh!

OMG WERE SCREWED!

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

blah

#11

In reply to DOWNLOAD: Top 10 signs you’re getting burned out on your support tech job

If they wnat a second opinion. Tell them that they are ugle.

[Author]

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