Let’s say the vendor sent out a technician to install some software or you’re conducting interviews for an IT position, what are some of the things you notice that lets you resolutely label this individual as an IT noob? This seems like it could make a decent Goofus and Galant parody.
The IT Noob:
- When installing software from a CD, to initiate the process of installing the software reaches down and ejects the CD only to immediately shove it back in so that the autorun will launch setup.
- Capitalizes words to make them acronyms incorrectly and vice versa, which makes understanding the message more complicated and difficult to understand. (ex. Apple MAC computers, the Mac address of this machine)
- Recommends reformatting and reinstalling Windows without a second thought any time there is a problem.
- Takes the word of a big box electronics store (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) employee as resolute and won’t reconsider it, also cites these sources in meetings and discussions with co-workers. The noob also only relies on these places for their technology shopping needs with no other places to research and compare prices.
- Doesn’t understand anything about software licenses or seats and either installs it on far too many machines or promises co-workers that it can be installed on as many machines as necessary (regardless of the cost).
- Relies heavily on search functions instead of properly organizing folders and systems with a little forethought.
- Leaves a complicated set of directions for users to follow instead of creating a script to make the solution a simple double-click when possible.
- Fails to documentcomment anything so that when they or their coworkers have to solve the same problem a month later they have to start from scratch and repeatedly waste the same amount of time.
- Refuses to learn new software, programming languages, technology, or methodologies because they are too lazy. Instead they use outdated systems that are more cumbersome to maintain, doesn’t utilize new features, and any new person coming in has never heard of before.
- Solely uses physical media (USB drives, CDs, etc.) to perform installations meaning every time a new installation is needed, a trip back to the office is required. A secure server share would allow access to the media without requiring the walking distance.
- BONUS! The IT Noob doesn’t subscribe to the 404 Tech Support RSS Feed.
*facepalm*