Comments on The Happy Employee: 5 Advantages Of Being Nice To IT (And How To Do It...

@RachelYour recommendations could very easily be a...

2008-08-10T09:48:00.000+02:00

@Rachel
Your recommendations could very easily be adapted to HR, like "something's wrong with my payslip, but now that I have you on the phone, I can't remember what it was. Just correct it."

1. Be specific when describing the problem. "My co...

2008-08-09T23:44:00.000+02:00

1. Be specific when describing the problem. "My computer doesn't work" is not specific.

2. At least attempt to troubleshoot before you call IT. Seems like at my workplace people will call all the time with problems like:
- The fax machine won't work. It ended up not having paper.
- The phone won't work. The cord is not plugged in.

@PerrikThank you for your additions. This is exact...

2008-08-06T08:19:00.000+02:00

@Perrik
Thank you for your additions. This is exactly how I learned the most from IT people: Tease them and when they start talking just shut up and listen ;-)

And you're absolutely right about #2. I don't know how many times I saw IT supporters roll their eyes in frustration because a user thought he knew better (and even I realized that he had no clue).

@Lil' World
Do you want a I Love HR Mug? Just say the word!

@Minion
I've always had a great time staffing for IT. Much more fun talking about a server than about GAAP ;-)

It pays off in other ways too. Geek Humor is some ...

2008-08-05T18:32:00.000+02:00

It pays off in other ways too. Geek Humor is some of the best humor around. And if you ever have to staff for IT positions, it's good to utilize their connections.

Working in IT, I can give you some additional hint...

2008-08-05T10:44:00.000+02:00

Working in IT, I can give you some additional hints ...

1) admit you did something to your PC that caused all the issues you have (even if it's not true). We are much more willing to help if you admit freely it that you broke it ;-)
2) Bring gadgets or chocolate to convince us to work on the issue. If you come with, for example, a shiny new mug we cannot avoid helping you immediately

Speaking as a former IT gal before I somehow morph...

2008-08-05T00:55:00.000+02:00

Speaking as a former IT gal before I somehow morphed into an HR drone...

#1: Hardware projects and piles of spare computer bits look alarmingly similar. Don't worry about admiring it - just DON'T TOUCH IT!

#2: No. Do not pretend you know intermediate or advanced concepts unless you actually do know what you're talking about. If you do, great, ask intelligent questions and listen to the answers.

Otherwise, I agree and will add a couple more tips:

#6: Be honest. Did you delete random system files, just to see what happened? Did you spill coffee on the keyboard? Was it black or was it loaded with cream and sugar? Did you click the wrong button and now your data seems to have disappeared? DON'T LIE about what you did. That makes it much harder to diagnose and fix the problem! If you accidently stab your hand with a chef's knife, you wouldn't say to the doctor, "golly, I don't know what happened, my hand just started gushing blood all of a sudden."

#7: Don't assume that whatever the IT person did or might have done previously has caused your current problem. "Last time I saw you, you gave me a tetanus shot. And now my hand is gushing blood. Is it because of the shot?" Yeah, that sounds really stupid, but I've heard stupider attempts to blame the current problem on something the IT person did days or even months before.

So be nice, be polite, respect their time, and if you did something daft just confess to it.