The IT Stereotypes you have gotten in your career?

Bchen22

Some of my friends and bosses who knew me that I work in IT where like so that means you know every single thing about computers right?

Oh so you work with nerds?

Its a man environment.

IT guys don't have a life nor get as much girls as they do. ( psh haha that one was funny that was BS)

You guys have gotten stereotype for you being IT Experts? If so what are they?

E Double U

Everyone thinks I fix computers. I've gotten so tired of explaining my roles that I actually started telling people I fix computers.

NetworkNewb

besides knowing everything about computers... you also probably know everything about every electronic device ever made! People will bring me random frickin' devices and ask me to fix it.

RomBUS

E Double U wrote: »

Everyone thinks I fix computers. I've gotten so tired of explaining my roles that I actually started telling people I fix computers.

Yeah same thing.

Edificer

Haha, a good response 'Don't worry, your brain just can't phantom it yet.'

It's the televised nerd hacker living in the basement image that has been projected over and over again to the public, they've been indoctrinated with it.

Working in IT + lifting heavy weights is a great combination.

bloodshotbetty

I haven't gotten any since I only decided to pursue IT 2 months ago.

But I am definitely continue those stereotypes- I told my husband to watch out since I have boobs and play video games I will be a hot commodity in the IT industry! 'Cause nerdy boys.

Joking, of course. Sort of.

E Double U

bloodshotbetty wrote: »

I have boobs and play video games

Well hello there lol

bloodshotbetty

e double u wrote: »

well hello there lol

see i was right

Krusader

bloodshotbetty wrote: »

I haven't gotten any since I only decided to pursue IT 2 months ago.

But I am definitely continue those stereotypes- I told my husband to watch out since I have boobs and play video games I will be a hot commodity in the IT industry! 'Cause nerdy boys.

Joking, of course. Sort of.

I also have boobs and play video games

Arod95

It's one thing expecting me to know how to fix everything, but friends expect me to know a program to solve any problem they have. Most common one has been request for a dj program that makes it sound like a mix like how they do it in clubs and on the radio. I didn't major in mixology.

GAngel

The good news is that one you make it to the top of the food chain they still think you fix computers

JockVSJock

Everyone expect you to fix their computers, for free. When money comes into the conversation, they get mad.

I always point out that plumbers, roofers and auto mechanics don't work for free.


For the career, if someone sees you have worked help desk, then they think that is all you ever want to work.

bloodshotbetty

Krusader wrote: »

I also have boobs and play video games

We have so much in common, we should probably be best friends.

oxymoron5k

I tried to explain my job in more detail than "fix computers" to my mom after she asked me what I really do. For about 20 min trying to get her to understand what a network technician is and how it applies to small business we just settled on I fix computers lol.

wolfinsheepsclothing

"You work with X, why can't you fix Y"

Bchen22

JockVSJock wrote: »

Everyone expect you to fix their computers, for free. When money comes into the conversation, they get mad.

I always point out that plumbers, roofers and auto mechanics don't work for free.


For the career, if someone sees you have worked help desk, then they think that is all you ever want to work.

Don't ever provide free services

You better damn sure charge.

I find that damn annoying as well.

But on weekends if someone wants me to fix something I charge them 100 an hour because my weekends are that DAMN Valuable

chmod

Every body think that i know everything about Excel, MS project, Word an so on. When i used to work in the corporate IT environment and a lot of people from finance used to call me to ask me about how to make certain formula to work in excel or how to make the index of a word document to look in certain way or things like that.

snunez889

chmod wrote: »

Every body think that i know everything about Excel, MS project, Word an so on. When i used to work in the corporate IT environment and a lot of people from finance used to call me to ask me about how to make certain formula to work in excel or how to make the index of a word document to look in certain way or things like that.

I see the same thing where I work.

nster

Well that's part of the job basically if you have helpdesk responsibilities, often I'll google the for the answer in front of them

I just wrote "How to Google" memo that I will send out to everyone soon, hopefully it'll help them figure some stuff out on their own later on

LeBroke

Next month:

"Due to the success of our auto-googler script, we will be downsizing our helpdesk department to one person required to make sure the script works, and teaching new employees on how to use it."

nster

Well... went from full-time to part-time already so that's a bit too close to reality

GarudaMin

Given the state and advances of technology, I won't be surprised when the following happens at second month:

Due to the auto-googler script version 2, which repairs itself by using a parallel auto-googler script version 1, we have eliminated the one helpdesk person responsible for fixing the script.

Kai123

"You work with computers? Can you fix my phone?"

nster

Kai123 wrote: »

"You work with computers? Can you fix my phone?"

Hey you're good with tech, What's the best phone plan?

me: what usage do you do? do you want data?

them: idk

literally once a week

Verities

E Double U wrote: »

Everyone thinks I fix computers. I've gotten so tired of explaining my roles that I actually started telling people I fix computers.

I do the same thing. I got tired of people's eyes glazing over.

MTciscoguy

wolfinsheepsclothing wrote: »

"You work with X, why can't you fix Y"

More like, you work with X, why can't you fix my X Box!

BlackBeret

Bchen22 wrote: »

Don't ever provide free services

You better damn sure charge.

I find that damn annoying as well.

But on weekends if someone wants me to fix something I charge them 100 an hour because my weekends are that DAMN Valuable

+1 million, I've been doing this to people for years. If we all do it and stop giving freebies to friends/family we won't ever run out of work.

olaHalo

I dont mind the "can you fix this device" questions.
Its the "can you fix my random proprietary software that Ive never heard that was installed wrong by my cousin that connects to this database in Iceland."
Im a network tech

Judderman88

I do find there is an assumption that you will fix/repair peoples devices for free.
I had someone once tell me that her personal laptop was my responsibility as she used it for remote access into work (The issue wasn’t remote access). I’ve even had people turn up at my desk with their personal laptop and ask me to look at it there and then. I’ve tried the charging route, the ‘I don’t do personal work’ route and have also thrown in that the company isn’t insured for me to look at your personal equipment. My favourite reply (I work in education) is to ask if they’ll just pop by my house and tutor my kids

dave0212

I think I have had all of these at some point, I am tech support for my immediate family for all types of electrical equipment and friends and other family generally ask questions covering a variety of topiccs, although most non-IT work colleagues offer to pay for anything I look at.

Jasiono

E Double U wrote: »

Everyone thinks I fix computers. I've gotten so tired of explaining my roles that I actually started telling people I fix computers.

That was my last job

Also

People always thought I would pirate software/music/movies for them due to my knowledge. I would tell them that it ain't happening. Even happened to me when I worked at Staples as a part time gig as a lead technician, people would say "Why should I buy office 365 when you could download it for me and I give you half the money", hinting I pirate their software for cash on the side. Yes, it happened quite often, but I never did it. It's just shady business and wrong.