How do you describe your job to laymen?

techfiend

I babysit grown men, haha, that's my new answer.

UnixGuy

I don't. I just tell people whatver...I say things like I work in 'finance' or 'marketing' ...or whatever.

TechGromit

I really hated when my Wife (or family) would ask me to fix anything computer related, whenever I had trouble fixing it, she nag me, your in computers, if you can't fix I'll take it to someone that can. Trying to explain to someone that configuring network switches and firewalls is so much more complex then working on a MAC is like talking to a wall. They think because your a higher level computer guy, you should have a foundation where you know how to fix everything less completed, even if they haven't been invented yet.

I like the response I watch Youtube videos all day. Which isn't too far from the reality, I keep the network running so everyone else in the company can watch youtube all day.

Trucido wrote: »

Nobody does any troubleshooting before calling the help desk.

What's help desk? When a user has an issue, they call you directly because you helped them fix something before. When you try to explain to them they have to call help desk you can't fix that, (usually it has to do you not having access to do so) they give you an attitude like your blowing them off because you do want to help them.

TechGromit

revbox wrote: »

I offer them this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8_Kfjo3VjU

I love when he rearranged the icons and the guy freaked.

gorebrush

I'm a wizard.

E Double U

When I said I work on networks, they thought I meant tv stations
When I said I work in security, they thought I was a mall cop.
When I say I fix computers, they say I thought you did network security.

the_Grinch

When I was help desk I would tell people I was a janitor as it was mostly true anyhow. People make a mess and I have to clean it up. In my current position I leave it at I'm an investigator with the State and deal with gambling. At worst people complain that they get screwed and loss money, at best they ask what game is best go play to win.

knownhero

On word... "Applications"

Legacy User

TechGromit wrote: »

I love when he rearranged the icons and the guy freaked.

I was lmfao the entire video. I never seen that before its dated but yet still relevant lol.

pitviper

I do plumbing work for data... and NO I will not fix your computer.

wolfinsheepsclothing

beads

Since its too costly to actually explain: I am a IT Forensic Security Investigator specializing in Healthcare. I tell people the following.

I walk old ladies halfway across the street.
I tie your shoe laces together
I put that 'Kick Me!" sign on your back.

-or-

I get up every day with the same question:

Am I going to be the man of International Mystery or the Man from La Mancha?

Rarely, do I get a follow up question after that.


I am... A security person.

NetworkNewb

Whenever I tell anyone I'm in IT Security, most of the time I get "Oh, so you your one of those people behind the cameras and watch everyone on a bunch of screens?"

Close enough for me... I work at large "gaming" enterprise

DatabaseHead

I manage data and then they look at me like I have two heads.

VinnyCisco

I watch status bars.....

xnx

rick.bates wrote: »

I'm a "Data Plumber". Crap goes in one end and I make sure it comes out the other.

You waited 7 years to post this?

ITSpectre

TechGromit wrote: »

Trying to explain to someone that configuring network switches and firewalls is so much more complex then working on a MAC is like talking to a wall. They think because your a higher level computer guy, you should have a foundation where you know how to fix everything less completed, even if they haven't been invented yet.

Yep.... then you become the tech support of your SO family like I am... everyone calls me when something goes wrong. Then if I can't fix it then its "well you are supposed to know and blah blah blah blah"

thomas_

ITSpectre wrote: »

Yep.... then you become the tech support of your SO family like I am... everyone calls me when something goes wrong.

My sister's computer stopped working a few years back and she called me. I told her the power supply was probably bad, but she didn't want to believe me. She thought there was a surge or lightning strike and her phone charger that was plugged into the same power strip still worked, so the power supply of the computer couldn't possibly be bad.

She ended up taking it to a computer repair shop and they told her the power supply was bad.