IT Temp Diaries #4

The temp took the A+ class track. Yet he doesn't know:

• How to pull a PCI-e video card off a motherboard
• How to work in a MS-DOS batch file (just edit one, not even make one from scratch)
• How to map to a hidden directory
• How to find a Hardware ID in Device Manager
• How to use Google

That last one.. Holy shit. I told him, "Call Microsoft and see if you can get support on that activation problem." He Googled Microsoft, and clicked the first fucking thing that came up! He called them, had them remoted into the customer's laptop, then after a bit of work turned to me and said, "They said it's out of warranty and will be $99." I cursed, then said fine and took my company card over to the machine. He showed me the website, and it was some bullshit like techsoncall.com or something. I hung up his phone and kicked them the fuck out of the machine.

How could anybody who claims to be a tech do something that fucking stupid?

IT Temp Diaries #3

AOL Tone:

What the temp called the modem handshake when he accidentally dialed a fax machine.

IT Temp Diaries #2

He still may turn out ok. You know how sometimes a person just can't do things he already knows, but is in a new environment? So I'm giving him a chance. We'll see, but so far I'm not impressed.

I had to help him install a scanner on a PC.

I don't have a perm position. I have a temp until the first of the year. After that time, I may or may not be able to take someone on permanently. But for that to be possible, the person has to really rock. I'm not seeing that here.

IT Temp Diaries #1

(NOTE: This was originally posted back in November of 2012. That's when the Temp Diaries start...)

Fucking headhunters.

Led us to believe he was simply "green" but smart. Did ok in the interview.

Day to day work though... Unbelievably not bright. Sigh. At least he was cheap, and I can pass the menial shit to him eventually.

Work ethic is pretty bad. He'll just sit there until I check on him, then he asks whatever question he has. Grrr... That bugs the shit outta me. He won't research unless I specifically tell him to.

I'll keep using him till the first of the year, then give him the boot.

The IT Temp Diaries

I know I haven't posted in a while. I've even done lots of car stuff. But work and life have kept me from getting down on paper bits the things I've done.

However, the next several posts won't be car related at all.

I'm one of two IT guys at a not-so-small company. We're constantly overwhelmed with work, so over the past year I've brought in 3 different temps through an agency. The same agency, in fact, that got me this current position.

The first two, according to their resumes, had been in IT for years. The third supposedly is about to get his Associate's degree in Information Systems from some diploma mill.

None of them are worth crap. The third is still with me, but he's not gonna be lasting much longer.

I'm not going to identify which is which. But the stories are fun. And proof that not everybody is cut out for general IT work...

Ode to the N/A

In this context "N/A" stands for Normally Aspirated. Meaning, an engine without a turbo or supercharger. Like the 1986 Saab 900S I had in Colorado.

This was found on Rodentmaster's sig at SaabCentral.com's forums:

ODE to the N\A
"I have not TURBINE to compress my buttocks, O lord,
Pity will be thine when thoust can crap on with boost.
We of the 'N\A - N\A' knowst nil of the pulling glory,
Yea, to post, thy blight the day of those who pressurise their pipes,
Alas, suck be mine that my chariot breathes,
Strike me down for mine is an unworthy existance"

Texas Tea

Went to South Coast Plaza to take my daughter to the Roxy store (GAH they're overpriced! But she had a gift card...) As we were walking up we passed a later white 9-3 Aero vert. Beautiful! Daughter is in love with it. (She's 9.)

Walking back out my wife notices a trail of oil drips that leads right to where we were parked. "Is that our car?"

"No way," I respond. Confident that it's fine. But looking under the car I see a puddle. I pop the hood and break out the mega LED flashlight. The entire passenger side of the car is covered in oil. I do a quick dipstick check and the oil is barely touching the tip. Ruh roh. I toss in the spare quart I keep in the car and we come straight home. Oil light came on about half way so I stopped and picked up a couple more quarts. Light stayed dark the rest of the way. Whew!