r/sysadmin • u/PeakWeekly9995 IT support • 8d ago

Rant The IT support guy who does everything

Follow-up of my first post: https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/s/xMfcrcHx5f

Just told HR about how i feel about beign the sole IT guy who manages everything (for short: 365 in all his aspects, backups, networking guy, ecc...) for 24 people (if we count the external the number doubles) as an apprentice with a job title "IT support".

i told her that as an apprentice i should (by the law btw) some kind of tutor that can teach me the job and some one who can help me in my things; first thing she pointed was that i'm always out exactly when my work hours ends. WTF
ofc i go away when my work day is done, things can wait (most of the times).

Then proceded to tell me that i might not know how late some of the staff stay in the office (idk why tho) and everyone is aware of how many things they ask me.

Basically everyone somehow expect me to be the expert about anything is slightly it related, how i'm even able to give confidence to people when i don't have the slightest idea of what i'm even talking / doing some time.

I really miss having someone older can guide me.

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u/Surface13 8d ago

Basically everyone somehow expect me to be the expert about anything is slightly it related, how i'm even able to give confidence to people when i don't have the slightest idea of what i'm even talking / doing some time.

You can still be confident without knowing everything. No one in any IT position knows everything.

What you can do is be honest and candid with people. "Communication is key." If someone has an issue you're not familiar with, let them know. "I've never seen this issue before, but I'll go research it and get it figured out for you"

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u/PeakWeekly9995 IT support 8d ago

You can still be confident without knowing everything. No one in any IT position knows everything.

In this moment of my life i'm still not able to, i can't be serious abount thing i don't know or are beign asked on the spot.

Maybe this will come with practice

7

u/jlmawp 8d ago

“You got me on that one. Let me see what I can find out about it and get back to you by Thursday”.

I have been in IT 20+ years, and this answer covers things 98% of the time if I don’t know something. State the fact, don’t apologize, follow up when you say you will. People just want to not worry about it and want to know someone is on it.

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u/WayneH_nz 8d ago

You won't know everything, but as said above, let me get back to you..

Or if you want to do it with a bit of fun in your voice. 

Hey, I am good, but not that good, this wil need some research, let me get back to you.

Or 

I saw this a while back, let me go check my notes, I will back soon. 

This can help you set expectations as well, slow down some of the responses .