What the IT people do when they have time?

ricardoarias · 2016-10-25T14:40:18.000Z

I’ve being doing little System Administration here and 99% of my obligation is help-desk. But the last 3 weeks I have days without tickets or projects to do. I’ve being doing self training in Cyber-security and Linux using Udemy.com. But My supervisor said I can’t not do that anymore. I wonder what the people in the field do at the office when they don’t have anything else to do?

christopheramweg · 2016-10-25T14:43:06.000Z

Have lunch and use the restroom, maybe …

mattscan · 2016-10-25T14:43:47.000Z

Okay,

If your boss doesn’t like it, then maybe you need to present it differently. Make it a part of your on-going training plan.

Secondly, document, document, document. If you have time and you can’t train, then document.

kate-att-cybersecurity · 2016-10-25T14:43:50.000Z

Why can’t you be learning about security?!? That seems silly?

ranhalt · 2016-10-25T14:44:11.000Z

If your supervisor is telling you what you can’t do when you have free time, you should ask him what you should be doing during your free time. If he’s got the list of dos and don’ts, that’s the person to check with.

mattscan · 2016-10-25T14:49:32.000Z

Yeah, if we have free time around here, we are highly encouraged to train… In fact they recommend at least 3 hours per year just on Pluralsight alone.

bobbyearcher · 2016-10-25T14:51:46.000Z

Power nap

lbair2 · 2016-10-25T14:54:08.000Z

start building an android to do all your work for you?

chrispennell · 2016-10-25T14:55:44.000Z

unfortunately, documentation.

christopheramweg · 2016-10-25T14:56:09.000Z

Spiceworks forums

… fora?

danglomgoreatchley · 2016-10-25T14:56:25.000Z

Training in downtime is the default go-to after documentation/paperwork.

I’d consider why your Sup. DOESN’T want you to do such; that seems like a great way to get an employee to GTFO.

Maintenance is always a good idea. Clean up some cables, dust some racks, organize a fileshare.

May be worth engaging with your users as well, even if they don’t have active tickets. Ask(at your own risk!!) what else they have been having trouble with? Printer act up now and then? Everyone satisfied with their workstations/consoles? Any HID devices needing to be replaced?

james485 · 2016-10-25T14:58:09.000Z

Documentation, Spiceworks, and working on studying for certifications.

I don’t get why your management wouldn’t allow you to study on security when it’s a pretty important topic these days.

seanmdit · 2016-10-25T15:01:01.000Z

Agree with what ranhalt said, if he’s your supervisor then he and possibly others in management for IT should be providing you with tasks, setting deadlines, and generally providing you with some direction. If it’s not in your JD to be the one thinking of what needs to be done next others should be doing it for you then.

mattjakachira9528 · 2016-10-25T15:01:32.000Z

I work remotely and during my downtime I usually catch up on my team treehouse web development course or go after a new badge in Trailhead.

harry1028 · 2016-10-25T15:02:29.000Z

Learn new things. I’m watching vmware training videos on youtube.

Eric1929 · 2016-10-25T15:06:19.000Z

Im doing my MCSA in windows 8.1 currently when i have absolutely zip to do. i have the first test coming up Saturday.

Mike400 · 2016-10-25T15:08:00.000Z

Talk to your users. Find out what little technology irritants they have and see if you can fix those. This will pay big dividends down the road when you do hit something that takes time to resolve.

jreilly86 · 2016-10-25T15:35:20.000Z

Honestly, I’ve worked for some pretty chill places over the years. For most of my jobs, I would read a book when I had down time.

Not an IT book either… it was usually a Star Wars book.

ricardoarias · 2016-10-25T15:37:38.000Z

Dan 'Glom' Atchley:

I’d consider why your Sup. DOESN’T want you to do such; that seems like a great way to get an employee to GTFO.

I think that is the real message for me!

joebob · 2016-10-25T15:38:46.000Z

Jared5997:

Honestly, I’ve worked for some pretty chill places over the years. For most of my jobs, I would read a book when I had down time.

Not an IT book either… it was usually a Star Wars book.

Hell I work at a library and I still am not “allowed” to read a book at work.