Monday, June 2, 2008

The IT Hook-Up

On my first day of work at my current company, I was worried about a lot of things. For example, did my boss really care if a I took a whole hour lunch break? Could I go on Facebook without getting caught? Could IT read all my g-chat conversations? But my main concern during those first few days of being the newbie was if I was ever going to make any friends.

In my past work experiences, I hadn't found it that difficult to make friends. I'm not trying to brag here but it seemed my co-workers and I all had one thing to bond over and that was what we hated about work. As a camp counselor, we had all complained about not being able to play Hangman in front of the kids (I didn't know children these days were so sensitive). At my job as a hostess, it was the long hours for practically no pay. At my internship, it was my boss who we swore was a clone of the Devil Wears Prada.

At my new job though, no one complained. This was the real world. This wasn't an internship or a summer job cleaning tables or wiping mud off kid's knees. No, this was reality where you had to find common ground with your co-workers that didn't involve your hatred for your job because telling the wrong person could get you fired.

This left me friend-less for a few months until The Boss's computer started acting up and I met my IT hook-up. And not hook-up like you're all thinking. No hanky-panky was involved whatsoever. Get your minds out of the gutter! No, when The Boss's computer went whack-o on her and I was ordered to get it fixed while she was in her 2 p.m. meeting, I called IT. In walked my first work friend who I refer to as Buffalo Soldier.

Buffalo Soldier turned out to be Jamaican and as WG1 and I have mentioned before we are big fans of the island of Jamaica since we spent our senior Spring Break on the beautiful isle. So Buffalo Soldier and I already had common ground, which led us to a great IT relationship. He and I aren't the kind of friends that eat lunch together or grab drinks after work. Our friendship is strictly work-related but that common ground has led me to some great benefits. 

Which leads me to my great realization, making friends with the IT department is an absolute must. When you start a new job, don't try to make friends with people in your department the first day. Sure this is important for day two and three, but IT is where the hook-up is and therefore priority numero uno. 

Buffalo Soldier knows that The Boss is no friend of technology, so whenever she has a melt-down and needs me to fix something ASAP, I call Buffalo Soldier and he comes running. When the printer doesn't work, my IT buddy will deal with my whining until the machine is fixed. When I couldn't figure out how to use Microsoft 2007, Buffalo Soldier was there with a tutorial. And my latest IT hook-up? Last week all of upper management got new faster, cooler looking computers. When they had a leftover in the bunch? Yep, you guessed it. All mine.

Heed my advice. Make friends with IT first - they can make your life oh so sweet or oh so horrific. 

17 comments:

the glitter kid said...

definitely good advice!

alexa @clevelandsaplum said...

how right you are about the real job and not allowing bad talking about the boss.

how things change.

sigh.

Bayjb said...

That is good advice. I have a love/hate relationship with IT at our office. That's mostly because they're creepy guys. I just can't "friend" that.

Becky said...

I work in IT and also date a guy in IT. Your advice is totally true. The best perks or hook-ups come from IT.

Anonymous said...

I am the "IT", but no one at my job cares.... they all just yell for me when they need me to change their ink or something.

Anonymous said...

I've definitely thought about that before, but our IT "department" is really just one guy. And I already got the spare mac during like the 2nd week i was here ;) Still, defo something to keep in mind when i switch jobs...!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! AWESOME post. I'm adding you to my blogroll - you're a great read. :)

LOL - I like Buffalo Soldier and look forward to hearing more about him. Does he know your nickname for him? OOOOooo sneak a cell phone picture of him! I dare you!

LUCKY - on the new computer for FREE!

Write more posts like this!!! This was GREAT!

Tricia said...

Very good advice - I've had sweet hook-ups with the IT guys. I've been given admin rights to my PC, allowed to IM at will, and had a blind eye turned to MySpace dalliances.

I am also married to an IT guy so I rarely call in the IT guys for trivial things as I've learned to figure things out. The know if I call it's a real problem and come a running. :)

meredith said...

Best advice ever. I became friends with and am now dating the "hottie IT guy" in my office. Even if you are not bff with them just make sure you aren't mean because they can make your life at work miserable. I've seen it done...

Anonymous said...

i completely agree. as much as it'll be great to have a shoulder to cry on if you have a bad day, the IT person is who's going to truly act as your savior time and time again.

Alexandreena said...

Good advice. And in my old company, those guys were hot too, so it really was good for me on many levels :)

Rachel Eden said...

Completely agree. The IT guy at my last job was hilarious as well. I almost wished things would go wrong because he was so fun to hang out with.

Katelin said...

oh i am bff with our it guy, haha. i love it.

Dana said...

thanks for the advice!!

Lauren said...

Within the first few days at working at my job, I was asked to assist the IT dept with some extra work. Best assignment ever! We're now great friends and they can help me with all computer problems--work wise or not.

The Alleged Ringleader said...

So true about befriending the IT dept! I would have totally scored if I had a rad Jamaican as my IT guy. I too LOVE LOVE LOVE Jamaica, that place is magical mon!

Gjelly said...

This is so true! I made a joke about wanting a flat panel monitor at my old job and the IT guy brought one down the next day. He also told me I'd be a good stepmother to his children...