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How Would You Document Your Job?

Posted by Cliff on from the leaving-behind-some-of-your-experience dept.

Q3vi1 asks: "As an support technician, there are several things I've learned about the environment I work in that would be difficult to find out without hours of research. Now I'm going to be moving and that means getting a new job. Before I do, I'd like to leave behind some of this information for the person who will replace me. How does one document all the details in an efficient manner for the next tech?"

6 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Three by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 4, Funny

    envelopes.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
    1. Re:Three by baywulf · · Score: 4, Informative

      For those not familiar with the three envelope joke: The three envelopes

  2. Instructions for My Replacement by ahknight · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good for you! You've got yourself a wonderful job as my replacement. As a congratulations gift I would like to leave you with the knowledge I've gleaned from my time here.

    Imagine the best possible place you could work. Imagine people working together, sharing information in a timely manner, and open to constructive criticism. People working together to not only make a profit, but make a humane profit. People who care about the customer, each other, and the world in general. People who feel that the workload should be spread over all nations so that everyone can have a job, an income, and a healthy life.

    Now imagine the reverse. Welcome to the team, sucka'!

  3. WikiWikiWiki by BortQ · · Score: 4, Informative

    The best thing for you to do is set up a Wiki. It will be very easy for you to write down your stuff. Whether in big chunks or in little "Oh, I should write down this little thing before I forget". And it will be easy for your successors to continue keeping the docs up-to-date.

    --

    A Multiplayer Strategy Game for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
  4. Quirks by Kris_J · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've prepared a 'quirks' document of everything (IT) unique to the company that you couldn't get from a reference book. If someone new needs anything more, they shouldn't have been hired.

  5. And the real answer by ahknight · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Having had this responsibility before, let me tell ya, it's easy.

    Make a document with headings about each part of the company you know about (Departments, Management, Placing 1-900 Calls Unnoticed, etc.) and then, very simply, just talk about it. Such as:

    Departments
    Accounting tends to only make itself known when you need something critical and then they cry wolf. When this happens contact their manager, Foo B. Baz, and let him know what's happening. He'll kick someone's ass and get the PO through.
    Sales lies. Repeatedly. If one of them calls you with the customer already on the line (and they will) and says something to the order of "we do X, right? Of course we do!" talk over him and explain why he's an idiot. With the customer there. It will be the last time that particular person calls you like that. Sales management will harass you, but just refer him to your manager and move on.

    And so on, and so forth. Just a simple heading/topic document. Print it up and leave it in a drawer somewhere the next sucker will see it.