Absolutely! I have worked with, and referred many people to, in my 19 year career, to a gentlemen (here in NYC). He was definitely considered by all who used his services to be a career counselor.
Unfortunately, with all the outsourcing and companies here in NYC reducing the commissions paid to placement firms, he no longer places IT personnel. He has opted to place attorneys and para-legals, feeling that these needs will never be outsourced!
There are a few approaches that can be taken here.
The first, that usually works with "reasonable" users, is the feel, felt, found method. This works very well for someone that has actually been in the users shoes at some point in their career (which may not be your case).
The other approach, which I use to this day (and I've been in this business for almost 20 years), is to create a list of all project requests (and WIP). I would also suggest formalizing the request process, if it is not already formalized. Create a User Request Form, and have them sign it. Even if it means nothing, having a user sign will get them to reconsider the priority of their request (and they should be asked to prioritize their request on the form: Critical - Effects day-to-day business and is customer visible, Medium - Effects day-to-day business and is internal, NOT customer visible, etc.). You see the way this works. You then create a master list of all requests (Priority, Date Requested, Requested by, Estimated Time required to complete the request, Description, etc.). This report, when printed, should be used when you meet with your manager/boss to prioritize your tasks. Your manager will, with one quick glance, know if there is any one employee trying to monopolize your time, know if there an employee is crying wolf, et. During your meeting with your manager, ask him/her to prioritize the list (with you). As new task requests come in, they get added to the list, and subsequently discussed with your manager the next time you meet (which as a new employee should be at least once / week, proeferably twice / week).
Slashdot Mirror
I could not have said it any better. This is excellent advice!
Absolutely! I have worked with, and referred many people to, in my 19 year career, to a gentlemen (here in NYC). He was definitely considered by all who used his services to be a career counselor. Unfortunately, with all the outsourcing and companies here in NYC reducing the commissions paid to placement firms, he no longer places IT personnel. He has opted to place attorneys and para-legals, feeling that these needs will never be outsourced!
The first, that usually works with "reasonable" users, is the feel, felt, found method. This works very well for someone that has actually been in the users shoes at some point in their career (which may not be your case).
The other approach, which I use to this day (and I've been in this business for almost 20 years), is to create a list of all project requests (and WIP). I would also suggest formalizing the request process, if it is not already formalized. Create a User Request Form, and have them sign it. Even if it means nothing, having a user sign will get them to reconsider the priority of their request (and they should be asked to prioritize their request on the form: Critical - Effects day-to-day business and is customer visible, Medium - Effects day-to-day business and is internal, NOT customer visible, etc.). You see the way this works. You then create a master list of all requests (Priority, Date Requested, Requested by, Estimated Time required to complete the request, Description, etc.). This report, when printed, should be used when you meet with your manager/boss to prioritize your tasks. Your manager will, with one quick glance, know if there is any one employee trying to monopolize your time, know if there an employee is crying wolf, et. During your meeting with your manager, ask him/her to prioritize the list (with you). As new task requests come in, they get added to the list, and subsequently discussed with your manager the next time you meet (which as a new employee should be at least once / week, proeferably twice / week).
Hope this helps.
Sarge