We don't use trouble tickets here. Our VPs are well enough aware that I am busy, as are the other 3 IT staffers trying to keep everybody moving forward. Most issues are resolved on a FIFO basis and each staffer has their own AO. Barring ISP issues most problems get taken care of the same day. Good infrastructure+ good co-workers+ VP support= Happy and Efficient IT people
Do you really want to work for someone that doesn't or can't afford to play by the rules. You can get around it with OSS, but in the end is that the kind of business that is going to move and grow? If you educate them and they still won't/can't go legit, I think it's a good time to walk away before you invest too much of your time.
If they are willing to depart from their pirated software and move towards OSS, then you can help them usher in a new era of IT and save them some money down the road. BTW: One of my pet peeves is the line, "But the guy before you....". I'm not him/her so deal.
During my work at a local University we held an e-waste drive. In addition to Freecycle, craigslist, slavation army, and goodwill we were able to provide computers for 2 classrooms (30 seats). We also put Edubuntu on those computers and they are still kicking, that was 2 years ago. Since then they have garnered funding from grants through the NSF and local business. It is now a student run organization with faculty supervision. They invite faculty, staff, and employees from local businesses to donate their time, expertise, and equipment to help outfit the schools.
If you have a connection to a local University you might want to consider doing the same. Get the compu-geeks and eco-trip hippies together. It is good press for the University and anybody involved. The students learn something. You do your part to save the earth. Kids get computers and slowly everyone is happy...slowly.
Teach her to remember a shape or pattern on the keyboard or keypad. For example the one I teach my nephews. Double pyramid = aw3eds.cfthnbv or the "x" = 159753 or number pair= 41q3e5t7u.
If you can teach them a pattern, young kids are more likely to remember that more easily while maintaining abstraction needed for strong passwords.
Developing your skills as a person is probably the first thing you should work on. Take a management class or participate in a student club or organization, take some time to figure out what your strengths/weaknesses are.
Humility: Are you willing to ask questions, Are you willing to admit you don't know the answer, Are you willing to find the answer?
Teamwork: Are you willing to agree, disagree, compromise, adapt, and move forward working with people of different backgrounds and personalities?
Balance: Are you able to separate work from play, Do you have something else you love besides programming i.e. gardening, outdoors, arts and crafts, recreation, family life?
Compass: Can you treat people with respect, Are you a good listener, Would you be willing to do what is right instead of what is easy?
Once you have a handle on who you are you can train the programmer. Real experience helps. Don't be afraid to take internships that are unrelated to programming. These may be the people that you will code for. Understanding the user will make you a better programmer. Find something you love doing and find an angle that programming can fix/improve. As an earlier post said nothing beats real world experience. Get the tools and learn how to use them. Use the summer or break to intern or volunteer using your programming skills to stay fresh. Good Luck!
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If you aren't doing anything wrong what do you have to be concerned about?
We don't use trouble tickets here. Our VPs are well enough aware that I am busy, as are the other 3 IT staffers trying to keep everybody moving forward. Most issues are resolved on a FIFO basis and each staffer has their own AO. Barring ISP issues most problems get taken care of the same day. Good infrastructure+ good co-workers+ VP support= Happy and Efficient IT people
Do you really want to work for someone that doesn't or can't afford to play by the rules. You can get around it with OSS, but in the end is that the kind of business that is going to move and grow? If you educate them and they still won't/can't go legit, I think it's a good time to walk away before you invest too much of your time. If they are willing to depart from their pirated software and move towards OSS, then you can help them usher in a new era of IT and save them some money down the road. BTW: One of my pet peeves is the line, "But the guy before you....". I'm not him/her so deal.
I guess it never occurred to them to wash their hands and controllers. Someone is going to make a killing on gaming isotoners!
During my work at a local University we held an e-waste drive. In addition to Freecycle, craigslist, slavation army, and goodwill we were able to provide computers for 2 classrooms (30 seats). We also put Edubuntu on those computers and they are still kicking, that was 2 years ago. Since then they have garnered funding from grants through the NSF and local business. It is now a student run organization with faculty supervision. They invite faculty, staff, and employees from local businesses to donate their time, expertise, and equipment to help outfit the schools. If you have a connection to a local University you might want to consider doing the same. Get the compu-geeks and eco-trip hippies together. It is good press for the University and anybody involved. The students learn something. You do your part to save the earth. Kids get computers and slowly everyone is happy...slowly.
Teach her to remember a shape or pattern on the keyboard or keypad. For example the one I teach my nephews. Double pyramid = aw3eds.cfthnbv or the "x" = 159753 or number pair= 41q3e5t7u.
If you can teach them a pattern, young kids are more likely to remember that more easily while maintaining abstraction needed for strong passwords.
Developing your skills as a person is probably the first thing you should work on. Take a management class or participate in a student club or organization, take some time to figure out what your strengths/weaknesses are. Humility: Are you willing to ask questions, Are you willing to admit you don't know the answer, Are you willing to find the answer? Teamwork: Are you willing to agree, disagree, compromise, adapt, and move forward working with people of different backgrounds and personalities? Balance: Are you able to separate work from play, Do you have something else you love besides programming i.e. gardening, outdoors, arts and crafts, recreation, family life? Compass: Can you treat people with respect, Are you a good listener, Would you be willing to do what is right instead of what is easy? Once you have a handle on who you are you can train the programmer. Real experience helps. Don't be afraid to take internships that are unrelated to programming. These may be the people that you will code for. Understanding the user will make you a better programmer. Find something you love doing and find an angle that programming can fix/improve. As an earlier post said nothing beats real world experience. Get the tools and learn how to use them. Use the summer or break to intern or volunteer using your programming skills to stay fresh. Good Luck!