Tech Support @ Dell

Karla

Anyone know what working tech support for Dell is like? I'm going for a job in the Bray plant next week, I've got some aptitude test to do too.
Anyone know what to expect?

Thanks

Karla

SantaHoe

Well I haven't worked at Dell, but if you're going for first-level support (ie- dealing with end users) the aptitude test will probably be a breeze. (I somehow managed to score 102% in my aptitude test in IBM )

Wether or not you'll like tech-support will depend on your personality and tolerance.
(Personaly I hated tech-support, but I knew people who liked it.)

And for god's sake, make sure they don't have you supporting the American consumer-base. (they're stupid and annoying)
Europeans are so sound in comparison.

But the best people to ask are the guys an' gals working there, they're more likely to 'tell it as it is' than some manager who's trying to appease you.

Karla

Cheers Santa

I think they're looking for people to deal with business customers in England, at least that's what it looks like. I dunno if I'll like it, but hey I'll give it a shot, Get out of the house anyway

Also, from what I hear tech support is a good way to get your foot in the door, this true?

SantaHoe

Ah that sounds good, "English buisness people" sounds less frustrating than "brain-dead, inbread, angry American redneck"

As for getting your foot in the door... answer = yes.
It depends on the company, but their is usualy a lot of internal promotion, be it upward or lateral.
Even if nothing elsewhere in the company interests you, you can always go to another company.
Just ask WWM, or should I say Mr.WWM

WhiteWashMan

ive actually done the aptitude test for dell and its pretty easy. i got 2 questions wrong out of about 45 and that was because i hadnt a clue about laptops at the time.
if you know your stuff, you wont have a problem.
afaik dell in bray supports only europe, mostly england and ireland. ive heard that english and irish customers are among the worst to support as they are idiots and really obnoxious. at least with the americans they either know what they are doing, in which case they understand what you are getting them to do, or they dont have a clue and follow you blindly!
english and irish have the tendency to pretend they know what your talking about and generally make a dogs bolox of everything!

apart from that, i loved tech support. im glad im out of it, but i did enjoy it at ibm. as for foot in the door, the answer be yes. after 6 to 12 months experience, you can get a low end IT job and work from there.
i would be a prime example. i went from being an operator in ibm to tech support to NT admin and support for lockheed martin.
oh, and its easier to fixproblems when you can go to their pc and not tell them what to do plus your not stuck on the phone waiting for the next call.
you do have to work the odd saturday , but tis worth it

SantaHoe

you do have to work the odd saturday

...heh, but in the case of eye-Bee-'em, the odd Christmas morning at 6am
They even had people working newyears eve 1999-2000, although they got a 2 hour break for drinks or something. whoop-tee-****ing-doo!

Aaah, fond memories of tech-support...
Sometimes I wake at night screaming.

WhiteWashMan

hahah, i was suppose to be worknig new years eve. 300 quid or something bonus for working the biggest party night of the year. and then i handed in my notice and 'went sick' until the 4th of january
never get a job in eye-bee-em coz they are ****ers

Karla

Forgot to ask the most important Q

What's the money like? I guess that's what it all boils down to in the end right? Is it worth it?

Karla

SantaHoe

Well in Eye-Bee-'Em, they started you off at 12.5K then gave you a raise of between 500 and 1,500 every year (or was it every 6 months?)
Anyway, 12.5K is pretty much the minimum for entry level tech-support, so expect something higher I suppose...

WhiteWashMan

actually gateway and deel have a start of 14k if im not mistaken
whic of course i may well beeee, but i dont think so.
so ibm not only has the sh1ttiest hours, but the sh1ttiest pay as well

logic1

I work part time in AOL tech support with the last 5 months (first person to laugh gets bet up) the aptitude test was a cinch... basic windows stuff... whats IRQ stand for was about the "toughest" question on it hehe
anyway the money is good but we deal with the english market and they are obnoxious..
we also deal with dublin and the north... the english are the worst though.... i can't stand the job but money ownz me.. also working for aol isn't exactly impressive... oh well.. college first i suppose

Gamblor

Originally posted by logic1:
I work part time in AOL tech support with the last 5 months (first person to laugh gets bet up)

ha ha ha anyway ... you don't scare me !!

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***** Feel my Evil Neon Claws *****

Karla

Thanks a lot everyone

Yeah I know it's probably not the best job in the world, but if I got the job I'd definetely give it a go. And besides I need to get a few months under my belt.

I've spoken to a few people who've done phone support for a while and they're all saying pretty much the same thing, some people love it, other people hate it, with a passion

I guess we'll see what happens, my test has been put off until next Friday.

Shiminay

Karla,

I've got a mate just started in Dell in Bray - Lap-top Tech Support is what he's at. Money - I think it's somewhere between 13 and 15 - never asked TBH.

It is a UK and Irish based service, which as WWMan said means the customers are ar$eholes.
I worked in a call centre before I moved to Dublin and all our customers were UK based. Not trying to insult anyone, but a hell of a lot of English people are very arrogant and obnioxous on the phone, especially when you're trying to help them and they don't really know what's going on.
One of the client companies my old job worked for was offering a free service that helped save money on Gas and Electric bills and it didn't cost the customer a thing. You would not believe the sh1te we had to put up with over the phone from some of these people - and it wasn't costimg them a gad damned thing!

I'm not trying to scare you off, more prepare you for it! Call Centre stuff can be a really good laugh - I wasn't over the moon about the work, but I enjoyed my job (if that makes sense).

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All the best,

Dav
@B^)
My page of stuff

WhiteWashMan

youll p1ss al over it
good luck anyway

Shiminay

Test shouldn't be a problem to ya, best of with it anyway

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All the best,

Dav
@B^)
My page of stuff

Venom

As the other tech support ppl have stated on this tread it depends on the place you are working.Im having a ball as tech support(beats the hell out of working for a sh@thole kip like jacobs).The money for TS is around 12-16k tho promotion can be quick and it opens up alot of doors.As for wheither or not it will suit you,that kinda depends on you and how freaked out you get.I support a payroll and accountancy programe and get some very freaked out ppl ringing in looking for help but the hold button on the phone helps lots while i try and tell the rest of my TS team what the muppets have donr this time.I have them all curled up on the floor yesterday as some twink had answer yes 3 times in a row,ignored all the warning prompts and all his employes payroll details had gotten deleted He was nearly crying on the phone.So funny.

The best tip I can give you to help is...
just tell them to "just press ok and it will be alright"

Karla

Woohoo! The test was a doddle! There were one or two tricky questions that I had no idea about, like 'In relation to Intel Processors what does SEC stand for?'

All in all, I'm happy, I'll get the results on Monday so...

Thanks again folks

Lump

HA HA LOGIC works in AOL.

Plesase dont beat me.

John

spod

ha ha, logic1 works in aol....

oooh, will he beat me up?

ph3r3.

SantaHoe

It's funny, I remember when I was in TechSupport, I used to get a lot of people calling up after being refered from AOL(US)...

A0L: "it's not us, it's your computer".

Me: "Pah! rofl, nope your computer's working fine, maybe you should contact AOL"

Customer:(pìssed off) "I just called them; they told me to call you!!!, now who am I to believe?"

Me:(cursing A0L) (explain the problem in great detail) "....ok? ...so it's obviously a problem with your ISP."

Customer: (exhausted from listening to explanation) "...damn it, why did they lie to me?"

I'd say I got a few hundred of those calls where some lazyassed tech fobbs off their end-user to someone else.
But then, that's the fun part

WhiteWashMan

what do you do now dead?
get a promo?
are you one of the geeky guys now. cant remember what the tech specialists are called!
do you know nicholas moran. i went to school with him.

SantaHoe

LPS?
IS?
God, I suppose I would be if I'd stayed.
/me shudders

WhiteWashMan

why?
what are you doing now?
i thought you were still at iBM?

SantaHoe

I is takin' a break from et all
Just trying to get my shìt together, so I can get myself sorted for an extended vacation somewhere state-side.
I'll find a job when I get back, unless something interests me ovah deyah.
But foh now it's just fo' fun.
Wicked.

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moo?

Slosh

That in Waterford Logic1 ??

Stephen

I know I'm not Logic1, but yes, it is in Waterford

MiCr0

aol have a place in east point aswell

Gamblor

Originally posted by MiCr0:
aol have a place in east point aswell

Not for long !!!!!

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***** Feel my Evil Neon Claws *****

Hecate

Anyone taken the tests for Compaq's TSC?

They mailed me today asking me to drop in and take the test, 2 months after I applied