Tech Computer Center User Consultant Handbook |  |
Tech Computer Center User Consultant Handbook | |
This job puts you in the position of being a service provider to the public. As such other people's perceptions become important factors in deciding what things you do and how you do those things. (For example, if you don't usually run a spell checker on your email before you send it you should start to do that. Spelling errors, or poor grammar, reflect badly not only on you but also on your employer.)
People's perceptions of us are important, but they are often based on things which you may not feel are important. Spelling and grammar is important (use a spell checker if you're not already, and after using it take the time to read what you actually wrote — for content and tone). Appearance is also another important item. Being ready and willing to help a person goes much further when you also appear to be ready and willing (instead of appearing to be bothered that somebody disrupted the task you were working on).
One of the more persistent perceptions you'll face is that people tend to think that the UC isn't really working if they're not actually working with someone. Even though sitting at the Help Desk is most important for being available most people won't see that as working. There's not much you can do about that other than to stay busy. One way to stay busy is to tour the user areas more often looking for people to help, machines to clean, or broken things to fix or report. Another good way to stay busy is to read a book, or manual, from our book cabinets (instead of doing non-job related things like: reading your personal email, going out on the web, or working on personal projects). Learning what's in those books will fit quite well with helping people use our facilities!
You need to be aware that the conclusions which people form are usually based on what they perceive. You may benefit from altering the way you would normally do some things in light of this awareness.
You have a work account separate from your ordinary TCC user account not only since you require special access and privileges to perform your job but also so you can keep your work related efforts separate from your academic and social ones.
Remember that your work account is to be used for TCC work only. It is not to be used to store class related materials or work for others. It is also not to be used as a cheap place to store files which aren't part of your work at the TCC. It is not be used to avoid printer charges which should be placed against your non-work account (like doing class assignments), or some other account.
Your work account should only contain items directly related to your job at the TCC. Examples of things which it should not contain are:
class work,
personal items (correspondence, pictures, projects, shopping lists),
sound and image files for personal use.
Similar restrictions apply to any web page associated with your work account. In order to allow you to express your opinion and attempt to keep it from being interrupted as a reflection of TCC policy, or accepted TCC operational procedure, the TCC requires that you do not link your work web page to your personal web page. Your work web page should only contain information which is directly relevant to your job with the TCC.
If you have images that you use as a background for your xsession then you can place them in ~uc/images -- please keep in mind though that I want to keep the size of that directory under 15,000.
Expanding your knowledge while on the job may be a gray area which needs to be addressed here. I consider this a legitimate use of time and I also realize that exploring some things will require using your work account to run things, store things, and print things. However, I don't want to find people using this part of the job for doing, or stashing, stuff that's primarily intended for their personal use (that should go in a non-work account). If learning on the job is used to screen activities which are inappropriate (like storing a bunch of files, or printing a bunch of stuff, which isn't really work related) then we run the risk of loosing it.
Please be more aware of whether what you do with you work account is really work related or not. If it isn't be sure to use your non-work account.