Position:Service Desk Agents BC IBM

[sleepyguy]

wow! never knew ibm was that bad for support level work. I know a guy who programs there and really likes it! I guess each dept is treated vastly different.

[CodecX81]

wow! never knew ibm was that bad for support level work. I know a guy who programs there and really likes it! I guess each dept is treated vastly different.

Oh for sure!!!

Programmers are IBM's bread and butter
You'll most likely find a lot of that type of employee @ IBM HQ in Markham. Wayy different environment there too. The programmers were really innovative too. I remember there was an intranet chat client that linked everyone in the entire organization, kinda like IM/IRC built into one.

I once did a public poll, to see how many people were actually using the chat client.. I was getting responses from Africa, Asia.... :P

IBM, crap to work for if you are not making them money.
But fun as hell to use the time-wasting resources built by people who do..lol


Sidenote, I am sleepy & I think its funny that right under felix's post is a post for the same request, but from 'fiEATkittens'

felix is a pet advocate and iEATkittens ...well. eats kittens.

ahh I need more sleep.

[commie]

Oh for sure!!!

Programmers are IBM's bread and butter
You'll most likely find a lot of that type of employee @ IBM HQ in Markham. Wayy different environment there too. The programmers were really innovative too. I remember there was an intranet chat client that linked everyone in the entire organization, kinda like IM/IRC built into one.

I once did a public poll, to see how many people were actually using the chat client.. I was getting responses from Africa, Asia.... :P

IBM, crap to work for if you are not making them money.
But fun as hell to use the time-wasting resources built by people who do..lol


Sidenote, I am sleepy & I think its funny that right under felix's post is a post for the same request, but from 'fiEATkittens'

felix is a pet advocate and iEATkittens ...well. eats kittens.

ahh I need more sleep.

you must be talking about the ICT - IBM community tools...
Those public polls gets so ignoring after awhile....we have people from all over starting those public jams about nothing......some of the recent 'jams' topics include:
- happy aussie day
- does ibm have hot chicks?
- is partying a prequiste for the weekend
etc...

What is a great tool, can sometimes get abused to waste everyone's time, when we see that little popup box with new msg all the time, and its crap..
whats even more embarrassing is having that box up while doing a presentation to the client and they see what type of messages our IBMers are sending to each other...hahaha

[commie]

I HIGHLY disagree that every support department sucks. I have been doing support for years and have NEVER encountered the type of management and treatment of there workers like IBM. Just because you are lower on the food chain doesnt mean you have to be treated like garbage. Working for a company that has Team leads and managers calling out your name because you have been in not ready for 2 minutes or a couple minutes over lunch isn't a place you want to be.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of other companies like IBM (heard Clientlogic is one of them) but every other 1st level support job afterwards was exponentially better! Believe me, Managers and directors get there rear ends kicked to curb also. IBM has too much to answer to, being a blue chip stock. So the workers are the ones to suffer.

Avoid IBM at all costs, they will drain you and then use your empty husk as a piss pot. LOL....

You can say avoid IBM's support department...But do you know how many other areas that they have? It doesn't mean every other department is like that.

If you are a Revenue generator, then life is good....If you are a cost center, then you will be the first to go....And Support is a cost center.

[boonjaca]

Gaargh, let me shed some light on this. It was I who use to do that two years ago for about 4 months, and I rolled out of bed at 7:55am for a 8am shift. I showered on the morning break, took a nap at lunch, and nap again on the afternoon break. Get to eat while on the phone and watch tv/play games/surf/pr0n whatever suits your style. They pay 18/hr, pay for your phone line/internet etc.

You can apply through Kelly services (kellyservices.ca), thats how they hire now, better yet, just call them, the office is the woodbine location. I still know a few guys still there, and they got faaaaaaaaat.... haha. So beware if you really want to work there, if so don't do for more than 6 months or you will be sucked into the world of fatness/lazyness/p0rn freak etc.

So McLaren, what do you do now since you left that cozy position???

[CodecX81]

So McLaren, what do you do now since you left that cozy position???

gonna give him 5 minutes before I answer for him.

you must be talking about the ICT - IBM community tools...
Those public polls gets so ignoring after awhile....we have people from all over starting those public jams about nothing......some of the recent 'jams' topics include:
- happy aussie day
- is partying a prequiste for the weekend
etc...

YES!
God I miss that tool.

[McLaren]

So McLaren, what do you do now since you left that cozy position???

I call in sick 3 times in 2 weeks now, thats what i do.

[boonjaca]

Man and they don't give you **** at work, must be a real cushy job like the gov. or something...

[a2vr6]

You can say avoid IBM's support department...But do you know how many other areas that they have? It doesn't mean every other department is like that.

If you are a Revenue generator, then life is good....If you are a cost center, then you will be the first to go....And Support is a cost center.

I know programmers to managers that feel exactly like I do.

[podgerkev]

Anyone know if IBM has part-time support jobs available? I have a full-time job but this kind of work from home would be nice for extra cash on my days and nights off....

[commie]

I know programmers to managers that feel exactly like I do.

I could find you entry-level, programmers, managers, c-levels of any organization that complains about their job and company...

Everyone thinks the grass is always greener on the other side.

It really depends on the the person and job responsiblity...And the management they are working with...
From the same company, one manager can be great to work with, while another manager is a prick......
Then you have 1 employee complaining about how bad the company is...and the other employee phrasing how good it is...

[a2vr6]

I could find you entry-level, programmers, managers, c-levels of any organization that complains about their job and company...

Everyone thinks the grass is always greener on the other side.

It really depends on the the person and job responsiblity...And the management they are working with...
From the same company, one manager can be great to work with, while another manager is a prick......
Then you have 1 employee complaining about how bad the company is...and the other employee phrasing how good it is...

I understand your probably one of the very few that seems to like to work for ibm or had good experience with them but I can name over 30 people from varying positions that will tell you the EXACT oposite. Every large company that I have worked at after being at IBM had a totally different vibe in every department.

You remind me of the people that were sent away to those 1 week "retreats" when they became regulars at IBM and came back big blue cheerleaders.

[commie]

I understand your probably one of the very few that seems to like to work for ibm or had good experience with them but I can name over 30 people from varying positions that will tell you the EXACT oposite. Every large company that I have worked at after being at IBM had a totally different vibe in every department.

You remind me of the people that were sent away to those 1 week "retreats" when they became regulars at IBM and came back big blue cheerleaders.

Hahaha...you have got to be kidding right? There are over 20,000 people working for IBM in Canada. and over 150,000 over the world...
And I am one of the few that enjoys working there? You mean all those 20,000 are bitter/unhappy??

Problem is, the ones that are unhappy or had a bad time, will be the vocal ones.....You never hear the ones that are contend with the firm...

Like I said earlier, it really depends on the individuals and the situation...if you are working with/for a prick, then your experience will be different. Also no matter what, there will be people that like to complain no matter where they are..

BTW - no i am not brainwashed into a cheerleaders....In fact, I am probably one of the biggest critics of IBM.......But when I complain about my job, I know enough to differentiate the work and people from the company...I am in the consulting arm, I know its very much different from working for Software, hardware, Sales, etc...The HR policies are different, the management style is different.....Companies like that is like having 10 different companies within the firm...

Someone working in one area of a big company, complaining how bad it is and making it sound like its like that for the entire firm...
Its also like someone working for a bank....working in the Branch teller, hating the work..and saids 'CIBC' is a bad company to work for.....See how crazy that assertion is? Someone working at headoffice, or CIBC's World Markets will have a different story to tell...

Its also like someone visiting Toronto...and only stays in Scarbourgh...then complains that Toronto is a terrible city......

People have to realize they are only a small peice to an organization...

[a2vr6]

Hahaha...you have got to be kidding right? There are over 20,000 people working for IBM in Canada. and over 150,000 over the world...
And I am one of the few that enjoys working there? You mean all those 20,000 are bitter/unhappy??

Problem is, the ones that are unhappy or had a bad time, will be the vocal ones.....You never hear the ones that are contend with the firm...

Like I said earlier, it really depends on the individuals and the situation...if you are working with/for a prick, then your experience will be different. Also no matter what, there will be people that like to complain no matter where they are..

BTW - no i am not brainwashed into a cheerleaders....In fact, I am probably one of the biggest critics of IBM.......But when I complain about my job, I know enough to differentiate the work and people from the company...I am in the consulting arm, I know its very much different from working for Software, hardware, Sales, etc...The HR policies are different, the management style is different.....Companies like that is like having 10 different companies within the firm...

Someone working in one area of a big company, complaining how bad it is and making it sound like its like that for the entire firm...
Its also like someone working for a bank....working in the Branch teller, hating the work..and saids 'CIBC' is a bad company to work for.....See how crazy that assertion is? Someone working at headoffice, or CIBC's World Markets will have a different story to tell...

Its also like someone visiting Toronto...and only stays in Scarbourgh...then complains that Toronto is a terrible city......

People have to realize they are only a small peice to an organization...

Fine. Anyone interested in working IT/Sales for IBM do your homework. Unless you really need the job or they are paying a good bit more then keep looking. There are plenty of jobs in this field.