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Tales From The Help Desk: From Personal Assistant To Private EyeMENLO PARK, Calif., July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "Are you running your computer under Windows?" "No, it's by the door!" This is not the punchline from a movie, but it is a real conversation with a help desk professional. Recently, Robert Half Technology took a look at the lighter side of technical travails by asking chief information officers (CIOs), "What is the strangest or most unusual request you or a member of your help desk or technical support team has ever received?" From social media struggles to cleaning conundrums, the responses show the diversity of inquiries to which help desk professionals must respond. These first responses show that not all end users have the same base knowledge; some may need a "Tech 101" refresher course:
Help desk or private investigators – the lines were blurred for these next end users:
Some requests extend beyond the help desk call of duty:
And then there was this last anecdote, which shows just how "hairy" a help desk job can be:
View a slideshow highlighting additional responses. "These requests, though humorous, illustrate the combination of technical and interpersonal skills that are needed to be a successful help desk professional," said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "For many employers, personality, communication skills and a customer service mindset are as important as technical expertise when it comes to hiring. Businesses sometimes find they can more easily teach the technical aspect of the job than help someone acquire the soft skills needed to interact effectively with end users." About the Survey The national survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 2,700 telephone interviews with CIOs in the United States and Canada. About Robert Half Technology With more than 120 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at rht.com. Follow Robert Half Technology at twitter.com/RobertHalfTech or visit our technology blog at blog.rht.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tales-from-the-help-desk-from-personal-assistant-to-private-eye-300120310.html SOURCE Robert Half Technology |