What do I ACTUALLY do at work??

TrixiBuG

TrixiBuG

TrixiBuG

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Joined
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Location
Manchester UK
Judging by the threads I have submitted recently - not a lot :rolleyes: :p

But in all seriousness I need some help 'defining' my job role.

At work my job title is 'IT Systems Tester', however, last year I went for a few 'Tester' roles/ interviews and I failed miserably cause I really didn't know what they or I was talking about :(

So I figure that with the help of GD - considering the plethora of talented individuals who frequent this part of the forum - you guys could tell me what my actual job title is and maybe how I would fit in to another company?

Fundamental Specs:
  • Test and analyse new and existing in house systems
  • Discover and investigate bugs and possible enhancements
  • Raise, branch test and authorise 2nd phase release of patches and/ or fixes to said in house system
  • Test and review Intranet Tools, designed to assist in house users
  • Assist in troubleshooting new enhancements to in house systems or new Intranet tools
  • Lease with suppliers when XML links fail causing issues in confirmation of client bookings
  • Create and distribute (including one-on-one or group training) supporting training documentation to coincide with a new software release or enhancement
  • Liaise with other department users to troubleshoot and advise issues with existing software
  • Maintain and update tickets raised regarding bugs and/ or enhancements using RT, Jira and Bugzilla
  • Review and test new mobile web site for the business using browser emulators and devices
  • Provide and execute full regression testing on all 4 of the company's international web sites
  • Run and maintain automated regression of the in house system - which is a Selenium ID with compatible dashboard
  • Provide help and support to the Product and QA Teams
  • Speak and confirm bugs and changes with developers, either face to face or via email and IM

That is pretty much what I do on a weekly basis (well what I can think of for now). The problem I think I have is that all the above is based on working on a bespoke in house system. I have no IT Qualifications and I have no idea what most terminology is.

I can look at the script of some PHP software, but troubleshoot it and identify what the issue is? No...I can tell you what it should do from a user perspective, but not how to amend the code or re-program something :(

I cant code and I have pretty much no idea how to use Linux aside from recording and pulling an XML file from PuTTy.

I don't know any SQL - but I can look at a script and understand what it is meant to do, but I have no idea how to write one.

I have no Java or Pearl experience - so I don't have the foggiest idea how any of that works. And I have no idea how to code, write and design a web site

The problem with my company is two fold:
1) My boss takes control of EVERYTHING. You can ask him for stuff to do, but he takes it back off you. Even work assigned to you will end up back with him and him speaking to others on your behalf without you knowing about it. He will even complete enhancements/ testing of your designs before you even know that they are on branch!

2) My company has no interest in personal development (no not like that!) I have asked to be shown or sent on courses to develop my understanding of Java, SQL etc but the answer is always no..."We are too busy", "Don't think the director will sign off on that" etc etc. This is not just in the IT department, I found the same issue when I was a training manager in the same company. Even when presented with full evidence that a training course in something will improve the company the answer was still no

So what is my job role?? And what jobs should I be looking for when searching for a new job??

Please help! Cause as funny as it is photo shopping my boss's face on to a half naked woman or the whole of the Village People is, its not really me doing any work in a job that I enjoy :p

TL; DR - I have no idea what my job would be classified as in the wider world. Have a look and help me figure it out so I can get a new job
 
I can't help with your job classification because I understood very little of what you said but I can tell you that you have two very career limiting problems, both of which you identified.

Bosses who won't or can't let you develop and run with your own projects are poor managers. Organisations who won't develop their staff are poor organisations.

If someone can help with your main question, it'd be a good idea to think about those two points in a bit more detail.
 
[FnG]magnolia;23792731 said:
I can't help with your job classification because I understood very little of what you said but I can tell you that you have two very career limiting problems, both of which you identified.

Bosses who won't or can't let you develop and run with your own projects are poor managers. Organisations who won't develop their staff are poor organisations.

If someone can help with your main question, it'd be a good idea to think about those two points in a bit more detail.
Click to expand...

That's is the main rub Mag...its like a circle, cause they wont let me have responsibility and they wont train me up in something else, I want to get out of the company, but cause I don't have any qualifications I can't a get a job on a similar salary (£20k per year) with a company which will nurture me... :(


Antar Bolaeisk said:
The problem is you're not sticking engineer on your title, this is why you've not been hired.
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How the fudge do I justify being an engineer when I cant even code? :p

JonJ678 said:
That sounds about right. Would you like to be a software engineer?
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As above really...could I really class myself as that?? edit: and what does a software engineer do?
 
^^ Have I missed something. He doesn't do IT support/engineer.

We have a few people like you at our place and call them system managers. You might also have luck as a technical translator and similar titles along this line.
 
Trifid said:
^^ Have I missed something. He doesn't do IT support/engineer.

We have a few people like you at our place and call them system managers. You might also have luck as a technical translator and similar titles along this line.
Click to expand...

*whispers* I am a 'She' lol

So what is a technical translator?

I went for a job (the only one which I had any luck in) to be a systems tester and technical author - which was right up my street, but it was a brand new and bespoke role within the company and unfortunately, even after 2 interviews, I got piped at the post by someone else - was gutted :(
 
I've no idea what software engineers do, but I don't think you need any qualifications to call yourself one. Lots of use of the word "test and review" in your day-to-day activities, which is roughly what engineers do.

Coding is quite fun, and it would let you really pin down bugs in the system.
 
trixilux said:
How the fudge do I justify being an engineer when I cant even code? :p
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That last guy who came to fix your washing machine, yeah he was a domestic appliance engineer who specialises in aqua aided impurity removal equipment.

Learn to create a website with Wordpress and you too can be an engineer!

(I apologise for the forthcoming complete and total derailment of your thread by the way :p)
 
Carrying on this derail only briefly, I was on the phone to SKY the other day and the lady told me that a SKY technician would be out on Wednesday.

I thought she was trolling me before I realised that real life doesn't always follow the same conventions as the interwobble.
 
GhostlyPea said:
Have you considered, on the basis that you have said above, that maybe changing career entirely would be the best option?

- GP
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Yeah I have... I wanted to become a teacher at one point last year, but financially its not viable at the moment as you need a degree in something to even be considered for teacher training :(

I would like to get into Media/ Radio/ TV (behind the scenes stuff) but most or all want experience (which I dont have) or a degree (which again I dont have)

I don't mind re-learning or going to get a degree but the issue is money. We have a house, a cat and a 3 year old (only part time) to look after, and we cant cope on just my OH's wage alone. Its tight as it is at the mo
 
trixilux said:
*whispers* I am a 'She' lol

So what is a technical translator?
Click to expand...

My apologies.

A technical translator is someone who sits between IT and the end users for bespoke products. They don't do any IT support per se but may do simple things like password resets for that system if they are not AD integrated. Main duties will be testing new systems/upgrades. Requesting feature changes that will help end users. System training etc. Essentially the same as most of our system managers. You'll need to speak IT lingo but also be able to string a coherent sentence together for the end user to understand.
 
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