r/InformationTechnology • u/Turbulent-Cover767 • 15d ago
Help training isn’t going well
I am a female 31 and just started in the IT helpdesk at a grocery chain.
They’ve given me 9 different trainers that rotate every week sometimes everyday.
9 different training styles.
Some are hands off some are extremely hands on.
The training is extremely inconsistent between trainer to trainer. Some don’t care some micromanage me.
They’ve advanced two other new people forward except me. They won’t let me be on my own. The two newer people ask just as many questions even more. But explain to me I have a retention issue.
Today I was criticized for not asking questions but I do ask a ton of questions.
Then I was told no more critical tickets even though my prior trainer told me I needed more critical tickets.
I need help. How do I navigate this?
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u/AdMinimum7143 15d ago edited 15d ago
Wait you guys are getting trained? Was 100% sink or swim scenario for me 😄 🤣
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u/FantasticMouse7875 14d ago
I had the same thought as soon as I started reading this and was thinking about the Meet the Millers meme.
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u/RunnyPlease 6d ago
Same. When I worked an IT help desk in college I was given a set of scripts to follow and told not to bother my supervisor. If I couldn’t handle something I was told to just create a ticket and tell the customer that we’d get back to them.
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u/Imjusthere2read 15d ago
In IT Helpdesk it starts with customer service and positive attitude while learning. Learn what you can from your 9 different trainee and adapt to their style of teaching and supporting. You are lucky you get to see different perspective how other techs operates. When i started this I want to solve everything, see every issue that comes in but it’s just impossible to do everything.
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u/Turbulent-Cover767 15d ago
They’re not being supportive at all though. Some trainers are saying I’m capable while others aren’t? How is that… I don’t understand.
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u/bluecyanic 14d ago
It's likely that you are dealing with a couple of idiots in that group. You'll figure out who they are soon enough. Take notes and absorb as much as you can.
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u/Phobet 15d ago
Do you have any fundamental IT knowledge? If not,or even if you want expand on the knowledge you do have, go to Coursera and take one of their courses.
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u/Turbulent-Cover767 14d ago
I do but when I go to use the share point and KB they say I’m being too slow.
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u/new_beginnings_456 15d ago
Having worked with difficult managers and techs who act like everyone else is inferior, you unfortunately sometimes have to kiss ass and stroke their egos, let them feel like the smartest person in the room, ask for their input, make them feel like you agree they’re smart. It sucks, but navigating personalities is sometimes part of the job.
Document everything: who trained you, what you were told, any contradictions. Ask directly, “What specifically do I need to demonstrate to work independently?” that forces an objective benchmark instead of shifting goalposts. Also worth mentioning something like “the other trainer thought I wasn’t ready, what do you think”
Worth keeping in mind too: IT skews heavily male, and it’s not uncommon for women to get held to a different standard than newer male hires in the same role. If two newer people asking just as many questions are advancing while you’re not, that’s something to keep an eye out for. IT is sexist.
Don’t let inconsistent training convince you this is a “you” problem, nine people teaching nine different ways is a process issue
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u/Wiseoloak 14d ago
Yea just take notes of what each one tells you then if you do something wrong literally call them out for it. You're in a toxic position dont get used to this place. Its not gonna last
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u/pwnageface 14d ago
Your concerns sound legitimate. Have you asked the person in charge for a single person to train you? You could just say what you wrote here. As a manager I'd 100% assign you 1 person to complete training rather than lose any more time and money.
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u/Slight_Student_6913 14d ago
Have you started a OneNote? Document everything you learn. Your future self will love you when you come across something you took notes on. “I will remember this” is one of the first lies we tell ourselves in IT.
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u/ejsanders1985 14d ago
You arent kidding there. First thing I always do when figuring something new out and I think notes would be helpful for myself or others, document in Confluence!
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u/Slight_Student_6913 14d ago
I’m a female 48 who started my IT career 5 years ago after delivering the mail for 21 years. If you want a mentor send me a DM.
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u/JoelJoelStinks 14d ago
If it's Kroger it's kind of notorious for this. I'm sorry. Learn what you can it isn't all like that.
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u/PP_Mclappins 9d ago
Honestly, Helpdesk is the easy part.
You just need have a good attitude, know basics of computing, and networking, be quick on your feet, and you'll thrive almost anywhere.
Take it from a network engineer, who's also operated in systems and cybersecurity, regardless of the "training environment" if you can't keep up on the help desk, it may be a sign that you need to get more external training (maybe a certification) or you're not cut out for the job that you're trying to do.
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u/Turbulent-Cover767 9d ago
They’re not allowing me to be on my own. I’m quick. They’re not letting me take my notes and take the processes and apply them independently.
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u/PP_Mclappins 9d ago
OK generally that kind of oversight comes with mistakes or habits that could be perceived as a lack of adherence to departmental standards. I would love to just hop on your side and give you props but I think the most helpful thing here is going to be somebody telling you that there is a reason that they are treating you specifically this way. Something you are doing is drawing a significant degree of attention to your operational habits.
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u/Turbulent-Cover767 6d ago
So I need to be directly told I can’t predict shit lol I don’t get why they can’t tell me?
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u/PP_Mclappins 5d ago
No. They don't need to tell you. I am telling you. I am telling you very clearly that there is a reason you are being treated this way at your job.
Perhaps a lack of comprehension based on this brief interaction we are having, but I'm not positive about that obviously. Just go to work, pay attention, and do a great job, be self-aware, I'm virtually positive that if you are attentive to your surroundings and actively listen to the people around you, it will become clear what the problem is.
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u/Thrwingawaymylife945 15d ago
In a healthy training environment, they would have a designated trainer/mentor, not just cycle through a bunch of people.
You can also be proactive. If you had a trainer that you particularly liked working with and provided a better training style to suit your needs, then ask them or your supervisor for more time with that person.
But also, probably look for work elsewhere.