[41308] in Resnet-Forum
Re: Making Training Mandatory
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Naomi Gunther)
Fri Jul 29 12:11:08 2016
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a113b04a43a462f0538c7dbc9
Message-ID: <CAMSNSU9+sZMuSHQO8EwvNq=28xu4_ZA-dQfJtRcfNv5fqiO+KQ@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:24:51 -0700
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu>
From: Naomi Gunther <naomi@UCSC.EDU>
To: RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu
In-Reply-To: <581EDEF3-C50B-4AFD-891B-0572F8ED311F@providence.edu>
--001a113b04a43a462f0538c7dbc9
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
We're fortunate that the student tech position is a highly popular job. So
we have a large applicant pool to choose from when we hire the new techs in
spring quarter. During the interview, we provide the information about
mandatory training and the dates. Because the beginning of the quarter is
insanely busy, we hire more new techs than we will need throughout the
year. My student staff throughout the year is around 20. But I hire enough
new staff to bring the total to 30 to deal with the high volume at the
beginning of Fall.
The new techs are initially hired for a 1 month temporary position. This
gets us through the rush. After the month, we hire the best new techs into
the permanent position, and release the others. This process is explained
during the interview and again during training. Anyone who does not show up
for training is automatically released. For us, the 3 day training is as
much about team building as it is about technical training.
The returning techs have an extra day of training because they are expected
to coach and mentor the new techs and we spend time covering the
responsibilities of their new role. They also are responsible for leading a
portion of the training, so they figure out who is going to teach which
topic and then they need time to prepare their presentation. Sadly, I
cannot pay them more for this extra responsibility. But I am trying to
change this.
We pay housing so the students can move in early. For us, this prevents
many of the conflicts that would occur if we started later. We can't hire
work study students that early, so we hire them as non-work study for those
days, and then rehire them as work study as soon as they are eligible. So
here's what the schedule looks like;
Sat 9/10 Mandatory Returner training
Sun 9/11 Returners prepare their training presentations
Mon 9/12 - Wed 9/14 Full staff training
Thurs 9/15 students begin moving in
We don't have much of an issue with returners not showing up for training,
but it does occasionally happen. I've made exceptions for some, and
released others. It depends on the technician and the circumstance. But for
the most part, they understand it's part of the job, and they understand
the important role they play in building a new team. They are usually
invested in the job, so they want to be part of the training.
Naomi
*******************
Naomi Gunther
ResNet Manager
University of California Santa Cruz
831-459-5757
naomi@ucsc.edu
resnet.ucsc.edu
On Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 6:12 AM, Rizzo, Jim <JRIZZO@providence.edu> wrote:
> Hey everyone!
>
>
>
> So I=E2=80=99m looking for a little bit of advice and insight into what y=
ou all do
> with regards to training your student employees. I know I=E2=80=99m not i=
n a unique
> situation here, but I=E2=80=99ll tell you a little bit about my Helpdesk =
and how
> we=E2=80=99ve been doing things.
>
>
>
> Our helpdesk, like many others, is staffed almost entirely by students. I=
n
> fact, there are only 2 full time employees, myself and one other employee
> of mine who works nights. Like everyone else, the beginning of the school
> year is the most difficult time for us, and having a partially staffed de=
sk
> does not make things easier. Couple the understaffing with lack of traini=
ng
> and it can be a nightmare.
>
>
>
> To make things easier, I, like many of you, hold a training program at th=
e
> end of the summer, bringing my students back to campus a week early to
> train and to assist with the general move-in days, which are, admittedly,
> much easier than they used to be, but can still be stressful, especially
> when the freshmen move in. However, Providence College is a relatively
> small school and most students get involved in other activities, many of
> which require them to attend programs prior to the start of the semester.
> These programs conflict with our training period. Add in students who mak=
e
> last minute vacation plans, and I end up with several who are unable to
> attend training. This ultimately results in a staff that isn=E2=80=99t re=
ady to hit
> the ground running at the start of the semester.
>
>
>
> So my question for all of you is how do you handle those situations? I
> informed my staff of the training dates in January so they would know to
> mark them on their calendars, but they still haven=E2=80=99t. I have a st=
rongly
> worded email ready to send to them because I=E2=80=99m at my wit=E2=80=99=
s end here. I=E2=80=99m
> not happy that so many have made other plans when they already had the
> dates. I can=E2=80=99t just go and prevent them from working because I wi=
ll have an
> even smaller staff. So what do I do?!?! It=E2=80=99s extremely frustratin=
g. I have
> a larger portion than ever not attending, and adding in the fact that our
> Financial Aid office will not allow me to hire prior to the beginning of
> August means that I am very understaffed and undertrained at the start of
> the fall semester (our busiest time of year).
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
>
> Jim Rizzo
>
> Helpdesk Manager
>
> Providence College Information Technology
>
> (401) 865-1277
>
> AIM: JRizzoPC
>
> http://www.providence.edu/helpdesk
>
> *http://www.providence.edu/ihelp <http://www.providence.edu/ihelp>*
>
>
>
> Like us on Facebook!
>
> http://www.facebook.com/ProvCollHelpDesk
>
>
>
> Follow us on Twitter!
>
> http://twitter.com/PCITHelpdesk
> ___________________________________________________ You are subscribed to
> the ResNet-L mailing list.
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives, go to
> http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html
> ___________________________________________________
>
___________________________________________________
You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
go to http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html
___________________________________________________
--001a113b04a43a462f0538c7dbc9
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>We're fortunate that the student tech position is=
a highly popular job. So we have a large applicant pool to choose from whe=
n we hire the new techs in spring quarter. During the interview, we provide=
the information about mandatory training and the dates. Because the beginn=
ing of the quarter is insanely busy, we hire more new techs than we will ne=
ed throughout the year. My student staff throughout the year is around 20. =
But I hire enough new staff to bring the total to 30 to deal with the high =
volume at the beginning of Fall.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The new techs=
are initially hired for a 1 month temporary position. This gets us through=
the rush. After the month, we hire the best new techs into the permanent p=
osition, and release the others. This process is explained during the inter=
view and again during training. Anyone who does not show up for training is=
automatically released. For us, the 3 day training is as much about team b=
uilding as it is about technical training.=C2=A0<br></div><div><br></div><d=
iv>The returning techs have an extra day of training because they are expec=
ted to coach and mentor the new techs and we spend time covering the respon=
sibilities of their new role. They also are responsible for leading a porti=
on of the training, so they figure out who is going to teach which topic an=
d then they need time to prepare their presentation. Sadly, I cannot pay th=
em more for this extra responsibility. But I am trying to change this. =C2=
=A0</div><div><br></div><div>We pay housing so the students can move in ear=
ly. For us, this prevents many of the conflicts that would occur if we star=
ted later. We can't hire work study students that early, so we hire the=
m as non-work study for those days, and then rehire them as work study as s=
oon as they are eligible. So here's what the schedule looks like;</div>=
<div><br></div><div>Sat 9/10 Mandatory Returner training</div><div>Sun 9/11=
Returners prepare their training presentations</div><div>Mon 9/12 - Wed 9/=
14 Full staff training</div><div>Thurs 9/15 students begin moving in</div><=
div><br></div><div>We don't have much of an issue with returners not sh=
owing up for training, but it does occasionally happen. I've made excep=
tions for some, and released others. It depends on the technician and the c=
ircumstance. But for the most part, they understand it's part of the jo=
b, and they understand the important role they play in building a new team.=
They are usually invested in the job, so they want to be part of the train=
ing.</div><div><br></div><div>Naomi</div><div>*******************</div><div=
>Naomi Gunther</div><div>ResNet Manager</div><div>University of California =
Santa Cruz</div><div>831-459-5757</div><div><a href=3D"mailto:naomi@ucsc.ed=
u">naomi@ucsc.edu</a></div><div><a href=3D"http://resnet.ucsc.edu">resnet.u=
csc.edu</a></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">=
On Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 6:12 AM, Rizzo, Jim <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=
=3D"mailto:JRIZZO@providence.edu" target=3D"_blank">JRIZZO@providence.edu</=
a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0=
0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor=3D"white" lang=3D"EN-US" link=3D"#0563C1" vlink=3D"#954F72">
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">Hey everyone!<u></u=
><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">So I=E2=80=99m look=
ing for a little bit of advice and insight into what you all do with regard=
s to training your student employees. I know I=E2=80=99m not in a unique si=
tuation here, but I=E2=80=99ll tell you a little bit about my
Helpdesk and how we=E2=80=99ve been doing things.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">Our helpdesk, like =
many others, is staffed almost entirely by students. In fact, there are onl=
y 2 full time employees, myself and one other employee of mine who works ni=
ghts. Like everyone else, the beginning
of the school year is the most difficult time for us, and having a partial=
ly staffed desk does not make things easier. Couple the understaffing with =
lack of training and it can be a nightmare.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">To make things easi=
er, I, like many of you, hold a training program at the end of the summer, =
bringing my students back to campus a week early to train and to assist wit=
h the general move-in days, which are,
admittedly, much easier than they used to be, but can still be stressful, =
especially when the freshmen move in. However, Providence College is a rela=
tively small school and most students get involved in other activities, man=
y of which require them to attend
programs prior to the start of the semester. These programs conflict with =
our training period. Add in students who make last minute vacation plans, a=
nd I end up with several who are unable to attend training. This ultimately=
results in a staff that isn=E2=80=99t ready
to hit the ground running at the start of the semester.<u></u><u></u></spa=
n></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">So my question for =
all of you is how do you handle those situations? I informed my staff of th=
e training dates in January so they would know to mark them on their calend=
ars, but they still haven=E2=80=99t. I have
a strongly worded email ready to send to them because I=E2=80=99m at my wi=
t=E2=80=99s end here. I=E2=80=99m not happy that so many have made other pl=
ans when they already had the dates. I can=E2=80=99t just go and prevent th=
em from working because I will have an even smaller staff. So what
do I do?!?! It=E2=80=99s extremely frustrating. I have a larger portion th=
an ever not attending, and adding in the fact that our Financial Aid office=
will not allow me to hire prior to the beginning of August means that I am=
very understaffed and undertrained at the
start of the fall semester (our busiest time of year).<u></u><u></u></span=
></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">Jim<u></u><u></u></=
span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">--=C2=
=A0<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Jim Riz=
zo<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Helpdes=
k Manager<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Provide=
nce College Information Technology<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><a href=
=3D"tel:%28401%29%20865-1277" value=3D"+14018651277" target=3D"_blank">(401=
) 865-1277</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">AIM: JR=
izzoPC<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><a href=
=3D"http://www.providence.edu/helpdesk" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"co=
lor:blue">http://www.providence.edu/helpdesk</span></a><u></u><u></u></span=
></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><a h=
ref=3D"http://www.providence.edu/ihelp" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"co=
lor:blue">http://www.providence.edu/ihelp</span></a></span></u><span style=
=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><u></u>=
=C2=A0<u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Like us=
on Facebook!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><a href=
=3D"http://www.facebook.com/ProvCollHelpDesk" target=3D"_blank"><span style=
=3D"color:blue">http://www.facebook.com/ProvCollHelpDesk</span></a><u></u><=
u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><u></u>=
=C2=A0<u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Follow =
us on Twitter!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><a href=
=3D"http://twitter.com/PCITHelpdesk" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"color=
:blue">http://twitter.com/PCITHelpdesk</span></a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
___________________________________________________
You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
<p>
To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
go to <a href=3D"http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html" target=3D"_=
blank">http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html</a>
___________________________________________________
</p></blockquote></div><br></div></div>
___________________________________________________
You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
<p>
To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
go to <a href=3D"http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html" target=3D"_blank">http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html</a>
___________________________________________________
--001a113b04a43a462f0538c7dbc9--
