Description: Helpful blog post about my experience working for Government IT job at Dauphin County and helpful tips for those starting their first job.
Introduction to Government IT
Want to take your first step into the adult world or simply get some insight into a different field? Then you are in the right place! By the end of this blog, you will walk away with much more knowledge about government IT and better confidence when starting your first job than before you began reading. As you read, I will help better explain what government IT is, what their expectations are, and a few tips and tricks you should know when entering that workplace, all of which are based on my own experience while Co-Oping with Dauphin County in their IT Help Desk department.
Before we begin, if you want to get a leg up in the game or want to know more about IT before you even consider it as a career, check out this link: What to Know about IT. It will give you a few facts or tips you may not know about while working in the IT field.
With that out of the way, let us begin with the basics.
What does “Government IT” mean?
If you did not know already, information technology is different than website development or design, people in the IT field tend to deal with issue ranging from hardware, the physical pieces of technology, to software, the programming and digital technology. In the government, this is no different. You can think of it as an in-house tech guy or gal, ready to assist with any technical problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Unlike typical IT departments where the worker is trained and exposed to the specific features of their technology, the County has too many different offices and departments for one group of people to manage. Because of this, there are many different sub departments within government IT, one of which being the Help Desk.
P.S. If you are a future Co-Op student planning to apply to Dauphin County, then that is the department where you will be placed first.
Work Expectations
As a Help Desk employee, you are the first person contacted when an end user has an issue, no matter the nature of the problem. Working at Help Desk also requires the ability to think on your feet, because you are often presented with issues you may not have seen before. If you are someone who loves to be presented with new challenges every day, then Help Desk is for you, otherwise you will need to have great retention or be an excellent note taker to keep up with the constant issues. There are over a hundred applications that different County departments require, and being in the government IT department means you need to have basic knowledge in each one of them. Do not worry, though, they will not just through you in a see if you sink or swim, they will have you shadow a mentor before you even begin handling issues on your own.
Some of you reading this may or may not know what shadowing is, but essentially you hover over your mentor asking questions and watching everything they do. I highly recommend that you follow the “asking questions” part. Unlike school, a job will not go out of its way to teach you if you make no effort to learn, so if you want to prepare yourself the best you can, take every opportunity you must ask questions. You may even want to take notes. Whatever you decide to do, your mentors are there to help you, so go to them with your inquires. Or, if you are feeling rather independent, you can use this link to give your questions to a large community of amateur and expert IT professionals that can answer them for you. Ask Other IT Professionals Your Questions
Aside from mentorship, while it might be repetitive to say, the expectation for work behavior is both stricter and looser than it is in school. Of course, professional behavior is a constant must, but you do get many more liberties in when you talk and about what. For example, on a slow day in the office, my co-workers and I spent nearly twenty minutes discussing if meat can taste “meaty.” I know, what a highly intelligent conversation. On the stricter side of things, you are now in the world of personal and professional liability and responsibility. You will have very important conversations regarding topics like pay and work hours with your supervisor, should you choose to. In those instances, anything less than pleasant courtesy and professionalism will not be tolerated.
First Day Jitters
Even if your interest in IT does not specifically pertain to the government IT department at the County, preparing for your first day at work is important. Whether you have had a job before or you are starting your first one (much like me), it is a good idea to get as much sleep as possible so you can be prepared for you first day. Most, if not all, places of employment have new employees go through an initiation process, or at the County it is called “Onboarding.” You will need to familiarize yourself with information like the employee handbook, your workstation, your fellow co-workers, and more. Being well rested will sharpen your mind and prepare it for all the new information.
My first day experience went well, everyone was so kind and helpful, but the day prior I had built up so much anxiety about what my first day would look like that when I got home, I crashed. I do not recommend it. Just remember, your supervisor, your mentor, and all of your co-workers, they are just people. Treat them with respect and you have nothing to fear. They were all once new hires, too, they understand how nerve-racking the first day can be. All you must do is prepare and breathe. And if breathing does not help, here’s a good website to help integrate seamlessly into your new work environment.
Conclusion
Starting your first job is tough, even more so when entering a field that deals with many different problems and different people every day. Keeping that and all that I mentioned above in mind, your workplace is filled with people getting to know and work with you as much as you are getting to work and know them. By being aware of the work expectations, your role as an IT employee, and getting past first day jitters, you will be able to create a positive and professional environment around you that will help you succeed in becoming the best employee you can be.