Computer & Network Support Services

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. In our business every day is an adventure. Jobs can range from being very simple to being extremely complex. The variety of jobs we work on provides a great balance of no brainers to being extremely stressful.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. We only provide computer and network support services to businesses. We do not provide support to home users with computer issues. If you are a business looking for experienced and seasoned computer / network support professionals, then look no further! We provide support for many of the major IT manufacturers such as; Microsoft, Novell, Dell, HP, Acer, 3COM, CISCO, Allied Telesyn, Linksys, Symantec, Trend Micro, Juniper, SonicWall, Barracuda and more.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Everything! We hear that all the time; "we wished we knew more about computers!" In this day and age, ONCALL believes in educating customers, not keeping them in the dark. Ignorance does not breed money in IT, in fact it many cases it breeds frustration and contempt for those who will not share their knowledge!

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Besure to ask the vendor what services they actually provide. Many vendors specialize in a specific area and therefore are not a full service provider. At ONCALL we provide our clients with a "one-stop-shop" service experience. Whether they need data cabling, wireless, onsite computer or network support or web Site development we can help!

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. There are a multitude of IT vendors in the Portland and Vancouver markets to chose from. Some are good and some are not, many are novices working to gain the skills necessary to become successful as an IT tech. The question a customer has to ask is whether they want to work with Geeks and Nerds or seasoned IT professionals that not only understand IT but possess the business skills and common sense to understand the client's business environment and therefore their unique IT needs.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. We could tell you that we enjoy the challenges, the technology and to solve our client's problems. However after so many years in IT we have learned the greatest reward is in working with the people we come in contact with. After all, technology set aside, it's the people who we affect and interact with the most, technology is only a tool to help them, a means to an end.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Oh my have times changed! Twenty some years ago as a member of a national manufacturer of Network Operating system software I would take calls from clients all over the United States and Canada. My favorite calls (which seemed all too frequent) we recieved were from panic'd clients who couldn't understand why their computer screens were blank! I would pick up the phone and ask" "how may I help you" and a very nervous voice would respond; "I don't understand it, I simlpy don't get it!". I would sympathetical ask; "what don't you get sir (or Madam)" and they would sharply reply; "why doesn't my THING work?". I would ask; "your thing? What thing?". they would say: "My...my, screen, it's blank! (Ok, you might think of all kinds of things here, but back then if a "thing" didn't work it was a major catastrophy, at least to them). After settling them down with child like assurances, and after pain stakingly walking them through finding the mysterious and elusive power switch, SUCCESS!!! The "thing" was back working again and I was a computer GOD! If only client problems were so simple today! I long for the "thing" of yesterday! Back then a man or woman who knew how to fix the "thing" had an IT career ahead of them!

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I couldn't cook!

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Of all the technical fields today, IT requires the consultant or tech to keep informed technically on almost a daily basis. An IT person can become obsolete in less than a year if they chose not to stay on top or keep abreast of new technology releases or changes as they occur! Continual learning, studying and hands-on training is a "way of life" in IT!

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Although for the foreseeable future, IT techs will be needed, we have seen such major strides in self configuring systems as to make the need for a highly trained and skilled IT tech seem unnecessary at times. We forsee a time in the future where computer systems will automatically configure and set themselves up completely with little or no human user intervention! Today many sophisticated and complex computer hardware and software system designs are being accomplished by computers. As time goes on, this will become the norm with humans taking second seat mentally and physically to more advanced less paid and less problematic computer systems.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Nothing complicated here. We charge a flat rate hourly fee AND we do not charge for trip, overtime or parking! That's right, our rates are truly flat!

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Become a lawyer, Doctor, Nurse, Pharmicist, Artist, Teacher or anything else. Why? Simply the market has become saturated and yet more and more IT grads are coming out of college with no place to go.