Hi!
Many good suggestions on the thread already. Talk to your boss if things are really automated. Gather your support contact methods including how to escalate with Epicor. When issues arrive, then document bugs super well including steps to reproduce if you can (speeds things up). Have an open bug list and triage with the support team. Communicate frequently, and cleanly with all stakeholders. Also, it will be ok! You got it!
Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
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Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
i appreciate your candor. i think you may be right. in my current position, i feel at a loss. i think sometimes people, like me in this case, can feel almost indebted to a company that took a chance on them. i have no professional experience in this field and this was known at time of interview. i feel like i am not being utilized in a fashion where i could actually LEARN instead, but then again i struggle with my ow…
Alternatively this is one of those things that, maybe, if it all goes well, you could leverage for a promotion and pay raise. Of course, there's a lot of context that we don't really have access to but that's another thing to consider.
OP is an intern, at most companies promotions and job offers are literally impossible. Of course they might be able to swing a permanent job, but I'm not convinced this place would be great for learning or for career.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
i appreciate your candor. i think you may be right. in my current position, i feel at a loss. i think sometimes people, like me in this case, can feel almost indebted to a company that took a chance on them. i have no professional experience in this field and this was known at time of interview. i feel like i am not being utilized in a fashion where i could actually LEARN instead, but then again i struggle with my ow…
Alternatively this is one of those things that, maybe, if it all goes well, you could leverage for a promotion and pay raise. Of course, there's a lot of context that we don't really have access to but that's another thing to consider.
right and i read back my post and i leave out some context and do not mean to disparage my boss or the company i work for. and i think you may be right, instead of being afraid and, lack of a better term, paranoid about this situation i could instead embrace the challenge, and communicate better what i do know and what i don't know.
you had me at "pay raise" hehe..
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#14I think it is the job of your boss to provide you with access. That should obviously happened sooner but I would still enjoy the weekend. It may be your last one. Kidding, wouldn't worry too much. If your boss works in IT he is probably used to getting called when not in the office. Maybe just tell him you are nervous because of the update. But I very much doubt anyone would blame you if there are any difficulties.
hahaha thanks for the laugh, i needed it...
and i think you are right. i need to remember my place/position.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#15Hi! Many good suggestions on the thread already. Talk to your boss if things are really automated. Gather your support contact methods including how to escalate with Epicor. When issues arrive, then document bugs super well including steps to reproduce if you can (speeds things up). Have an open bug list and triage with the support team. Communicate frequently, and cleanly with all stakeholders. Also, it will be ok!…
yes I am very pleasantly surprised to find the support i've gotten back so far. it has already put me at ease.
i also really appreciate your outlining what i can do. document document document, communicate communicate communicate.
thank you for your kind words.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#16If your boss hasn't left yet, talk to them. Ask if there's a runbook and what credentials you'll need. Both aren't just reasonable questions, they're required to be known to complete the task.
If boss is gone, go to their supervisor.
Do this today. Assuming you're in the US, you have most of the workday to figure out what you know and what you don't.
And, as somebody else posted, calm down. Either your boss trusts you, or your boss is an arsehole. Either way, that's a good thing to know now. In the first case, great. In the second, no great, but you know you don't want to work for him beyond this internship.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#17This is the time to get your resume ready. If you've not been involved in the upgrade planning and you've not been given a detailed MOP to execute and you've not even been given a login for the software... And the person who I assume has been planning the upgrade is going on vacation then it's time for you go as well. Alternatively raise your concerns with your bosses boss.. Since I would also assume your bosses boss…
i appreciate your candor. i think you may be right. in my current position, i feel at a loss. i think sometimes people, like me in this case, can feel almost indebted to a company that took a chance on them. i have no professional experience in this field and this was known at time of interview. i feel like i am not being utilized in a fashion where i could actually LEARN instead, but then again i struggle with my ow…
> i think sometimes people, like me in this case, can feel almost indebted to a company that took a chance on them
What does giving you that chance cost them, versus you? If you fail, they'll likely fire you and move on to the next person. If you succeed, they will likely get credit for picking a good one, then they get to utilize you for years, potentially. During that time, they likely will make multiples of your salary on your work. There is very little real risk to the company for 'giving you a chance'.
In some bad companies, you have little input into shaping the expectations into something reasonable. In those companies, you can easily be expected to do something that just isn't feasible, and it is no fault of yours.
From your story, it sounds like you may be in one of the companies that expect what they expect, and never ask if it is reasonable from people who know. I also wonder if your boss is taking vacation to distance themselves from an expected meltdown that they were unable to manage away. Hard to tell reality single point of view on the internet, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#18Epicor is an ERP program, and from my limited time working with a different one, I think it's a bit unfair for them to expect you to handle this whole thing on your own, and on such short notice. I've only seen ERP software be big and clunky.
So, don't calm down, but feel a bit justified in being worried all of a sudden.
Be very clear that you need to have login sorted out before you can begin work on the project. Write down all of your concerns in a text document, and save them to be raised the internal kickoff meeting (There should be one. If not, ask for one).
Meanwhile, search their documentation as best you can, and see if you can get an idea of what the actual work would entail. Research can count as productivity, and you may find more questions that need to be raised.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#19I used epicor for years and I’m honestly still surprised it exists. It is such a bad program from a terrible company. The updates generally broke the system every time and required a company rep to come out and fix it. Seemed like a total scam. I would not expect any upgrade to go well and I’m pretty sure it is by design.
Re: Tell HN: I'm nervous and don't know where else to go
#20Calm down, haha Do you know anyone there that uses this software? Can you ask them what the experience was like the last time this happened (from their point of view)? Maybe you don't need a login, maybe they just push the update out and you pretend to be involved!
this is where i get stuck - the operators on the shop floor use the program to print their labels, whereas a sales person in the office is using the program to draft purchase orders. it is an absolute beast software and i think i am just getting... in my head. thanks for the "calm down" it sincerely helps. i will continue to ask around here, as communication is probably the best tool i have at my disposal right now.…
> communication is probably the best tool I have
Without a doubt. Just make sure you are not being a whiny complainer about getting dumped on. Everyone you talk to will already know you've been thrown to the wolves - you don't have to remind them of it. But on the other hand, they will also see that you are trying and preparing and taking the job seriously: If things blow up on Monday they will blame your boss for leaving. If things go smoothly they will think it's because you took charge and made it happen.
(But also, spend some time thinking about a new job, because there is always a small chance you get screwed. The business world is cold and heartless sometimes).
PPS - it is entirely possible that the users do not yet know about the scheduled upgrade, either because they were never told or because they ignored the email or whatever. They might have some major thing going on Monday and can't have any downtime. Talking to them and asking about experiences and concerns will surface that. If it is the case, they will voices on your side in a call for delay. And! It will look good on your resume: "Improved inter-department communication, saving company $$$$/increasing revenue $$$$ by optimizing software update schedule"