“IT Helpdesk, good afternoon!” Most people on campus are greeted this way when they call the IT Service Desk. But for Quinton Luiters it’s become such an automatic response, he even answers his home phone in the same way – much to the amusement of his wife.
And is it any wonder if you’ve been doing it for 8 years? Besides catching phone calls, it’s also Quinton’s responsibility to see to everyone’s e-mailboxes and network space. If Outlook reprimands you on your mailbox space, this is the guy who will save you from your fix.
He’s used to keeping a few balls in the air. At the service desk you have to be able to handle a few things at the same time.
“Those who say men can’t multitask, should see how much the seven guys at the service desk manage to do at the same time!”
Quinton has been multitasking way before he joined the hub of activity at the service desk. At UWC he was a marks administrator where he, among other things, had to administer the tutors, tutorials and also first and second years’ marks.
Only after UWC, when he joined IT, he was given the opportunity to work in the field he studied in for four years. With a National Diploma in Information Technology he was able to jump right in.
If he didn’t take the leap back then and choose Information Technology above Civil Engineering, it would’ve been our loss and Engineering’s gain.
In 1996 Information Technology was still something new and taught at PENTECH (now CPUT). The internet as we know it was hardly two years old and a mere babe.
“I had to choose between something unfamiliar and travelling to Cape Town on a daily basis or stay in my hometown, Stellenbosch and study Civil Engineering.”
Today, the diverse team of people he works with, adds to the enjoyment of his job.
“Everyone has their quirks and oddities, but the positive attitudes and helpfulness makes working a pleasure.”
When you’re thrown into a stressful situation, you find ways to ease the tension – like the odd joke or two.
There will always be pressure, but Quinton’s biggest satisfaction is being able to help someone and the appreciation they show. To deal with situations he has no control over, are more tricky, just because you really want to help, but can’t.
At least there are ways outside work to stabilise the stress levels again. Travel and exploring new places is high on his list.
“Like they say, “Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride!””
“A few years back we were fortunate to go to USA, Washington Virginia for the wedding of my wife’s brother – I was one of the best men. We will definitely go again soon if God spares us.”
Back at home he and Alicia, according to him the actual wine connoisseur, like to do the odd wine tour. Some of their favourite wine farms in the vicinity include Devon Valley and JC le Roux in Stellenbosch and Haute Cabriere, Leopard’s Leap and Solms-Delta in Franschhoek.
And of course, who doesn’t have time for a braaitjie, beer and good conversation. If you work hard, you need to play hard, he says.
IT SERVICE DESK CONTACT DETAILS
Phone: +27 21 808 4367
E-mail: helpinfo@sun.ac.za (enquiries)
help@sun.ac.za (to log an error)
Skype: handle = ITStellenUni
Twitter: handle = ITStellenUni
Web: www.sun.ac.za/itselfhelp
Blog: www.sun.ac.za/infoteg
“IT Hulplyn, goeiemiddag!” Feitlik almal op kampus is al op dié manier begroet as hulle IT se Dienstoonbank geskakel het. Maar vir Quinton Luiters is dit al so `n outomatiese reaksie dat hy soms selfs die telefoon by die huis ook op dieselfde wyse antwoord – tot groot vermaak van sy vrou.
En as `n mens dit al vir 8 jaar doen is dit ook geen wonder nie. Benewens foonoproepe vang, is Quinton daarvoor verantwoordelik dat almal se e-posbusse en netwerkspasie werk soos dit moet. As Outlook jou kwaai aanspreek oor jou spasie, is hy die ou wat jou gaan red uit jou penarie.
Hy is gewoond aan vele balle in die lug hou. By die hulplyn moet jy veelvuldige take gelyktydig kan doen.
“Diegene wat sê mans kan nie “multitask” nie, moet kom kyk hoeveel dinge ons sewe ouens by die hulplyn gelyktydig doen!”
Quinton “multitask” al lank voordat hy by die hulplyn-miernes aangesluit het. Hy was destyds by UWK `n punteadministreerder en verantwoordelik vir, onder andere, die administrasie van tutors, tutoriale en ook eerste en tweedejaarspunte.
Maar hy het eers na UWK, toe hy hom by IT aangesluit het, dat daar `n geleentheid was om uiteindelik in die veld te werk waarin hy vier jaar studeer het. Met `n Nasionale Diploma in Informasietegnologie kon hy hom met die intrapslag goed van sy taak kwyt.
As hy egter nie destyds die kans gewaag en Informasietegnologie bo Siviele Ingenieurswese gekies het nie, was dit ons verlies en Ingenieurswese se wins.
In 1996 was Informasietegnologie nog `n nuutjie en is dit by PENTECH (nou CPUT) aangebied. Die internet, soos ons dit ken, was skaars twee jaar oud en nog maar `n lammetjie.
“Ek moes kies tussen iets onbekend en elke dag pendel stad toe of op my tuisdorp, Stellenbosch, Siviel swot”.
Vandag maak die diverse span mense saam met wie hy werk, dit vir hom ekstra lekker.
“Almal het hul eie maniertjies en snaaksighede, maar die positiewe gesindheid en behulpsaamheid maak werk ‘n plesier”.
As jy in `n stresvolle situasie gegooi word, kry jy vinnig maniere om die spanning te verlig, soos met `n grappie af en toe.
Druk tye sal daar altyd wees, maar Quiton se grootste satisfaksie is as hy iemand kan help en die waardering wat mense daarvoor wys. Om situasies te hanteer wat buite sy beheer is, is aansienlik moeiliker juis omdat `n mens so graag iemand wil help en jy kan nie.
Gelukkig is daar buite die werk dinge om die stresvlakke weer `n bietjie te stabiliseer. Reis en nuwe plekke ontdek is hoog op sy lysie.
“Soos hulle sê, “Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride!””
“`n Paar jaar gelede was ons gelukkig om Washington, Virginia te besoek vir my swaer se troue – ek was een van die strooijonkers. Ek sal definitief weer wil gaan as die Here ons spaar.”
Terug by die huis werk hy en Alicia, volgens Quinton, die eintlike wyn connoisseur, so af en toe `n wyntoertjie deur. Van hul gunstelingplase in die omgewing is DevonValley en JC le Roux op Stellenbosch en Haute Cabriere, Leopard’s Leap en Solms-Delta in Franschhoek.
En natuurlik, wie het dan nie tyd vir `n braaitjie, biertjie en goeie geselskap nie? As `n mens elke dag hard werk, moet jy hard speel ook, sê hy.
IT DIENSTOONBANK KONTAKDETAILS
Foon: +27 21 808 4367
E-pos: helpinfo@sun.ac.za (enquiries)
help@sun.ac.za (to log an error)
Skype: handle = ITStellenUni
Twitter: handle = ITStellenUni
Web: www.sun.ac.za/itselfhelp
Blog: www.sun.ac.za/infoteg
If you see someone wandering around campus, occasionally blurting out “Ok Glass!” , don’t be too worried. He’s probably one of the lucky ones who recently acquired a pair of Google Glass.
It may be a cliché, but dynamite comes in small packages – and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to Mandy. If you hear a click-clack of heels in IT’s passageways, you’ll know that this small package is on another mission to get things done.