Weddingbee boards

@coffeegal85: I'm in the exact same situation you are. I'm a young professional in IT who gets the stupidest questions constantly. I got annoyed at first, frustrated that people would be too lazy to look things up themselves. Then I realized two things. Firstly, it's a compliment, they think you know the answer to everything, take it in a positive way. Secondly, I get paid to answer these questions, it's my job to know and/or find out the answers to solve problems.

@MrsSl82be: I know that if I ever did that (except to maybe one or two officemates as a joke) I'd be in hot water, even if I tried to keep it light.

@MrsSl82be: I suppose if it were someone in the Accounting department asking the Exec Admin technology questions it could be appropriate, but I can't think of another instance where it wouldn't be rude.

@MrsSl82be: I said in that situation it could be appropriate, aside from that, yes, I think it's rude. You'd do better to have a discussion face to face about whatever random questions they have and who they could be more appropriately directed to rather than blowing them off with "Google it."

@Aure - What sucks is when it's NOT your job, and not something you even have access to, but people still call you. I'm a web developer, my job is writing web apps in C#. My department is not even under the regular IT department of where I work. But I have people that call me for stuff like "Can you help me do X in Program Y?" or "My email is giving an error" or "Can you reset my password?".  There's a helpdesk number for a reason, call the helpdesk, don't call me.

@abbyful: Right, but you direct them to helpdesk, you don't tell them to Google it. Trust me, I get accounting questions. I don't look at our bills, I have no idea what the answer is, but I can get you Sue from A/R's extension.

@MrsSl82be: I'm not trying to have an argument with you. I personally feel telling someone to google something is unprofessional. You certainly don't have to agree.

@MrsSl82be: No, I'm in a position that's within the top tiers of my company but I wouldn't respond to anyone, manager or staff, by telling them to Google it. I can see doing so on Weddingbee, or to a coworker that I was close with but like coffeegal85 said, it seems like you can't be bothered with helping them.

I personally would respond with either the answer or with "I don't know the answer but you might try asking Jane" and CCing Jane on the email. Jane could be another coworker, a boss, anyone, but it shows that you care enough to try to help them find a resource who can help. Often times I get the response, "Okay, thanks, already asked Jane and she didn't know. I'll try to look it up." Pretty much what you wanted them to do in the first place but you didn't put it to them in a way that could be considered rude. If I sent an email to someone asking for assistance and was told to Google it I would lose some respect for that person. No one likes being blown off.