New Year New Career: Computer Support Specialist
One of the top industries to work in is technology, and that isn’t expected to change with the coming New Year. Help desk support is a great place to start your tech career. In fact, many IT veterans got their start fixing IT problems at the help desk. Don’t have a degree in computer science or technology? That’s not a problem! Computer support specialist was listed at #7 in U.S. News and World Report’s “25 Best Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree”.
With a few online courses, you can get the training you need to start in a growing career in tech support. Here’s what you need to know:
1. It’s important to have basic knowledge of a wide range of technology.
While you will receive some training on the job specific to the technologies and network set up used by your employer, there is basic knowledge that could help you land a job and be more successful in your new role. It’s a good idea to start with a Help Desk Analyst course that will help you learn what to expect on the job in “Tier 1” support.
You’ll learn where to find answers and solutions to problems you encounter, and a good course will also help you with important communication skills you will need in your new role. You should also look into earning the CompTia A+ certification – a highly valued industry certification. This cert requires you to learn about common personal computer hardware like RAM, power supplies, and motherboards.
To earn this valuable credential, you’ll need to understand how things work and how to troubleshoot problems. CompTIA A+ is also the first step to higher level and more specialized credentials needed in your career journey. In fact, many companies require this for entry level positions.
2. Good communication skills are essential.
We already mentioned that a good help desk support course would also cover communication skills, and this will be an essential component of your new role. You’ll need to be able to clearly and effectively communicate technical issues with those who are less tech-savvy, and you’ll be working with people who are upset and stressed.
When someone calls for help desk support, they have faced a problem that they cannot solve. They’ve had their day interrupted and this causes stress. It’s your job to help fix their technology issues, and get them back up and running productively.
While working in a help desk support role, you’ll need to adapt as new challenges arises — invaluable skills in any position.
Good communication skills will help when interacting with clients and clearly explaining how to fix their problems. Good communication skills will also help you gain the respect of clients, peers, and superiors. Moreover, these skills may even put you in line for promotions ahead of others in the same role.
3. Help desk support is a great starting point for a career in technology.
Working on the help desk allows you to make a difference in the lives of the people around you on a daily basis. You will be responsible for fixing the problems that occur and helping others better do their jobs. You’ll listen to concerns and lend a hand to fix whatever you can, and this will not go unnoticed by the people who rely on you. Tech support could become a lifelong career or a springboard to something else.
You’ll get to know other people in the organization as well. This could launch you into other careers as you’ll be able to identify mentors you’d like to work with and projects you’d like to take on. Once you identify a few areas of interest, it’s easy to add more specialized skills to your resume. Consider programming in Java or SQL, database development, and even web design in online courses.
In a tech support role, you’ll never have all the answers. That’s okay though! With a little bit of training and the willingness to learn, you join the help desk support team. The choice is yours. Set a goal now, and make 2019 the year you finally begin your tech career in help desk support.
