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Do you think this is the only information you need to work as an IT support technician?

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There's so much more!

Information technology (IT) support technicians are responsible for addressing technological issues for businesses and individual customers.

What Does an IT Support Technician Do?

IT support technicians can be responsible for:

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  • Helping users solve their problems with computers and other technological equipment.

  • Maintaining, fixing, and updating hardware, software, and networks.

  • Providing user training to clients, customers, and employees.

What Does an IT Support Technician's Day Look Like?

Quiz Time!

Jessica is looking for some advice to become an IT support technician. What advice would you give her? Flaticon Icon

Quiz

As an IT support technician you need to...

Where Can You Work As an IT Support Technician?

Medium or large organizations require the services of IT support technicians, which include:

  • IT services firms

  • Telecommunication companies

  • Banks and insurances firms

  • Colleges and universities

  • Government agencies

  • Retail stores

  • Hospitals

Your work environment will depend on the job specification and the organization you work for:

Flaticon Icon - Employee and computerHelp desk: You'll help users from a specific service area in the organization.

Flaticon Icon - Two coworkers talkingIn-house support: You'll be a part of an in-house IT department or team.

Flaticon Icon - A vanOn-site service: You'll travel to the customer's location.

Flaticon IconRemote: You might also find options to work remotely from home.

What Training or Credentials Do You Need?

IT support technicians have different academic and training backgrounds. You can consider:

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  • Studying an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or a related field, or a college diploma in computer support.

  • Completing an entry-level IT cerfication such as CompTIA A+.

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  • Learning by yourself and building your IT skills in troubleshooting protocols, hardware and software, and networks.

  • Looking for internships and volunteering opportunities to gain hands-on experience.

Did you know?

CompTIA A+ is the "go-to" certification for an entry-level position in IT (Coursera, 2022).

What Can You Expect To Earn?

Flaticon Icon [Canadian flag]The average annual salary for an IT support technician in Canada is $48,322 (CAD)

Flaticon Icon - USA flagThe average annual salary for an IT support technician in the USA is $48,221 (US)

You'll Love It If You

  • Are passionate about technology.

  • Have excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

  • Have great communication skills and enjoy working with other colleagues and helping users.

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Did you know?

The most common important skills required by employers looking for IT support technicians are Help Desk Support, Technical, Detail Oriented, Customer Service, Comptia, Hardware, and Collaboration (ZipRecruiter).

Look For Another Career Path If You

  • Care about technology but not so much about people.

  • Struggle with problem-solving and stressful situations.

  • Don't keep up with new tech trends.

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Take Action

Do you think being an IT support technican could be a good match for you?

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License:

This Byte has been authored by

JO

JOSÉ LUIS ORTIZ SORIA

Language Teacher | Former Web Developer

English

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