IT Technician Career Overview
In order to know whether or not you would like to become a computer technician you will need to know a little more about what the IT Technician career entails. There is a continuously growing demand for professionals in this field as technology evolves and finds an ever increasing number of roles in modern society.
Computer Repair Technician, Desktop Support, IT Technician and Support Technician are all job roles that fulfil the need for these skilled IT workers. The specific duties and responsibilities of these roles can vary based on the requirements of the specific organisation but to become a computer technician you should have the skills to fulfil tasks such as:
- Installing PC Hardware
- Installing PC Software
- Computer Repair
- Maintaining equipment
- Providing desktop support
- Troubleshooting a vast range of computer issues
- Configuring computer networks
10 Tips to Become a Computer Technician
1. Get your CompTIA A+ Certification
One of the best foundations to ensure a great start when you decide to become a computer technician is to gain the right qualifications. CompTIA A+ is one of the most sought-after entry-level certifications in this field and most IT jobs require this as a basis. The course can be studied via online training so this is a qualification that you can work towards in your own time and at your own pace. The CompTIA A+ certification is considered to be a standard requirement when you are looking to become a computer technician so having this on your CV will be highly beneficial.
2. Practice Computer Repair
When you become a computer technician a large part of your job will consist of computer repair. This is a vital part of desktop support and will require that you are able to repair PC hardware, software and accessories such as printer and scanners. As an aspiring IT Technician, you can gain a vast amount of practical experience by repairing broken computers belonging to friends and family. If you are able to, source unwanted broken computers and spend time figuring out what you are able to fix and learn from what you have discovered.
3. Build a Computer
Although it will not necessarily be a part of your job when you become a computer technician, building computers can teach you as much as computer repair can and this is a great learning tool for those who learn through practical application. When buying the different components, you will learn about the internal structure of a computer and this will provide a wealth of knowledge. To become a computer technician you will need to know computers in a very detailed manner and building one from scratch is a significant learning curve.
4. Volunteer in Desktop Support
One of the quickest and easiest ways in which to gain the practical experience that will assist your goal to become a computer technician is to do volunteer work. Work at a local small business, a school or wherever you can find someone who is in need of computer repair or other aspects of desktop support. If possible, request that each of these places write you a recommendation letter stating that you have partaken in volunteer IT Technician work and what you have done during your time with them. These could prove helpful when applying for a job to become a computer technician.
5. Create a Search Friendly CV
Now that you have a relevant certification or two and have added practical experience to your inventory, it is necessary to ensure that your CV will get noticed by those recruiters who are hiring. There is fierce competition for IT Technician roles and recruiters are often swamped by the masses of applications that they receive. This has led to the use of filtering features and it is vital that you consider these when constructing your CV. Ensure that you clearly note any IT certifications that you have earned (CompTIA A+ is often used in the filtering process), mention any practical experience that you have gained (even if this is simply helping your friends and family with computer repair) and do not clutter your CV with unnecessary information or details – interviews are for the recruiter to ask for further information relating to the areas of your CV that have caught their attention.
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