Technical Support Specialists provide technical assistance and maintain all computer systems and hardware within an organization. Their work may include installing, configuring, and updating hardware and software, as well as fixing any equipment-related issues that may arise.

Most Technical Support Specialists either provide assistance and support internally, to the staff within the company itself, or to outside customers from a help desk or over the phone in a call center. Depending on how big the company is, the work of a Technical Support Specialist may span over several areas of expertise or just one. For example, some companies employ Technical Support Specialists to work on either computers or portable devices, whereas others may require their employees to tend to all sorts of requests.

All sorts of companies employ technical Support Specialists. As long as they use specialized software or hardware, they will require an IT team with a Technical Support Specialist among their staff. Potential employers include financial institutions, hotels, local government offices, retail chains, and organizations where Technical Support Specialists work directly with customers like call centers, help desks, or technical workshops.

The use of technology and specialized equipment is becoming essential for companies' operations. This necessitates hiring a specialist among their staff who can properly maintain and fix all the devices involved in the daily activities of the company. Given this necessity, it is no wonder that Technical Support Specialists are in such high demand in the job market.

The Personality of a Technical Support Specialist

• They are naturally analytical

Technical Support Specialists must analyze situations before making decisions to solve problems most effectively. A natural inclination toward analytical and logical thinking will help any Technical Support Specialist troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly. 

• They love solving problems

Detecting and solving problems constitutes an integral part of a Technical Support Specialist's responsibilities. A love of challenges and opportunities to develop inventive solutions to issues will be paramount in enjoying your career as a Technical Support Specialist. A good attitude goes a long way. 

• They are detail-oriented

Technical Support Specialists must understand how hardware pieces work together and how software programming and functions work. Minor errors can cause major problems, and great attention to detail is vital in solving these problems quickly, especially if the malfunction is causing delays in the other daily tasks of the company.

• They are great communicators 

Technical Support Specialists are in the business of helping others, and must be able to explain concepts in non-technical terms to other staff and clients. Likewise, they can understand problems when presented by someone without technical knowledge.