If you can believe it, once upon a time in the workforce, mainstream IT jobs were essentially nonexistent. It wasn’t until the 1990s, when in the corporate world, the office was transformed with nearly every worker securing a desktop computer, internet connection, and software programs to help with their everyday jobs. With this transformation, the demand for technical support skyrocketed. Calling the “IT help desk” for software updates, hardware repairs, and connection issues was an hourly occurrence. And the professionals who possessed this knowledge were viewed almost like magicians! Today, nearly everything at our fingertips is driven by technology designed as user-friendly interfaces so that witha few clicks, we can individually mitigate most of our everyday computer needs. With this, the IT department support positions evolved, yet the need for IT support jobs has never been more in demand than at this very moment.
Whether your organization is navigating hybrid, completely remote or in office work environments we all need someone overseeing the tech support of our laptops, work phones and even corporate email systems. However, the role of IT support jobs is more than what meets the eye. These roles have become essential to ensure smooth and uninterrupted workflow, increasing the need to find experts to help find this critical talent.
Will Your Job Search End in IT Support?
IT support jobs cover a broad range of responsibilities, all aimed at maintaining and enhancing an organization’s technical infrastructure. The common positions you probably heard of include IT Support Specialists, Help Desk Technicians, and Deskside Support Analysts. Typically, these roles involve setting up and maintaining hardware and software but, most importantly, helping employees with IT issues. This is why the experience required for IT support jobs varies.
While you might be familiar with these roles, what you might not know is what employers look for in each position. For instance, to be a help desk technician, certifications like CompTIA A+ can land you an interview. But for a more advanced position such as IT Support Specialist, you’re probably going to require specialized training in cybersecurity.
The Experience and Skills of IT Support Professionals
Technical skills will help you get an interview for a tech support job; however, Indeed states that employers look for certain soft skills to ensure compatibility in any given organization. They prioritize both technical expertise and interpersonal abilities like the ones highlighted below:
Customer Service Orientation: Tech support is, at its core, a service role. Candidates must be empathetic, patient, and able to explain complex technical issues in simple terms, as they will frequently interact with non-technical staff.
Adaptability and Quick Learning: Technology evolves rapidly, so support professionals must continuously adapt to new software, systems, and security protocols. Employees who show a willingness to learn and a capacity for quick problem-solving bring extra value to the team. Who wouldn’t want that?
Communication Skills: According to Harvard University, clarity in communication is essential, both for explaining technical issues to end-users and for collaborating with other IT staff. Effective communication can speed up problem resolution and prevent misunderstandings.
How Your Return to Office Might Look Different This Year
As businesses bring more employees back to the office, the demand for deskside support will continue to rise. This RTO (return-to-office) trend has had many people in their industries evaluating jobs and career paths. If you identify with this feeling, an IT support job might be the answer for you. According to LinkedIn, tech support roles often serve as a launchpad for further career advancement within IT. By being flexible and open as an IT professional to changing work environments, you may be met with increased opportunities as company policies change, requiring more in-person roles.
A career choice that will set you up for success, IT support jobs play a crucial role in essential projects, especially if you feel that your role might not currently have the most impact on the company you work for. Pursuing a role in IT support can be a way to achieve making your mark on a company. For example, as a project grows more complex, the tech support function becomes increasingly valuable. By proactively identifying potential tech issues and managing hardware or software updates, these professionals help maintain an efficient workflow. This support role has driven many support staff to more advanced positions within the organization, reflecting the career growth potential that tech support jobs can offer you.
So, how do you land an IT support job, or conversely, how do organizations build their tech support staff with the right talent, quickly and efficiently? A staffing firm with expertise in this area can help guide both job search for candidates and the talent search for companies. Read more about how Prosum thinks out of the box when it comes to staffing IT support teams with top candidates looking for new opportunities.
