I come to work in a colorful environment where we can choose to sit in any comfy chair or sofa. With our laptops in tow, we get to select which tickets we would like to work on by calling the customer back and helping them troubleshoot their issues with their production printers over the phone. It's a very laid back atmosphere where all of the employees can collaborate with each other to help solve problems.
CAREER
Computer User Support Specialists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$52,690
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+8% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Some college, no degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Computer User Support Specialists Do
Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, or via telephone or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.
Other Job Titles Computer User Support Specialists May Have
Computer Specialist, Computer Support Specialist, Computer Technician, Desktop Support Technician, Help Desk Analyst, Help Desk Technician, Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Support Specialist, Technical Support Specialist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
On a great day, you would see me checking on our UserVoice site to see what our customers are asking for in our products. Then I'd spend some time seeing what our MVP community is talking about online. Sometimes they need help with questions, or sometimes someone on my team has questions for them about what our customers need. I also work with companies that are using pre-release versions of our software so they can give us feedback, and find bugs we wouldn't find on our own.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.
- Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
- Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
- Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.
- Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Computer User Support Specialists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (37%)
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
Certification / License
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
Graduate
Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
Certification / License
Homeland Security
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Good customer service skills are very important in this position.
I had a lot of hands on with my product before I joined the team that builds it. I saw how it was used in the real world. I still get to go in the real world when we do the pre-release deployments, and I always learn a lot. I also had a lot of training in network administration. I've been teaching myself advanced Excel, Access, and SharePoint to manage my data. I wish I knew how to code - even though I'm not a software engineer, it would make some tasks easier to write my own tools.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
Get really comfortable with technology. There are a lot of boot camps out there now that can teach you skills like coding and network administration. If you combine those skills with other types of managerial skills, like project management and customer management, you'd have a good track into the kind of work I'm doing.
Link up with teachers, students and people in the field you want to pursue. I was lucky enough to be a scholar of One Million Degrees. They provided me with a coach, and equipped me with some great values that I carried into my job searches. Make sure to continuously update your Resume, and have it uploaded on the school website. Look for internships early on, and apply to different ones. I worked paid internships, and some didn't pay much, but the experience was more valuable.
Observe and learn from all those that were there before you. Get to know them and what they do to make your job as easy for you and them. Embrace the change, have Fun as you learn and grow with the company. Be positive everyday, and seek out new ideas and validate how they will make your company, position, or coworkers life better.
Determiniation. If you want something bad enough nothing can stand in your way but yourself. Never give up, roadblocks will happen but it is up to you on how to handle them.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
