Working As A Computer Service Technician

Anybody who enjoys doing repair work to their computers has probably wondered if life as a computer service technician would be a fulfilling and profitable role. Here, we will look at what the job involves, basic requirements and how to find the right jobs.

This role is a hands-on role, where technicians are expected to be able to install and repair computers, networks, peripherals and any number of other computer systems (ATMs, mainframes, etc.).

While certification may not be needed if you specialize in one area, or work in a small computer repair shop, the nature of this career is that the technologies are always moving on and you will probably need training updates throughout your life.

It is invaluable to have accreditation from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) as a qualified computer service technician, at least for getting interviews with some of the larger companies.

For many, the role offers a lot of flexibility. Some folk focus on one technology (PCs/Macs) with broad appeal or get interested in a particular industry (stock broking systems, phone networks). In addition, jobs can be picked based on working as a field technician (working onsite with customer systems) or as a bench technician (based in one location or computer repair shop doing computer repair and maintenance).

So given the level of specialization and flexibility in the role, finding the right job can involve doing more research and building your list of contacts. For bench technician roles in computer repair shops you could contact these companies directly and check the large online job sites. As you become more specialized in one facet of computer repair and maintenance, then you will increasingly need to market yourself, attending conferences, meeting with industry leaders in order to become a consulting expert.

The alternative, which many computer service technicians like to do, is to work for yourself doing computer/system repairs for home or business users.