What does an IT support specialist do?
IT support specialists are tasked with helping users who are experiencing technical difficulties with their computer hardware or software. They assist with troubleshooting and give easy-to-understand instructions to solve problems, either in person or via telephone or email. Part of this process involves prioritising and escalating issues to resolve more urgent issues first.
An IT specialist also oversees and administers networks and installs, sets up and updates software and hardware as needed. Sometimes, they may also train other employees in IT systems, especially office and corporate software.
IT support skills and qualifications
To successfully work in IT support, it helps to have the following skills and aptitudes:
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills and client focus
- Ability to explain technical issues in lay terms
- Sound knowledge of IT systems, software and hardware
- Patience and keen desire to help others
- Willing to continually learn and stay up to date on technological developments
IT support experience requirements
When hiring an IT support worker, look for the relevant qualifications and experience in an IT environment. For most roles, it will be advantageous if a candidate already has some years of professional IT support experience under their belt to best support your organisation.
IT support education and training requirements
Working in IT support in Australia has no standard formal education requirement, but applicants typically have a tertiary qualification in computer science, information technology or a related field.
Many IT support specialists will have completed a Certificate III in Information Technology / Diploma of Information Technology offered by TAFE or a registered training organisation, or a Bachelor of Information Technology from a university.
IT support salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an IT support specialist is $74,802 per year. This salary is consistent around the country, with similar rates being reported in all areas. However, notably, universities are offering significantly above-average salaries for their IT support teams, with some hitting the six-figure range.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are a few roles that are similar to IT support. Read the descriptions to determine if you need to hire one of these experts in addition to or instead of an IT support specialist:
IT support job description FAQs
Why do I need to hire IT support?
Technology is the backbone of many businesses today. If something goes wrong, this can lead to production standstills, calculation errors and ultimately financial losses. So, it pays to have IT support staff who can keep all IT systems running smoothly and promptly troubleshoot and rectify issues as they arise. IT support also helps all employees to stay online and remain productive without any downtime due to technical errors or software malfunctions. Investing in IT support staff is, therefore, a good choice for any organisation.
What qualities make a good IT support specialist?
When hiring for an IT support role, look out for certain qualities that make for a particularly successful candidate. These include patience and persistence, as users may not always be able to explain their problem in technical terms, and it may take some trial and error to work out what the issue is and how to fix it.
Excellent problem-solving skills will also make your IT support staff stand out and help you keep costs down as they will minimise errors and downtime for your company.
Does IT support need to be on-site, or can it be provided remotely?
Many IT support services can be provided remotely, as the IT support member can usually log in to your IT systems from anywhere and even gain remote access to staff computers. However, as IT support is also responsible for setting up and maintaining hardware, it is recommended to have at least one IT support staff member on your premises. This will enable them to quickly examine and troubleshoot your physical IT equipment when required. If your organisation has a server room, having IT support on the premises is also highly recommended.
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