People come across various problems when dealing with computer systems. It's the computer support specialist's role to provide technical assistance to resolve such issues by investigating the problem, identifying the root cause and thereby deriving effective solutions to fix it and most importantly, prevent it from recurring in the future.

The problems can of course come from anywhere. For instance it can be a hardware issue such as the non-detection of the printer, or else it could be something to do with a bug in the operating system. As a result, a computer support specialist should have a comprehensive knowledge on computers and information systems to provide technical assistance for any issue that arises.

Apart from the typical fire fighting role, a career in technical assistance may also include various other tasks such as requirement gathering for new systems and modifications, carrying out evaluations and reviewing of new hardware and software, developing training materials and procedures and conducting training programs for the users of software and many more.

Skills to posses

It is now clear that these individuals have to perform a range of activities in their day-to-day jobs. However in order to do so, they should posses diverse skills. These would include critical thinking and associated problem solving skills, effective communication skills such as active listening, reading comprehension, and excellent writing and speaking ability. Above all he/she should be a fast learner, to keep up with the ever updating computer technology field. Further the right individual should also be an exceptional teacher who can effectively teach modern day technological advancements to people with different intelligence levels.

Your pathway to success

Before you can pursue any career, first you should get qualified. A career in technical assistance is no exception. Considering today's competitive job market, I advice you to obtain at least an associate degree in computer science. While a bachelor's degree will almost ensure you a job, obtaining a post graduate qualification such as a master's degree will definitely enhance your prospects of climbing the corporate ladder rapidly.

Rewards and Future Prospects

One can argue that the rewards in terms of financial benefits for this profession is comparatively lesser than some of the high profile computer jobs such as network administrator, software engineer and so on. For instance as per the statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the middle half of the technical assistance employees in 2006 earned between $32,110 and $53,640 while the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25,290 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,540.

However these jobs in general require you to work only 40 hours per week all throughout the year, unlike some of the other computer professionals such as software engineers who may work even 70 hours per week during deadlines. Therefore, it is identified that the lower financial rewards are compensated with better work life balance.

So if you are a person who likes helping others by solving their computer related problems, a career in technical assistance could be ideal for you.

Summery: This article describes the various aspects of a career in technical assistance, the many perks involved, as well as the qualifications and personal skills required in order to pursue a successful career.