How To Become a Desktop Support Specialist

Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become a desktop support specialist. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in a desktop support specialist.

Most companies require a desktop support specialist to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as computer science or computer information systems.
It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 1-2 years in related fields.
Common job titles before becoming a desktop support specialist include technical support specialist, computer technician, and desktop support technician.
Hiring managers expect a desktop support specialist to have soft skills such as customer-service skills, listening skills, and problem-solving skills.
Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 3-6 months of job training to become a desktop support specialist.
Getting a certification as a Security 5 Certification will help you to earn more as a desktop support specialist.

We've found that 52.1% of desktop support specialists have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 4.2% earned their master's degrees before becoming a desktop support specialist. While it's true that most desktop support specialists have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every six desktop support specialists did not spend the extra money to attend college.

Those desktop support specialists who do attend college, typically earn either computer science degrees or computer information systems degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for desktop support specialists include information technology degrees or business degrees.

How to become a Desktop Support Specialist in 6 steps:

Step 1: Explore desktop support specialist education
Step 2: Develop desktop support specialist skills
Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
Step 4: Get desktop support specialist certifications
Step 5: Research desktop support specialist duties
Step 6: Prepare your resume

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Key Steps To Become a Desktop Support Specialist

Explore Desktop Support Specialist Education
If you're interested in becoming a desktop support specialist, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 52.1% of desktop support specialists have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.2% of desktop support specialists have master's degrees. Even though most desktop support specialists have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a desktop support specialist. When we researched the most common majors for a desktop support specialist, we found that they most commonly have computer science, computer information systems and information technology.

Desktop Support Specialist Degrees
Bachelors
52.1 %
Associate
32.8 %
Diploma
4.5 %
Desktop Support Specialist Major Percentages
Computer Science 18.90%
Computer Information Systems 14.30%
Information Technology 13.10%
Business 11.20%
Other Degrees 42.50%
Develop Desktop Support Specialist Skills
It'll be a good idea to develop desktop support specialist skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in desktop support specialist job descriptions:

Skills Percentages
Customer Service 9.96%
Desktop Support 8.40%
Troubleshoot 7.48%
PC 6.27%
Technical Support 5.21%
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Complete Relevent Training/Internship
Desktop support specialists spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new desktop support specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a desktop support specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real desktop support specialist resumes.

Average Amount Of Time At Training
None
Less than 1 month
1-3 months
3-6 months
6-12 months
1-2 years
2-4 years
%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Get Desktop Support Specialist Certifications
Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for desktop support specialists. The most common certification is Security 5 Certification, but Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT) is also frequently seen in desktop support specialists resumes.
1. Security 5 Certification
2. Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT)
3. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)
4. Certified Instrumentation Specialist (CIS)
5. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
6. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Fnd Applications (MCTS)
7. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
8. CCNP Service Provider Operations (CCNP)
More About Certifications
Research Desktop Support Specialist Duties
When you decide to become a desktop support specialist, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most desktop support specialist jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:
- Manage computer assets utilizing Symantec Altiris.
- Manage schedule software/Security patch upgrades via SCCM.
- Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
- Deploy McAfee anti-virus tools across enterprise.
- Automate fixes for common errors using Powershell and batch scripting.
- Document software processes and core conversion software installations for VDI.
Prepare Your Resume
Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Desktop Support Specialist Resume templates
Build a professional Desktop Support Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Desktop Support Specialist resume.
Apply For a Desktop Support Specialist Job
With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams
Desktop Support Specialist Jobs