What does a help desk assistant do?
Help desk assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real help desk assistant resumes:
- Manage the PC refresh program transferring all user data remotely and installing require software applications.
- Produce legal proposals, memorandum agreements and PowerPoint presentations.
- Create PowerPoint presentations used for business development.manage daily office operations and maintenance of equipment.
- Analyze networking problems concerning LAN architecture and constructed/ran cable to support lab expansion projects.
- Evaluate network utilization and redesign the county wide-area network by replacing existing network infrastructure with network switches and installing network cabling.
- Build VPN packages and ship as requested.
- Implement VPN connections allowing secure access for remote clients.
- Stock spare monitors, keyboards, PCs, laptops, and dumb terminals for future use.
- Provide ongoing maintenance to PCs and assist in installation of cat5 cable runs for new building layout.
- Monitor work orders from its initial contact till its completion to make sure SLA are above standards.
- Categorize each ticket with the appropriate SLA and assign the tickets to higher tiers with extensive first step problem documentation.
- Respond to and diagnose computer/ application/peripheral device/ user account problems/ WLAN LAN connectivity issues, firewall problems, server problems.
Help desk assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Help Desk Assistants are proficient in Computer Lab, Customer Service, and Desk Support. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Help Desk Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Computer Lab, 10%
Answered information technology related questions, fixed computers, and maintained computer labs.
- Customer Service, 10%
Provided customer service for staff, faculty, and students experiencing difficulties with technology
- Desk Support, 8%
Assisted in the Help Desk Support of Mac OS, Windows, Microsoft Office, Email, other Windows applications.
- Help Desk, 5%
Followed standard Help Desk operating procedures; accurately logged all Help Desk contacts using call Remedy ticket management system.
- Help-Desk Support, 4%
Provided computer help-desk support and technical training on hardware/software to end users.
- Computer Software, 4%
Provided informational assistance in relation to computer software acquisition, and computer hardware concerns.
Most help desk assistants use their skills in "computer lab," "customer service," and "desk support" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential help desk assistant responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a help desk assistant to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what help desk assistants do because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a help desk assistant resume shows how help desk assistants use customer-service skills: "switch between different computer systems to match and verify the location of the package that belongs to the customer. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform help desk assistant duties is listening skills. Help desk assistants responsibilities require that "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Help desk assistants also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with clients internationally in order to troubleshoot technical issues. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for help desk assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how help desk assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a help desk assistant: "addressed diverse computer issues from students and faculty members. ".
Writing skills. help desk assistant responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." This resume example shows what help desk assistants do with writing skills on a typical day: "tasked with writing the manual instructions for software installation, test procedures. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in help desk assistant job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what help desk assistants do. Help desk assistant responsibilities rely on this skill because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." You can also see how help desk assistant duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "supported student and faculty regarding faulty computer disturbances accelerated effectiveness in computer systems through error detection and resolution methods"
The three companies that hire the most help desk assistants are:
- Adtalem Global Education5 help desk assistants jobs
- CARE5 help desk assistants jobs
- University of Arkansas5 help desk assistants jobs
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Help desk assistant vs. Computer support technician
A computer support technician is responsible for diagnosing and resolving computer and network issues, identifying the source of malfunctions, and improving infrastructure to avoid downtimes and operational delays. Computer support technicians manage the efficiency of all equipment and peripherals for the computers, assist in installing components, and keeping adequate resources or alternatives for defective items. They also recommend minimal costs technology materials and create troubleshooting manuals for reference, ensuring that the network processes adhere to internal guidelines and regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between help desk assistants and computer support technician. For instance, help desk assistant responsibilities require skills such as "help desk," "front desk," "perform routine maintenance," and "password resets." Whereas a computer support technician is skilled in "technical support," "computer support," "laptop computers," and "os." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Computer support technicians earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $46,827. On the other hand, help desk assistants are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $39,527.On average, computer support technicians reach similar levels of education than help desk assistants. Computer support technicians are 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Help desk assistant vs. Desk support technician
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that help desk assistant responsibilities requires skills like "computer lab," "desk support," "computer software," and "computer equipment." But a desk support technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "technical support," "troubleshoot," "provides technical support," and "phone calls."
Desk support technicians earn a higher average salary than help desk assistants. But desk support technicians earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $50,316. Additionally, help desk assistants earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $39,527 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Desk support technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than help desk assistants. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for help desk assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Associate Teaching Professor, Tufts University
References:
1. cybersecurity
2. cybersecurity
Help desk assistant vs. Services desk technician
Service Desk Technicians are technicians who specialize in providing support to clients. They are usually in fields related to information technology, and they provide technical support to the employees of the organization. They usually help clients in installing, updating, repairing, or maintaining technical components. They are technology-savvy and should be able to communicate well. Most of the time, Service Desk Technicians are contacted through phone calls and thus should be able to guide callers over the phone. They are also expected to be patient and to be customer service-oriented.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a help desk assistant is likely to be skilled in "computer lab," "help desk," "computer software," and "computer equipment," while a typical services desk technician is skilled in "service desk," "troubleshoot," "technical support," and "itil."
Services desk technicians earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $45,761. Comparatively, help desk assistants have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $39,527.When it comes to education, services desk technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to help desk assistants. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Help desk assistant vs. Information technology assistant
Computer systems are installed, operated, and maintained by an information technology (IT) assistant. Their responsibilities are complex, such as software and hardware configuring, setting up printers and routers, equipment repairs, and computer network user support. Their daily routine may include innovating new technologies, writing reports, and developing plans if there are system or network errors. IT assistants are network developers, innovators, and act as internet security for their department and other organizations.
Types of help desk assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











