Post job
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippi

Upload your resume to get started.

Help desk engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Robert Rucker,
Robert Rucker
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical help desk engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for help desk engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.7% of help desk engineer resumes contained troubleshoot as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a help desk engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 help desk engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how help desk engineers use troubleshoot:
  • Maintain and troubleshoot end user applications including Microsoft Office Suite, QuickBooks, GMED, and various other third party applications.
  • Assisted in blackberry account management; created & modified new accounts, and troubleshoot various issues if necessary.

2. Help-Desk Support

Here's how help desk engineers use help-desk support:
  • Provided computer help-desk support and technical training on hardware/software to end users.
  • Provided computer help-desk support via telephone communication with end users.

3. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how help desk engineers use technical support:
  • Organize, prioritize and assist with daily technical support in organizations with different support requirements.
  • Provided in-person and remote technical support to over 50,000 military and civilian customers.

4. Escalate

Escalation occurs when a client's requests cannot be met by a general assistant or clerk and must be passed on to a manager. However, escalation could also come about within a larger corporation involving smaller team groups; if a serious error was made by one of these groups, the error may immediately be brought to the group manager's attention to ensure the project is completed.

Here's how help desk engineers use escalate:
  • Escalate complex issues (Beyond Tier 2) capability to Senior Support as needed - Google is our go-to.
  • Resolve or escalate client service requests that have been escalated by Tier 1 Engineers.

5. PC

Here's how help desk engineers use pc:
  • Provide support for remote employees and general troubleshooting/resolution and perform limited system engineer duties including PC and server configuration
  • Managed the PC refresh program transferring all user data remotely and installing required software applications.

6. Windows Server

Here's how help desk engineers use windows server:
  • Received experience networking computers in a domain environment, working with Windows server 2003, and 2008.
  • Provide support on multiple issues ranging from Windows Server environments down to the end user level.

Choose from 10+ customizable help desk engineer resume templates

Build a professional help desk engineer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your help desk engineer resume.

7. Provide Technical Assistance

Here's how help desk engineers use provide technical assistance:
  • Conducted computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems and provide technical assistance and support.
  • Provide technical assistance and step-by-step solutions to end-users.

8. OS

In technical terms, OS stands for "Operating System". It is a software that is used to run programs on the computer. An operating system acts as a link between the user and the hardware components. Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux are examples of an operating system.

Here's how help desk engineers use os:
  • Provided Phone Support on various levels ranging from ISP to OS & Hardware support for Desktops & Laptops.
  • Worked with Windows, Debian/Linux and Mac OS X.

9. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how help desk engineers use linux:
  • Performed troubleshooting of Unix, Linux, and Windows system builds and administration.
  • Supported 500+ Windows XP/2000/98 and Linux workstations.

10. Help Desk

Here's how help desk engineers use help desk:
  • Improved help desk operations by efficiently dispatching service requests arriving via email.
  • Generate Help Desk Productivity Reports on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.

11. Mac

A media access control or simply MAC is a network policy that identifies or determines how the data is being transferred in two particular servers through a network cable. The purpose of a MAC protocol is to prevent network or technical issues and simplify transferring the information or data.

Here's how help desk engineers use mac:
  • Provided support for Windows XP and Mac OSX operating system by phone, in person, and remotely.
  • Experienced with support of Mac OSX laptops.

12. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is the non-financial assistance provided by local or international specialists. The purpose of technical assistance is to maximize the project's implementation and quality of the final product. Technical assistance consists of sharing information, the transmission of working knowledge, and other transfer of technical data which would aid the administration, management team and help build the project. The technical assistance focuses on particular needs identified by the beneficiary country and is delivered in the form of missions.

Here's how help desk engineers use technical assistance:
  • Responded to emails and ticketing system for end-users seeking technical assistance.
  • Identify the problem on hand & provides technical assistance with regards to the use of the POS terminal.

13. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how help desk engineers use customer service:
  • Interfaced with in-house customer service and user setup personnel to determine solutions.
  • Provided excellent customer service, resolving customer satisfaction.

14. Technical Issues

Here's how help desk engineers use technical issues:
  • Resolved complicated technical issues by troubleshooting and upgrading all hardware and equipment.
  • Evaluated and resolved technical issues remotely by interpreting end-user problem descriptions.

15. VPN

A Virtual Private Network, VPN encrypts a device's internet access, activity, and identity through a secure server, making data theft and third-party traceability more difficult, and increasing the privacy and security of public and private networks, the internet, and Wi-Fi hotspots. The VPN is designed to protect one's system and network from being compromised.

Here's how help desk engineers use vpn:
  • Supported service requests for Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections through Remote Access Server (RAS) Secure ID.
  • Experience in troubleshooting network issues, application support, VPN connectivity, AD configuration for users and computers.
top-skills

What skills help Help Desk Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all help desk engineers possess?

Robert Rucker

Lecturer, Arizona State University

Being able to learn a new technology very quickly is critical since that is what my students encounter.

What skills stand out on help desk engineer resumes?

Robert Rucker

Lecturer, Arizona State University

Being articulate/communicative is a real positive - being able to write up a coherent report is a big plus.

What help desk engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kate Marek Ph.D.Kate Marek Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director and Professor, Dominican University

If possible, find a paid internship in your area of interest, which will help expand your professional network and build your skillset. Use this time to keep scanning job ads to identify skill sets in demand; look for online mini-courses to make those skill sets.

What type of skills will young help desk engineers need?

Joshua Davis Ph.D.Joshua Davis Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Lecturer, Carleton College

Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce. For science and engineering applications, it is often also helpful to have R, Python, Matlab, or another popular programming language. But technical abilities get the graduate-only so far. They need interpersonal communication skills so that they can understand the needs of stakeholders and cooperate with colleagues. For this reason, many faculty at my school emphasize writing, speaking, listening, and teamwork skills.

What technical skills for a help desk engineer stand out to employers?

Chirag Parikh Ph.D.Chirag Parikh Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Computer Engineering Chair, Grand Valley State University

If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.

What hard/technical skills are most important for help desk engineers?

Robert Vinaja Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, Texas A&M University San Antonio

-Programming.

-Understand algorithms and data structures.

List of help desk engineer skills to add to your resume

Help desk engineer skills

The most important skills for a help desk engineer resume and required skills for a help desk engineer to have include:

  • Troubleshoot
  • Help-Desk Support
  • Technical Support
  • Escalate
  • PC
  • Windows Server
  • Provide Technical Assistance
  • OS
  • Linux
  • Help Desk
  • Mac
  • Technical Assistance
  • Customer Service
  • Technical Issues
  • VPN
  • Unix
  • DNS
  • Windows XP
  • DHCP
  • Remote Troubleshooting
  • Video Conferencing
  • VMware
  • Network Printers
  • TCP/IP
  • Remedy
  • SharePoint
  • User Accounts
  • End User Support
  • Citrix
  • Technical Problems
  • Customer Support
  • Software Issues
  • VoIP
  • Computer System
  • Lan Wan
  • Technical Troubleshooting
  • Troubleshooting Support
  • Switches
  • Workstations
  • Phone Support
  • Software Applications
  • Remote Desktop Support
  • Level Support
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Network Connectivity
  • Client Issues
  • Provide Remote Support
  • Password Resets

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs