How to hire a help desk operator

How to hire a help desk operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step help desk operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a help desk operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new help desk operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the help desk operator you need to hire. Certain help desk operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a help desk operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a help desk operator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of help desk operators.

   Type of Help Desk Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Help Desk Operator	Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show more	$8-28
   Information Systems Technician	An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies... Show more	$13-35
   Information Technology/Support Technician	An information technology (IT) support technician is a professional who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members... Show more	$14-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Technical Support
   • Phone Calls
   • Remedy
   • Help Desk
   • Customer Support
   • Troubleshoot
   • TCP/IP
   • Desk Support
   • Help-Desk Support
   • Password Resets
   • Trouble Tickets
   • Problem Resolution
   • Computer System
   • Mainframe

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage cases utilizing the remedy action request system
   • Configure remote firewall/routers and network printers using TCP/IP.
   • Provide support for remote VPN connections and assign WIFI access through DHCP.
   • Used TCP/IP and IPX/SPX protocols to configure hardware and software on client workstations.
   • Assist with planning and implementing network infrastructure refresh that include both Gigabit Lan and VOIP.
   • Monitor warehouse line connections and LAN and NT servers, and react accordingly to resolve any errors.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your help desk operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A help desk operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, help desk operators' average salary in florida is 42% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level help desk operators earn 70% less than senior-level help desk operators.
   • Certifications. A help desk operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a help desk operator's salary.

   Average help desk operator salary

   $16.00hourly

   $33,280 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level help desk operator salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a help desk operator job description

   A good help desk operator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a help desk operator job description:

   Help desk operator job description example

   I. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICESTexas Parks and Wildlife Department requires the services of 1 Support Technician 1, hereafter referred to as Candidate(s), who meets the general qualifications of Support Technician 1, Technical Services, Help Desk and Operations and the specifications outlined in this document for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
   
   All work products resulting from the project shall be considered "works made for hire" and are the property of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and may include pre-selection requirements that potential Vendors (and their Candidates) submit to and satisfy criminal background checks as authorized by Texas law. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will pay no fees for interviews or discussions, which occur during the process of selecting a Candidate(s).
   
   Performs entry-level computer support work with an emphasis on imaging and deployment of desktops and laptops. Perform various administrative functions related to the agency computer inventory including maintaining the lifecycle of systems within the agency property system. Works under moderate supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.II. CANDIDATE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONSMinimum Requirements:
   
   Candidates that do not meet or exceed the minimum stated requirements (skills/experience) will be displayed to customers but may not be chosen for this opportunity.
   Years Required/Preferred Experience
   
   1 Required Experience with PC hardware and software support and imaging
   
   1 Preferred experience delivering customer services in a hardware/software support environment
   
   About AgreeYa:
   
   AgreeYa is a global systems integrator delivering a competitive advantage for its customers through software, solutions, and services. Established in 1999, AgreeYa is headquartered in Folsom, California, with a global footprint and a team of more than 1,800+ professionals across offices. AgreeYa works with 550+ organizations ranging from Fortune 100 firms to small and large businesses across industries such as Telecom, Banking, Financial Services & Insurance, Healthcare, Utility & Energy, Technology, Public Sector, Pharma & Biotech, Retail, Client, and others. Please visit us at www.agreeya.com for more information.
   
   Equal Opportunity:
   
   AgreeYa is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other protected characteristics. Visit our website at www.agreeya.com/career-culture to learn about our Career & Culture.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find help desk operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any help desk operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level help desk operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your help desk operator job on Zippia to find and attract quality help desk operator candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit help desk operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview help desk operator candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new help desk operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the help desk operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new help desk operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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