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Become A Support Specialist

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Working As A Support Specialist

  • Interacting With Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

  • $83,611

    Average Salary

What Does A Support Specialist Do

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. Others, called computer user support specialists, assist non-IT users who are having computer problems.

Duties

Computer network support specialists typically do the following:

  • Test and evaluate existing network systems
  • Perform regular maintenance to ensure that networks operate correctly
  • Troubleshoot local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Internet systems

Computer network support specialists, also called technical support specialists, usually work in their organization’s IT department. They help IT staff analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate computer network problems. They play an important role in the routine maintenance of their organization’s networks such as performing file backups on the network. Maintenance can be performed daily, weekly, or monthly and is important to an organization’s disaster recovery efforts. Solving an IT problem promptly is important because organizations depend on their network systems. Network support specialists may assist the organization’s computer users through phone, email, or in-person visits. They often work under network and computer systems administrators, who handle more complex tasks.

Computer user support specialists typically do the following:

  • Pay attention to customers’ descriptions of their computer problems
  • Ask customers questions to properly diagnose the problem
  • Walk customers through the recommended problem-solving steps
  • Set up or repair computer equipment and related devices
  • Train users to work with new computer hardware or software, such as printers, word-processing software, and email
  • Provide other team members and managers in the organization with information about what gives customers the most trouble and about other concerns customers have

Computer user support specialists, also called help-desk technicians, usually provide technical help to non-IT computer users. They respond to phone and email requests for help. They can usually help users remotely, but they also may make site visits so that they can solve a problem in person.

Help-desk technicians may solve a range of problems that vary with the industry and the particular firm. Some technicians work for large software companies or for support service firms and must give instructions to business customers on how to use business-specific programs such as an electronic health records program used in hospitals or physicians’ offices. Sometimes they work with other technicians to resolve problems.

Other help-desk technicians work in call centers, answering simpler questions from non-business customers. They may walk customers through basic steps in re-establishing an Internet connection or troubleshooting household IT products such as a Wi-Fi router.

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How To Become A Support Specialist

Because of the wide range of skills used in different computer support jobs, there are many paths into the occupation. A bachelor’s degree is required for some computer support specialist positions, but an associate’s degree or postsecondary classes may be enough for others.

Education

Education requirements for computer support specialists vary. Computer user support specialist jobs require some computer knowledge, but not necessarily a postsecondary degree. Applicants who have taken some computer-related classes are often qualified. For computer network support specialists, many employers accept applicants with an associate’s degree, although some prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.

Large software companies that provide support to business users who buy their products or services often require a bachelor’s degree. Positions that are more technical are likely to require a degree in a field such as computer science, engineering, or information science, but for others, the applicant’s field of study is less important.

To keep up with changes in technology, many computer support specialists continue their education throughout their careers.

Certification

Certification programs are generally offered by vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge of and best practices required by computer support specialists. Companies may require their computer support specialists to hold certifications in the products the companies use.

Advancement

Many computer support specialists advance to other information technology positions, such as network and computer systems administrators and software developers. Some become managers in the computer support services department. Some organizations provide paths for support specialists to move into other parts of the organization, such as sales. For more information, see the profiles on network and computer systems administrators and software developers.

Important Qualities

Customer-service skills. Computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic. They must often help people who are frustrated with the software or hardware they are trying to use.

Listening skills. Support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation.

Problem-solving skills. Support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them.

Speaking skills. Support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand.

Writing skills. Strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as real-time web chat interactions.

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Support Specialist jobs

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Support Specialist Career Paths

Support Specialist
Program Coordinator Assistant Director Office Manager
Account Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Program Manager Senior Manager
Director Of Human Resources
10 Yearsyrs
Systems Administrator Information Technology Manager
Director Of Information
10 Yearsyrs
Systems Engineer Information Technology Consultant Director Of Information
Director Of Information Technology Services
12 Yearsyrs
Information Technology Specialist Systems Administrator Operations Manager
Director Of Sales
10 Yearsyrs
Program Coordinator Program Manager General Manager
District Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Direct Support Professional Program Coordinator Program Manager
General Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Systems Engineer Senior Network Engineer Network Administrator
Information Systems Manager
6 Yearsyrs
Network Administrator Systems Administrator Information Technology Manager
Information Technology Director
10 Yearsyrs
Systems Administrator Network Engineer Network Administrator
Information Technology Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Analyst Project Manager Program Manager
Operations Director
9 Yearsyrs
Information Technology Specialist Systems Engineer Project Engineer
Operations Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Analyst Business Analyst
Product Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Project Manager Consultant Senior Consultant
Program Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Business Analyst Senior Finance Analyst Finance Manager
Sales Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Program Manager General Manager Account Manager
Senior Account Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Direct Support Professional Case Manager Program Manager
Senior Manager
10 Yearsyrs
Business Analyst Product Manager
Senior Product Manager
9 Yearsyrs
Project Manager Program Manager
Senior Project Manager
12 Yearsyrs
Network Administrator Information Technology Manager Director Of Information
Vice President Of Information Technology
12 Yearsyrs
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Support Specialist Demographics

Gender

  • Female

    60.0%

  • Male

    38.0%

  • Unknown

    1.9%

Ethnicity

  • White

    80.1%

  • Hispanic or Latino

    10.7%

  • Asian

    6.9%

  • Unknown

    1.7%

  • Black or African American

    0.6%
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Languages Spoken

  • Spanish

    65.4%

  • French

    8.8%

  • German

    3.3%

  • Portuguese

    3.0%

  • Chinese

    2.5%

  • Russian

    2.2%

  • Italian

    2.0%

  • Mandarin

    2.0%

  • Japanese

    1.8%

  • Arabic

    1.2%

  • Hmong

    1.1%

  • Korean

    1.0%

  • Cantonese

    1.0%

  • Carrier

    1.0%

  • Hindi

    1.0%

  • Tagalog

    0.8%

  • Vietnamese

    0.5%

  • Filipino

    0.5%

  • Greek

    0.5%

  • Swahili

    0.4%
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Support Specialist

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Support Specialist Education

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Real Support Specialist Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Siteminder Support Specialist SDG Corporation Norwalk, CT Jan 11, 2015 $135,000
Siteminder Support Specialist SDG Corporation Norwalk, CT Jan 11, 2015 $120,000
Site Support Specialist Rockwell Automation, Inc. Houston, TX Jan 28, 2016 $119,100
Physics Support Specialist Accuray Incorporated Madison, WI Dec 04, 2016 $115,000
Eikon Support Specialist Thomson Reuters (Markets) LLC New York, NY Aug 21, 2015 $113,190
BIM Premium Support Specialist Autodesk, Inc. Houston, TX May 07, 2015 $110,677 -
$178,200
Android Support Specialist, Tier II Amplify Education, Inc. New York, NY Sep 18, 2015 $110,000
Test Support Specialist II DLL Management Services, LLC Wayne, PA Jul 09, 2015 $109,117
Jcaps Support Specialist Wise Men Consultants Inc. Houston, TX Jan 01, 2015 $108,000
SAP Basis Support Specialist FTS International Services, LLC Fort Worth, TX Sep 24, 2016 $106,181
SAP Support Specialist Pp/Apo CSM Bakery Products Na, Inc. Tucker, GA Sep 07, 2015 $105,000
Scale Support Specialist (Computer Systems Analyst) Triplefin, LLC Wood Dale, IL Jun 27, 2016 $105,000
Middleware Support Specialist Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. Lake Buena Vista, FL Nov 15, 2015 $105,000
MQ Series Support Specialist Bering Straits Information Technology, LLC. Anchorage, AK Nov 30, 2016 $89,898
Programmer/Analyst and Support Specialist It Works! Inc. Washington, DC Aug 30, 2016 $88,878
Test Support Specialist DLL Management Services, LLC Wayne, PA Nov 05, 2015 $86,112
Global Trade Support Specialist Convergex Group, LLC New York, NY May 11, 2015 $82,000
Server Support Specialist IBM Corporation Poughkeepsie, NY Jul 30, 2016 $81,640 -
$106,373
Server Support Specialist IBM Corporation Poughkeepsie, NY Jun 09, 2016 $81,640 -
$106,373
Test Support Specialist de Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. Wayne, PA Mar 05, 2016 $78,955
Support Specialist IBM India Pvt Ltd Richardson, TX Aug 26, 2015 $64,043
Support Specialist IBM India Pvt Ltd Richardson, TX Sep 01, 2015 $64,043
Engagement Support Specialist PWC Strategy& (Us) LLC Chicago, IL Oct 01, 2015 $62,294
Engagement Support Specialist PWC Strategy& (Us) Inc. Chicago, IL Oct 01, 2015 $62,294
CIS Support Specialist Law Office of Cherie E. Cookorinis, P.C. Sandy Springs, GA Oct 01, 2015 $61,776
Elevated Support Specialist Condusiv Technologies Corp Burbank, CA Jun 29, 2016 $60,528
SAP Basis Support Specialist KHOJ Information Technology, Inc. Branchburg, NJ Sep 20, 2016 $60,000
SAP Basis Support Specialist KHOJ Information Technology, Inc. Branchburg, NJ Jul 25, 2015 $60,000

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Top Skills for A Support Specialist

ProceduresCustomerServiceTechnicalAssistanceHardwareDataEntryFinancialTechnicalSupportPhoneCallsSafetyTroubleshootRemoteMentalHealthWebSetupPayrollDailyLivingInternetActiveDirectoryOfficeSuppliesAudit

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Top Support Specialist Skills

  1. Procedures
  2. Customer Service
  3. Technical Assistance
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Streamlined processing procedures by utilizing enhanced investigative and reasoning skills.
  • Expanded coworker loyalty through excellent customer service relationships and efficient resolution of disputes.
  • Provided design, order, billing and technical assistance to customers by phone and email in the call center.
  • Coordinated and scheduled installations, including server hardware and software.
  • Performed data entry and held shift supervisory position.

Top Support Specialist Employers

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Support Specialist Videos

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