Job Responsibilities
IT Technicians set up computers as well as installing hardware and software.
They ensure that electrical safety standards are met and they replace or repair broken equipment.
They need to keep record of all the equipment they have used, and perform daily maintenance tasks.
IT Technicians perform troubleshooting on software and hardware to detect problems. They also run daily tests on software and hardware.
Make sure your company’s systems are up to date. Ensure that virus scanning has been done and everyone has a computer that will increase their productivity.
What to Study
CompTIA A+ Technician Course
CompTIA N+ Network Course
Role of an IT Technician
Computer or IT Technicians provide computer or software support within a company or organisation.
They are responsible for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting hardware and software.
Other duties include:
- Setting up new computer systems and installing software.
- Providing technical help.
- Repairing hardware and servers.
- Training new IT staff and non-IT staff on computers and software.
- Making sure that internet security software is up-to-date.
Benefits of Being an IT Technician
The most convenient thing about being an IT technician, is having the knowledge and skill to set up your own computer system at home. Other benefits include the list below:
Above average salary: Depending on the company and your experience, IT technicians usually earn a decent salary.
Learn valuable IT skills: With the skills you’ve learnt, you can choose to work in any industry, even if it’s not IT.
Opportunity for growth: There are many opportunities available for you to advance your career.
Advancing technology: One of the biggest benefits of getting into the IT field is that technology is always improving. This means that you will always be in demand.
How can I Become an IT Technician?
Want to become an IT technician but not sure how to get there? Take a look at the steps below to help guide you.
Get Educated
Before you get started, make sure you do research on your career choice. Once that’s done, you can work on taking the courses you need. Skills Academy offers a range of Computer courses through distance learning. Most of these courses are certified by Microsoft.
Gain Experience
After getting a qualification, you need to gain practical experience. The best way to do this is to complete an internship. Not only will it provide you with the relevant experience, it will also help connect you to other IT professionals. This can also lead to permanent employment.
Get Certified
Most employees prefer that candidates have some form of certification, but it’s not always necessary. Any courses offered by Microsoft are usually accepted.
Apply for Entry-level Jobs
Before you start applying for jobs, make sure that all your certificates and work experience gets added to your CV. Then you can start searching for job postings in your area and applying for ones that you qualify for.
What Skills do I Need?
As an IT technician, you need to have a range of soft and technical skills to be successful at your job.
Customer Service: An IT technician needs to be patient and have a positive attitude to help other employees or customers.
Communication: You should be able to communicate both verbally and in writing. As an IT technician, you need to be able to listen, ask the right questions to find the problem, then come up with a solution that everyone can understand.
Problem-solving: This refers to the ability to gather, analyse and process information to find a solution. These skills are helpful to troubleshoot computer issues.
Technical: You need to have knowledge of computer systems and networks, to install, maintain and troubleshoot when there’s an issue.
How Much Does an IT Technician Earn?
The average salary of an IT Technician in South Africa is R 11 734 per month. Other monthly salaries in IT include the ones below:
Junior IT Technician – R 7 110
Senior IT Technician – R 18 446
Where can I Work?
As an IT technician, you can work almost anywhere. This includes some of the following:
- Computer companies
- Public Institutions such as Eskom, Transnet, etc.
- Government departments
- Local authorities
- Educational institutions
Author: Thiana Pretorius
Last Updated: August 21, 2020