Getting a computer technician job.

How did you get your start doing computer technician work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

I'm very curious about subject, any comments about this?

lochana in Colombo, Sri Lanka said: ex

For one thing, you'd have to be just a bit more internet savvy that that to get a job repairing computers. I'd say you'd fail when they asked you to explain the principles behind TCP/IP.

I got certified through a company in Tampa and it has def helped me. I never thought that I would need them but you do.

im 14 and im looking for advice on what qualifications i need to become a computer technition

please help me
thanks
Dominic Booth

thanks but could somebody tell me what qualifications i need to get to be a technicion

You want to be a computer technician and want to know what quals you need to be one?

You need to be able to fix computers. You need to know hardware inside and out. You need to know what symptoms different hardware problems produce. You need to know software and what are the sings of software issues. You need to have tremendous trouble shooting abilities (this is the single most important skill to being a PC technician). You basically need to know a computer inside & out in both hardware and software.

If you want to be a real successful PC tech then you really need to know how to repair printers (both laser-jet & inkjets), fax machines, copy machines and about any other office machine. You see, being a computer technician means that you are responsible for keeping the "technology" of the office in good working order. I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten the job over another candidate just because I am the "total package" for technicians. I can repair computers, copy machines, laser, injet, and thermal transfer printers. I can perform a complete rebuild on any fax machine, copy machine, laser printer, or type writer and then I can walk across the room and rebuild any desktop, laptop or server. I can diagnose and repair any hardware or software issue. If I don't know what the problem is then I can find it.

This is what being a computer technician is all about. Be able to keep the technology of any office up and running. You will not learn this in any one school or program.

My advice is to learn as much as you possibly can and make sure you trouble shooting skills are at the top of your game. Also, make sure that you are a well rounded individual and don't keep all of your skills in one basket.

thanks to 'computer geek' for the extremely useful information. i do know quite a lot on computers and how to take apart and build computers, laptops and servers. hardware problem shouting is not much of a problem but i am still learning about software and although i am only 14 at the moment i have had over 3 years experience.

"computer Geek".. thanxs for ur hekpful advice . i love computers but i just dont know how top get started .. i want to be a pc technician but there is a lot to learn in order top be a great one ... i have just learned the basics of computers like taking them apart and how they work .. and stuff like that ... im going to take another class to understand the software and well hopefully that helps but .. do u know of any helpful websites i can visit that can help me out..:P..
thanxs for ur time .. :)..!!

Akhosh in Thiruvananthapuram, India said: I have 5yrs of experince in this field

but,I need more to learn english language.

Akhosh in Thiruvananthapuram, India said: I have 5yrs of experince in this field

but,I need more to learn english language.

YO FELLO NERD WUT I GOTTA DO TO GET STARTED ON THIS FIELD I GOT 6YR EXPERIENCE A++ CERTIFICATE SO TELL ME PLEASE

I bought a computer in june of last year and my computer shut down because of a virus. How can i get that virus off of my computer. And is it possible that my computer can return back to normal after i get the computer off?

to get a virus off your machine you need to install atnivirus software. but if that dosent work then you will need to take it to a computer shop and ask them to format and reinstall windows.

PS for the antivirur i recommend:- ad-aware07, avg antivirus, avg antisypware and spybot search and destroy.

hope this info has been useful to you
bye
From
Dominic

i can work under hard presher

i have 2 1\2 years experience and got started by volunteering with the ITs at my school. I can now do a lot of server and software stuff, cabling, and i know the in and outs of the hardware really good.

yeah i know pretty much everything there is to know about ethernet networking and have all the kit and can do anything and most of that was actually self tought. but then again i am a massive geek

I want to know what all do yuo have to know in order to become a computer technician????..

I'm new immigrant to Canada. I've 7 years working experience as Computer Technician. If someone has a job for me pls contact sanjeevbhiede@gmail.com

I'm ready to work as training technician too. I am ready to working for 10$ per hour.

Get Prometric A+ certified for starters. Then if I were starting out in the field now I would advertise myself to come into peoples home and fix there computer problems for them. I would charge from 1/4 to 1/3 of what local computer shops charge to do the same thing. Also I would buy myself a huge external hard drive to backup customers computers before you do anything like reinstall windows.

To advertise yourself use the local paper, posters around town or go onto help forums around town and actually offer to goto peoples homes and help them out. Do it for free at first or cheaply.

Eventually your name will get to be know and you will have so much work there won't be enough hours in the day for you.

Make sure you are being totally honest with your customers when they ask you a question.

Hope this is a help.

DONT TAKE YOUR COMPUTER TO A SHOP. IF YOU HAVE COMMON SENSE YOU CAN REFORMAT YOURSELF. YOU TAKE THE WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEMS CD, WHETHER IT BEING WINDOWS XP OR VISTA FOR EXAMPLE. POP IT INTO THE COMPUTER, IT SHOULD SAY PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD..THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPTION TO REPAIR WINDOWS OR WHATEVER. YOU WANT TO DELETE THE PARTITION C AND FORMAT IN ORDER TO MAKE UR PUTER RUN LIKE NEW. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE TWO DRIVES, KEEP THE D. OTHERWISE YOU CAN DELETE BOTH AND COMBINE THEM TOGETHER AS ONE. BUT ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE TWO PARTITIONS I THINK. WARNING, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LOSE ALL INFORMATION YOU HAVE. SO, IF YOU WANT, BACK UP THE STUFF YOU NEED, BUT IF YOU DONT KNOW WHERE THE VIRUS IS....THEN WIPE IT ALL OUT. BECAUSE YOU COULD COPY THAT SAME FILE THAT HAS THE VIRUS AND PUT IT BACK ON YOUR COMPUTER AFTER YOU FIXED IT:)

OH GUYS I HAVE A QUESTION TOO.. I WANT TO BECOME A COMPUTER REPAIR TECHNICIAN BUT WHAT CLASS SHOULD I TAKE FIRST AND I SUCK WITH COMPUTER LANGUAGE. DOES IT SOUND FROM WHAT ADVICE I GAVE ABOVE THAT I MAY HAVE A CHANCE IN THIS FIELD? I WANNA START A REAL JOB. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND IM READY TO STOP BEING SCARED OF FIXING PUTERS. IM SCARED ILL GO TO A JOB AND BLOW UP THEIR WHOLE NETWORK AND MOTHER BOARDS LMAO!!

Hi I just graduated out of High School and I am currently looking for a career to pursue in the future. I have been thinking about being a computer technician but have no experience or qualifications and would like to know if there are any schools that teaches the basics of Computer technology and If I need any experience at all to become a good technican? And also I would like to add that I am planning on going to a two year school to try and pursue this career Can any body give me advice and educate me on the qualifications I need?

And also can any body give me the names of good books so that I can study the terms and get a little understanding of what it is that I am trying to learn?

George C in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories said: Get Prometric A+ certified for starters. Then if I were starting out in the field now I would advertise myself to come into peoples home and fix there computer problems for them. I would charge from 1/4 to 1/3 of what local computer shops charge to do the same thing. Also I would buy myself a huge external hard drive to backup customers computers before you do anything like reinstall windows.

To advertise yourself use the local paper, posters around town or go onto help forums around town and actually offer to goto peoples homes and help them out. Do it for free at first or cheaply.

Eventually your name will get to be know and you will have so much work there won't be enough hours in the day for you.

Make sure you are being totally honest with your customers when they ask you a question.

Hope this is a help.

For everybody who visits this page. This is exactly what I did when I first started, and it's true, there is not enough hours in the day. I've been doing this for 10+ years and I have built up a very good client base. All from word of mouth. One thing else, get business cards made up. Get them from a company and don't print them up yourself. It helps when you present yourself with a professional looking card, and not some card you printed up at home. And yes always be honest with the customer.

Michelle,

You are right about formatting your hard drive. Those are the tips you take when formatting so you don't have to spend your hard earned money at the local computer store. The local computer stores in my area, they charge $100+ for something that you can do yourself for free. You only do it once a year and you don't have to spend money on useless software promising to speed up your computer but does nothing. To fix computers, you need your A+ certification, the first link I click on google took me to this site:

www.computertrainingschools.com/requestinfo/?schoolID=209

This is New Horizons and they can teach you about how to fix and upgrade computers. A+ certification classes teach you
about how to build, upgrade, and maintain computers, software,
hardware, periperals, basic networking concepts, etc. Easy class. The A+ certification exams is easy if you study very hard for them. Don't worry I'm another geek girl so you are not alone in this field :)

I'm looking for a computer technician job myself. The person helping me find a job at the state's unemployment office told me to try calling around different computer stores to ask if they are hiring since computer stores are local and they usually don't have the money to advertise in the classified ads section for technicians so you have to call and ask the owners. The worst thing they can say is, "We aren't hiring
right now, but you can drop off your resume". Then you got some that might take on a chance and hire you. Computer technicians in my town make very good money, but while it's not high paying like a Network or System Administrator, it is a whole lot better than minimum wage and a start in the Tech field when you got no experience and no one wants to hire you
because everyone wants experience in the IT field.

Thanks so much for your reply. It was sweet of you :D I hope I will do well with this. I know all about how to reformat and fix computers but the terminology is appauling for me. Hope I am able to understand it all. My memory is shot lol

If anyone is looking to get great information about making their computers faster, fixing their computers without paying someone a lot of money, news on PC related info, or just browsing the internet, check out this great website

www.MSPCInfo.com

I heard from some other people are frequent visitors on this site, that the person who created this site has been a computer technician his whole life, and has several computer certifications. I had a problem with my PC that I couldnt fix, and if you contact him through his link on the website, they will help you out. This website is GREAT!!

Dominic Booth in Rotherham, United Kingdom said: im 14 and im looking for advice on what qualifications i need to become a computer technition

please help me
thanks
Dominic Booth

Hello Dominic!
Well, If you want to become a computer technician, you will probably need to earn some sort of computer science or technical degree. Often, a two-year associate degree in computer architecture or repair is all that is necessary for an entry-level job. Some companies will require more or less education, depending on the job responsibilities. Because this type of work is much like a craft or learned skill, quality programs will often help students find internships at computer repair shops or company IT departments.

Cody Moncur in Nassau, Bahamas said: And also can any body give me the names of good books so that I can study the terms and get a little understanding of what it is that I am trying to learn?

A good book you could read would be, "A+ Certification Workbook for Dummies." This book has a lot of useful information.

A+ N+ and some kind of Customer Support Cert!

Go with the word of mouth thing, and after several months of consistant work and you consider yourself fully component... no wait competent, lol... then go to your local stores small and large ie PC W*rld, with CV READY, have a list of happy (if thats not all your customers your doing something wrong) customers, if they wouldn't mind to help you in sort of referrence for your past work, and you help them in retunrn for a cheaper rate or such, anywho when you apply at a large franchised store or such, state that you would be willing for a cut wage of £1-4k depending on your requirements in order to get more experience!

...and good luck!

This is how I would do it personally! Well I'd chuck in some Persuasion techniques and NLP stuff to, but thats a another whole kettle of fish!

I have my A+ Certification and going back to school to get my degree in Network System Administration.
Been working and fixing computers for about 12 years now.

Alright, For real guys...

1. First of all, you should load a Linux live CD (Pref. Knoppix) on your infected PC.
2. Then run CLAM/AV
3. If it is able to find and destroy the virus, retry Win.
4. Wipe Windows from your PC and install Linux
5. Run Windows as a virtual machine in Linux if needed.

Its not enough to just know how to format an H.D. and reinstall Windows, you need to understand the intricacies and base level operations of your computer to truly be a valuable tech.
I can't tell you how many times I have been able to save a clients valuable files by utilizing linux... Don't just blast your system to hell and re-install windows!!! a monkey could do that!

Rule #1 of being a I/T Tech... Never trust a tech that runs Windows as there primary O/S, Linux is safer, faster and source code is available!

Second, its not "Prometrics A+", Its "Comptia A+" Prometrics and Vue are just the testing locations.

And for everyone who is an aspiring Tech, never take the easy way when you are learning... If your PC needs a fresh O/S install, explore every aspect of the system that you can! It will come in handy someday, trust me!

I have just recently completed an apprenticeship in IT support, i already had a good knowledge foundation to build on but for beginners, the CompTIA A+ is a good place to begin. Another good qualification to take is the Network+ that they offer, I'm set to take that exam soon, its similar to the A+ but slightly more difficult, biased more to (obviously) the networking side of the job.

I have also achieved the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification, if you're looking for something to stand out on your CV/Resume, that's a great qualification to have.

I know a few highly experienced techies, and they recommended to me that i didn't go to uni, as by the time you gain the qualification you are studying for, the technology you were studying is practically obsolete.

I forgot to mention...Dominic Booth, as you are in the UK, i will share with you the place i went to learn.
It's a 5 month apprenticeship in which you earn an NVQ Level 3 IT, Advanced Diploma for IT Practitioners, CompTIA A+, MCDST and Comptia Network+ (optional)

They have academies all across the country, not sure where your nearest is though.

www.zenos.com

They also help you to find employment upon completion of the programme (75% of the people that go end up in full time employment) they don't pay you though, not sure whether you would be eligible for EMA, but its worth going regardless.

Obviously, you need to achieve good results in school to attend (C in an IT based subject and C in English minimum), so stick in ;)

its intended for 16-19 year olds which makes it perfect for a school leaver.

Any way to get a job with just a+ cert. almost ready to take the test but doesn't look like i would be able to get a job. The job would be for experience due to medical stuff i couldn't go by the word of mouth thing have to work for a company. Any ideas on how to start and advance my carrer as an it tech?

Hello: Wish I could help you; I even work in a company right now that is not using me as a A+ Certified Technician, even though I am?
Just keep plugging and maybe you will find something out there?
The reason I have not left this job is because I actually love with I am doing> and maybe some day soon they will use my skills in shop here, by the way I do work for the IT department already.

Mackeia Anderson in Leominster, Massachusetts said: I bought a computer in june of last year and my computer shut down because of a virus. How can i get that virus off of my computer. And is it possible that my computer can return back to normal after i get the computer off?

If the virus is already on, Installing software can be affected, you would need to run a cd based scanner or remover like McAfee Avert Stinger (free to download). It is possible essential Windows files were infected and you may need to reinstall OS if acting up. Spybot is detected as spyware software alongside Webbot, etc...
It is also possible any and all software was affected and you need to reinstall that.
It can also be that registry was affected requiring expert repair. However, you can always add a new drive, install OS fresh, add old drive as secondary, scan and remove viruses and then save your precious data, especially if boot sector was damaged. Very few viruses attack and destroy Bios flashrom, however if that is the case and your PC is not starting at all, some motherboards offer a bios chip replacement and others can be found from Generic vendors.

HUGE thankyou to 'Mark Robinson' for the absolutely tremendous information i am now thinking of leaving school, going to Chesterfield College (www.chesterfield.ac.uk) to study a 'BTEC National Diploma For IT Practitioners' then taking a gap year to do Zenos in this gap year, then going to University to study something in computers but i've not decided what course to do for at University as it is 3 years away!

Any more advice will be very appreciated. Is you or anyone else wishes to email me direct my email address is dominicbooth@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks
Dominic Booth

Dominic Booth in United Kingdom said: thanks but could somebody tell me what qualifications i need to get to be a technicion

At least have a 3 year experience in working as a technician, graduate with at least a bachelors degree in that, and YOU MUST BE ABLE TO WRITE A Resume~ (paper saying you qualify for the job you want...

I want to find a job, computer techician.

BIG DAWG in Miami, Florida said: YO FELLO NERD WUT I GOTTA DO TO GET STARTED ON THIS FIELD I GOT 6YR EXPERIENCE A++ CERTIFICATE SO TELL ME PLEASE

Well first you need to learn how to fix your Caps Lock button, it appears to be broken.

Sounds like some of these foreigners are a little braindead, mainly the ones who can't speak more than twenty words of English (sorry, it gets on my nerves)

As for the certifications and experience, I probably have more experience than someone with a four-year degree out of college. I've been very tech savvy even since I was a child - first thing I ever did was upgrading a computer at three years old!

20 years later, I'm doing just about everything in IT....

hardware would be the basics when looking for a job in the computer industry mainly even by going to a college you only get certain qualifications but what you need to know is more software which mostly no one here is speaking of. (sorry even though im american i have bad english). right now im researching parallel computer clusters and am starting my own so i think im doing fairly well for a 14 year old.even if you guys just upgrade your computers with hardware its no difference ive once been able to get a 100/200 mhz ibm 20 mb or so of sd ram to run age of empires 3 normally its the sofware and its limits that get in the way. if you understand the math of creating programs and especially ones that can change the computers language itself your good to go. and thats not my real name i dare not give it out if you wish to respond to me my email address is tmothy123@aol.com

also try getting a scholarship in that area of expertise it would be quite hard getting a job with a degree from community college.i would suggest early engineering programs or robotic assembly and program construction programs, many schools offer this contact me if you want the info. tmothy123@aol.com

I thinking to do a career change towards a computer networker.Any while know programs or courses throught colleges or privite colleges.

just try basic beowulf system managment it works

well i attended a 18 month course and persued an Associate in Applied science degree and still cant find a job with out actual job related experiece. most jobs i see require work related experiece. can i use those 18 months as work experiece? need help ..thank you ..here is my email if anyone has any good advice.ledesmajose93@yahoo.com

no... do you have an certifications? A+ etc.??

no i dont. i was attending a school called LTS CARRIER TRAINING,an was about to take the exam for my a+ and quit attending.but i do have plans on returning and finishing what i started.

How do you know what courses to take to prepare for A+ certification?