How to Hire a IT Technician

Why hire an IT technician?

An efficient IT technician helps in increasing user interaction and usage of computer systems, thus helping the company to have smooth business operations with minimum computer software and hardware issues. Contributions of a great IT technician include:

• Establishing user workstations with computers and other accessories
• Monitor all computer hardware like HDD, mouse and keyboard to ensure proper functionality
• Set up and configure required appropriate software and functions as per desired specifications

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance IT technician

Before writing an IT technician job description or interviewing candidates, decide if you need a full-time or freelance IT technician.

A full-time IT technician is typically readily available during company operating hours to provide IT support. As they serve as a primary point of contact for all IT-related issues, (e.g., installing software and hardware, troubleshooting computer issues), IT technicians are valuable for companies that have grown to having tens or hundreds of employees. However, technology-specific companies may benefit from employing a full-time IT technician no matter the size of company.

Freelance IT technicians may work for smaller organizations that require someone to work less that 40 hours per week. Other times, they may be hired for a short-term project, such as installing a new software system or repairing a hardware problem, or hired to be on call for after-hours support.

What are the ranks of IT technicians?

When you want to hire an IT technician, it’s important to understand what type of IT technician will best suit your company and industry. While IT technicians are generally responsible for maintaining software, hardware and IT equipment of an organization, their responsibilities can vary depending on company size and industry. Starting from the highest level to the lowest level, here are the common ranks of IT technicians:

• IT director: Manages and executes the IT strategy of an organization, including identifying technology needs and monitoring system performance.
• IT manager: Oversees and evaluates IT and computer systems, solves for issues (e.g., risks, downtime) and trains IT staff.
• IT specialist: Diagnoses and solves equipment, hardware and software issues, performs system upgrades and routine maintenance and runs system checks.
• IT technician: Sets up employee workstations with the appropriate equipment (e.g., monitor, keyboard, computer) as well as office equipment, including printers and copies. Trains users on how to use equipment and systems.

Where to find IT technicians

To find the right IT technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Promote from within: Consider which of your current IT team members have the knowledge and skills to move into a more senior role. Internal hires often mean less money and time spent on training, plus greater employee engagement.
• Employee referrals: Ask your employees if they have IT technician connections qualified for and interested in your open role.
• Share on social media: If your company has a social media presence, promote your IT technician role on your social media pages.
• Use Slack: Not only for messaging coworkers, Slack can be used to recruit professionals. Join an IT-related Slack community where you can engage with IT professionals.
• Post your job online: Try posting your IT technician job on Indeed to find and attract quality IT technician candidates.

Skills to look for in a great IT technician

IT technicians are an essential part of a company. It’s crucial to note which qualifications and skills are vital for hiring a suitable IT technician.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or another related field
• Work experience of 3+ years in computer and systems maintenance
• Work experience of 2+ years on current network operating systems
• Ability to work in high-pressure situations and meet deadlines
• Good understanding of IT principles and ability to impart IT training to company employees
• Possess high confidentiality and discretion qualities

Writing an IT technician job description

A thoughtful job description is important for attracting qualified IT technician candidates. A complete IT technician job description includes a compelling summary of the role, detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your IT technician job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on IT technician jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Information technology
• IT
• IT support
• Help desk
• System administrator
• Desktop support
• IT technician
• Technical support
• Computer technician
• IT specialist

Interviewing IT technician candidates

To hire a suitable IT technician, take the time to vet candidates and asking detailed interview questions to understand their knowledge and skills. Strong candidates for IT technician positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Proficiency in setting up computer systems and peripheral hardware
• Past experience in training users on safe usage of computer systems
• How they’ve contributed to sales and profit goals of the company by actively working towards maintaining computer systems and give user training

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of IT technician interview questions for examples (with sample answers).