What does a Help Desk Clerk do?
Help Desk Clerks serve as the main point of contact for customers who have difficulties using hardware and software they previously purchased. They resolve technical issues, answer questions and educate customers on how to use their employers’ products and services. When they perform their assigned duties well, they help to ensure client satisfaction. Help Desk Clerks can drive repeat business and referrals, lessen refunds and help sell additional products and services.
Help Desk Clerk skills and qualifications
Successful Help Desk Clerks will usually have certain skills and qualifications, which can include:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to gather information and give directions over the phone and via online chats
- Problem-solving and research skills to find solutions for customer problems when a solution is not immediately apparent
- Interpersonal skills to create connections and provide positive experiences for customers
- Technological skills specific to the company’s products and troubleshooting practices
- Conflict resolution skills to manage unsatisfied clients and come up with solutions to their complaints
- Organizational abilities to manage follow-up for numerous clients
- Project management skills and familiarity with project management software to track the resolution of issues
- Ability to remain upright and stationary for long periods
Help Desk Clerk experience requirements
Previous experience may or may not be required for Help Desk Clerks, depending on the nature of your open position. Some hiring managers prefer to hire candidates with little or no experience and then train within, while others opt for individuals who have previously worked in a Help Desk Clerk role. Help Desk Clerks may also come from other industries, working in administrative, customer service or clerical jobs and then transferring these skills to a new industry. If your staffing needs could make it difficult to train your new hire quickly, you might wish to consider candidates with a few years of experience working at a help desk.
Help Desk clerk education and training requirements
There are usually no formal education requirements for Help Desk Clerks. However, for positions that involve troubleshooting more complex software or hardware, some post-secondary computer science coursework or an associate or bachelor’s degree in IT may be beneficial.
Supplementary certifications can help to set quality candidates for your open position apart. To earn these certifications, Help Desk Clerks typically need to meet education or experience requirements and pass an examination. Examples of professional certifications for Help Desk Clerks include the Google IT Support Certificate and the CompTIA A+ networking certification.
Help Desk Clerk salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Help Desk Clerk is $55,502 per year. When making a salary offer, consider the candidate’s skills, experience, education and certification status, as well as the going pay rates in your area.
Help Desk Clerk salary expectations
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Common salary:
17.68 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.95 -31.15 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
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Help Desk Clerk job description FAQs
Who does a Help Desk Clerk report to?
The person a Help Desk Clerk reports to depends on the type of organization they work for. Those who work for smaller tech companies may report directly to the IT Director. Help Desk Clerks employed by larger organizations may serve on a team of other Help Desk Clerks with a supervisor who oversees their progress. The supervisor may conduct one-on-ones with Help Desk Clerks, build their schedules and assign them daily tasks.
What’s the difference between a Help Desk Clerk and a Technical Support Specialist?
Help Desk Clerks resolve more basic tech issues for customers, while Technical Support Specialists have high-level tech knowledge they can use to help clients fix more complex computer or software system issues. Help Desk Clerks typically address simple issues or questions a customer will have. If there are difficult technical problems they can’t solve, they’ll work with the Technical Support Specialists to find the answer.
How can I make my Help Desk Clerk job description stand out?
To attract quality candidates, consider listing perks such as flexible scheduling, remote work opportunities, health insurance benefits, retirement plans and tuition reimbursement programs. Adding a section that describes your organization’s mission and core values can also make your job posting more attractive to jobseekers.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.