How to Become a Technical Support Engineer

How to Become a Technical Support EngineerWith almost every industry and company going as digital as possible these days, technical herausforderung solvers are in high perpetual demand. This is wzu siche professionals like technical hilfestellung engineers come in. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) What Does a Technical Support Engineer Do?Technical erleichterung engineers (sometimes also called information technology/IT technical beistand engineers) serve as tech gurus for a company. They might work with external users (like customers or clients) or internal users (like employees). IT technical support engineers use their expertise about various tech and computer systems to help troubleshoot issues, or maintain day-to-day operations. Their tasks may includeDesigning computer systems to meet particular needs for a companyProviding support for customers or clients in person, via phone, or via computerProviding support for employees in perso n, via phone, or via computerMonitoring day-to-day performance of tech systemsTraining people how to use various systemsDiagnosing and troubleshooting tech problemsHelping companies implement new hardware or software systemsTechnical support engineers can be found virtually anywhere there is tech. These professionals can work in any industry, as there are jobs available in both the private and public sectors.What Skills Do Technical Support Engineers Have?Technical support engineers need to have strong tech backgrounds, of course, but theyll also need a diverse skill set to find a job along that career patha mix of hard and soft skills.Tech SkillsTechnical support engineers need a strong set of hard tech skills, and a strong basis in current technology. Depending on the job itself, they may need to have hands-on experience with specific kinds of hardware, software, applications, and systems.Customer ServiceThis role is a service job, no matter whether an engineer is working with col leagues at his or her company, or actual customers or clients. A strong sense of customer service is a major asset, as the engineer will be helping and coaching people of varying tech expertise, and helping make sure their technology is running as it should. Patience is a major asset here.CommunicationPart of the technical support engineers job is breaking down complex technological concepts so that they can be understood by a lay person who may be using the technology without understanding the sophisticated logic and engineering behind it. Being comfortable with translating concepts for different audiences, being able to present information clearly and articulately, and feeling comfortable with back-and-forth conversations are all essential to the role. Listening skills are also very important here, given that the technical support engineer often needs to diagnose whats wrong, and how to fix it.Problem SolvingTechnical support engineers are, by nature, problem solvers. They help ot hers use technology to do work more efficiently, and they ensure that the technology is working correctly. Companies depend on their technical support team to come up with solutions to make sure that everything is running smoothly, tech-wise. That can mean coming up with creative solutions to tricky problems on the fly, as well as implementing best practices overall to ensure that problems wont recur.FlexibilityTech problems dont just happen from 9 to 5 on non-holiday weekdays. Technical support engineers may be on call at odd times, or be called in when theres a crisis, regardless of time. If youre not open to an all hands on deck situation when it comes to your hours, this might not be the best tech job for you.Tech-SavvinessThis may seem like a no-brainer, but its crucial to be up on the current technology and methods. The hot apps and systems a year ago might not be the best option now, and companies typically want their tech support team to be as current as possible on tech tre nds and processes. Being a quick, adaptable learner when it comes to new tech is key for a technical support engineer.Project ManagementThe technical support engineer may be called upon to manage larger projects, like making system changes or implementing new hardware/software. This means having the management and organizational skills to shepherd a project from start to finish, involving the necessary people, sticking to a schedule, and (if applicable) staying on budget. via Pinterest/ProSynWhat Education Do Technical Support Engineers Need?While the basic education requirements can vary depending on the industry and the company, a technical support engineer typically needs a four-year degree in engineering, computer science, or a similar technical discipline. Experience may be able to trump a degree in some circumstances, but a two-year degree in information technology, computer science, or computer engineering is a bare minimum.How Much Do Technical Support Engineers Get Paid?Thi s can be a pretty lucrative field, if you have the skills to go for it. According to PayScale, the median salary for a technical support engineer is $60,674 per year. This can vary according to experience and location, as well as areas of specialty and expertise.Whats the Outlook for Technical Support Engineers?This is a field that will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, as technology grows ever more sophisticated, and companies need qualified professionals to support it. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will grow by at least 12% by 2024, faster than average for all jobs.If you have strong tech skills and a passion for helping people solve problems, this can be a great career path for you. As a technical support engineer, youll never run out of challenges, and its a path that will keep you right on the cutting edge.

12 Habits of People Who Are Always on Time

12 Habits of People Who Are Always on Time Learning to be punctual is an essential part of being an adult. However, life can get in the way and make it easy to end up running behind. Still, there are people who never seem pressed for time who seem to have their schedule down to an exact science.How do they do it? If youve found yourself wishing you could be on time more often, here are 12 habits that keep the chronically punctual on their A-game1. They give themselves a buffer.Rather than giving themselves 10 minutes to travel to somewhere that typically takes 10 minutes to travel to, punctual people factor in things that could make them late during their commute times. Flat tires, fender benders, and train delays happen, but punctual people let the mere possibility of these things happening inform what time they leave.2. They get organized ahead of time.Living on the cusp is fun in theory, but it can be a hassle if youre trying to be on time. If youve ever found yourself wondering w hat you to wear or searching for you keys moments before walking out the door, you know that figuring out these things at the last minute can make you late. If you have your keys ready to go on their hook and have your outfit set out for you before its time to go, the chances of being late decrease.3. They check for delays.One quick way to improve your chance of being on time is to check for things that could potentially make you late. If you know construction is happening on a certain road or that a train is skipping your stop because of station renovations, you can factor these barriers in and add even more additional travel time. Though not every delay can be planned for, at least knowing what youre up against can make getting to your destination smoother.4. They schedule everything.Writing down appointment and event times means that they dont sneak up on you. Punctual people avoid being caught off-guard and having to rush by keeping a schedule that makes running late because of plain forgetfulness a non-option.5. They enjoy down time.Being the first person to arrive means that you get used to having a few moments to yourself. Whether this time is used for catching up on a book or responding to emails, punctual people know that getting out of the door quickly can leave them with me time thats stress-free. Thats a big enough motivator to get anywhere a bit early.6. They practice good sleep hygiene.Early morning appointments dont phase people who enjoy regular sleep. Arriving anywhere on time after only getting a few hours of sleep is bound to be difficult, so establishing a regular bedtime helps punctual people from falling tardy.7. They set back up alarms and reminders.Many people (myself included) have horror stories about waking up late as the result of technical difficulties involving their alarm. Accidentally setting a phone alarm to ring in the PM instead of AM, or having batteries in a wind up clock die overnight, can lead to an unintentional sleep in . The best way to avoid this is to set alarms from multiple devices, such as a cell phone and a digital clock, so that if one fails, the other one has you covered.8. They avoid procrastination.Putting things off until the last minute means that you have to squeeze in what you need to get done. When you have to rush, you can easily find yourself being tardy. By sticking to a schedule and ensuring that time is managed responsibly and effectively, people who are consistently on time avoid the last-minute panic that can contribute to tardiness.9. They ersatzdarsteller check their alarms.Measure twice, cut once. Rather than trusting that theyve set their alarms correctly, punctual people double check their alarms to make sure they havent made an error.10. They dont hit the snooze button.The snooze button can be a dangerous thing. By delaying the time you get up, you can fall back into a deeper sleep that can lead to tardiness. Rather than risk having this happen, people who are always on time avoid letting sleep time bleed into the time it takes for them to get ready and head out.11. They correct their mistakes.Most people, even the most consistently on time, have been late for something at least once in their lifetime. The difference between the chronically on time and the chronically tardy is that those who are always on time learn from their mistakes and correct their behavior moving forward. If they show up late somewhere because a bus arrived 10 minutes behind schedule, they learn to give themselves a larger time window to account for this possibility in the future.12. They consider the importance of punctuality.Thoughts impact actions. Experiencing the frustration of someone being late or facing a consequence as a result of tardiness can make being on time an incredibly important value. When people contemplate why being late is a problem and how it can negatively impact themselves and others, being on time regularly becomes an easier task.More on keeping a sc heduleKayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is a contributing writer for Color My Bubble. Her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets anthology.