What are Desktop Support Jobs and How to Bag One in 2022?
What is a desktop support job?
If you want to kickstart your career in the IT industry, getting desktop support jobs is one of the best ways to get started.
Since most job profiles that provide support services in the IT sector are entry-level, it’s easier to get desktop support jobs as a fresher.
Plus, with the growing dependency on computers and technology in every industry, the demand for desktop support technicians, engineers, and specialists is also on the rise.
The overall employment opportunities for these professionals are projected to grow up to 9% by 2030 - which is slightly higher than the average growth rate of other occupations.
Read on to learn more about desktop support jobs and related FAQs like the following:
- What does a desktop support technician do?
- What are the different types of desktop support jobs?
- How to become a desktop support technician?
- What are the in-demand certification courses for desktop support jobs?
- What are the skills required for a desktop support engineer?
- What is desktop support engineer salary?
What is the Role of a Desktop Support Technician?
Desktop support professionals provide on-site or remote assistance with computer hardware and software issues in an organization.
They work as a part of a helpdesk team and report to senior managers, including system administrators.
Depending on their specific job title, the job description of desktop support professionals can widely vary.
Listed below are some of the general desktop support responsibilities:
- Setting up, installing, and upgrading computer operating systems and software
- Troubleshooting IT problems and errors
- Configuring and maintaining computer network connections
- Training and onboarding recruits on computer operation and management procedures
- Providing tech support to internal staff members, as well as external clients
- Advising senior management on suitable software and hardware upgrades to minimize costs and reduce downtime
- Preparing reports and overseeing inventory
Also read: How to write a compelling desktop support resume?
Desktop Support Job Positions
As stated earlier, there are different job titles under desktop support jobs, and depending on their specific roles, their responsibilities can vary.
Some of the common desktop job titles include the following:
Desktop Support Technician
Desktop support technicians are also known as desktop support engineers.
They are employed by various industries like IT, retail, healthcare, service providers, etc., and are tasked with the groundwork of resolving any hardware or software issues faced by company employees.
They install and maintain workstation equipment, including IP telephones for the end-user in compliance with the company procedures.
An associate's degree in computer science or a related field is the general requirement to become a desktop support technician.
Also read: What are some tips for building a stellar tech support resume?
Desktop Support Specialist
The job description of a desktop support specialist is quite similar to that of a desktop support technician.
However, the key difference between the two is that desktop support specialists primarily troubleshoot technical issues by speaking with external clients or users over the phone or online chat.
Companies that provide network and computer services employ them.
Desktop Support Manager
The role of a desktop support manager is managerial and it is not an entry-level position.
These professionals oversee computer software testing, allocate resources, track data, train staff, and ensure coordination between various desktop support teams.
They ensure that users and clients receive timely and efficient support for their computer and network issues.
Also read: How to become a great manager in 2022?
How to Get Desktop Support Jobs?
Given below are some tips that will help you stand out from the crowd of applicants for landing desktop support jobs:
Earn a Degree
Although not compulsory, employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s or an associate degree in computer science for desktop support jobs.
And even if the requirements in the job listing don’t call for it, consider getting a degree.
This will give you better chances of landing desktop support jobs without prior experience and will also help you advance swiftly to higher-level positions.
Get Certified
Another way of having an edge over other candidates is by taking up a certification course in software programs that are primarily used by the company you are targeting.
Different companies use different operating systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, etc., and depending on that, you can take up certification courses to gain technical skills.
Listed below are some of the common certification courses for desktop support jobs:
- Apple Certified Systems Administrator
- Apple Care Mac Technician (ACMT)
- CompTIA A+ certification
- HDI Technical Support Professional certificate
- ITIL Foundation Certification
- Microsoft Certifications (MCSA)
- Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
- [HDI Customer Service Representative (HDI-CSR)](HDI Customer Service Representative (HDI-CSR))
Hone Your Skills
Since desktop support jobs are mostly technical in nature, it’s important to have specialized skills to get hired.
And if the company you are targeting is geared toward external clients, customer service and interpersonal skills are a must too.
Some of the essential skills required to bag desktop support jobs are listed in the table below:
| Network Security | VPN Technology |
| SQL | CRM |
| Software Monitoring | Troubleshooting |
| Problem Diagnosing | Hardware Expertise |
| Customer Service | Software Upgrade |
| PC Repair | Network Configuration |
| Problem Resolution | User Support |
| Hardware Installation | Network Administration |
| Application Testing | Client Interaction |
| Data Management | Training |
Also read: What skills should you put in your resume?
Revamp Your Resume
Your resume is the first thing that employers see when you apply for desktop support jobs.
Therefore, it's crucial that your resume justifies your skills and expertise to help you get shortlisted.
You must ensure that your resume is tailored according to the job description and includes plenty of keywords to help it rank high in the Application Tracking Software (ATS) that employers use to select the most qualified resumes.
Also read: How to build an ATS-friendly resume?
Prepare for Interviews
One of the most common mistakes that candidates make is not preparing well enough for job interviews.
47% of applicants fail interviews due to their lack of knowledge about the company they’re interviewing with.
To avoid such scenarios and solidify your chances of getting hired for desktop support jobs, you must prepare well for interviews.
You must analyze the job description thoroughly to get an idea about the type of questions recruiters may ask during interviews and research the company to learn more about their products, services, recent milestones, the name of the company’s CEO, etc.
It’s small details like this that will help you impress the recruiters and get hired.
Also read: What are the most common interview questions in 2022?
Desktop Support Salary
The average desktop support job salary in the US is $58,009 per year.
However, this figure can widely vary based on experience, role, location, skills, and company.
For instance, the median desktop support technician salary of a professional with 2-3 years of experience is $53,177 while those with 10+ years of experience can earn more than $67,108 in a year.
Some of the highest paying companies for desktop support jobs are given below:
| COMPANIES | AVERAGE SALARIES |
|---|---|
| American Airlines | $83,860 |
| Stefanini | $80,746 |
| Leidos | $78,706 |
| Cybersearch, Ltd | $72,900 |
| Stefanini IT Solution | $72,298 |
| Insight | $70,327 |
| Perspecta | $67,899 |
| Intratek Computer | $62,712 |
| SAIC | $62,589 |
| SmartSource | $61,655 |
Meanwhile, the following are the highest paying US cities for desktop support jobs:
| US CITIES | AVERAGE SALARIES |
|---|---|
| New York, NY | $67,195 |
| Washington, DC | $67,184 |
| Boston, MA | $66,246 |
| San Diego, CA | $62,123 |
| Atlanta, GA | $61,021 |
| Houston, TX | $59,221 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $59,156 |
| St. Louis, MO | $58,503 |
| Nashville, TN | $58,000 |
Key Points from the Blog
- Desktop support professionals are responsible for providing on-site or remote assistance with computer hardware and software issues in an organization.
- Desktop support jobs entail duties like setting up, installing, and upgrading computer operating systems, network systems, and software.
- Desktop support jobs include job titles like desktop support technician, desktop support specialist, and desktop support managers.
- Employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s or an associate degree in computer science for desktop support jobs.
- Getting certified and honing your skills is a great way to increase your chances of getting hired for desktop support jobs.
- You must ensure that your desktop support resume is ATS-friendly and don’t forget to prepare well for interviews to bag desktop support jobs.
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