What is an IT Specialist?
In a world run on technology, IT specialists, also known as an information technology specialist, are what every organization can never have enough of. These IT specialists cater to the technical needs of businesses. The IT specialist definition is a technical professional that is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of IT systems. IT support specialist job descriptions include specialization in network analysis, system administration, security and information assurance, IT audits, database administration, and web administration.
In fact, information technology specialists can work in various areas of information technology. They work in the help desk to redress the problems that end users face. Specialists can also don roles of software engineers, software developers, database administrators, system analysts, computer security technicians, and network analysts, among others.
Regardless of the area they work in, IT support specialist job description will require strong analytical skills, along with familiarity with different operating systems, such as Windows, macOS or Linux, and proficiency in one or more programming languages.
Usually, companies hire IT Specialists to solve technical problems, such as computer systems, software, hardware, networks, cloud platforms, etc. Many information technology specialists often work from the central office, or in some cases, these professionals work remotely.
IT Specialist Job Description
An information technology specialist job description typically includes the ability to provide 24/7 support. An IT support specialist must always be available to offer the necessary support to the employees. It can be both internal and external assistance. Apart from the regular reviews and supervision, particular roles and responsibilities are included in the information technology specialist job description. Here are some of the important ones:
24/7 Support
One of the most important duties is to provide all the necessary assistance to the users round-the-clock. They can be hardware issues related to desktops, computer peripherals, such as printers, scanners, hard drives, monitors, etc., or software assistance concerning installation and updating of software. IT specialists should keep track of all the IT-related issues in the organization. Informational technology specialists should also have good communication skills, as they have to interact with clients and their team members to coordinate on issues.
Update the Systems
An important element of an IT specialist job description is the tracking of system functionality. IT Specialists should keep themselves up-to-date with the latest components and other necessary aspects. The purchase of new software and hardware equipment is also their responsibility and should not exceed the estimated budget.
Keep Track of Data
Another valuable element of IT specialist jobs is their responsibility to be informed of all the internal and external organization data. IT Specialists oversee the maintenance, backing up, and securing of databases, as well as retrieving files when needed.
Information Technology Specialists Skills
An IT support specialist must be abreast with the latest developments and trends in the industry. They should be technology-savvy and be able to resolve all the technical difficulties. The core skills that employees should possess are:
- Extensive knowledge of information technologies and systems.
- Ability to coordinate at multiple levels and provide great customer service.
- Taking ownership of all IT related issues.
IT specialists need to train workers from non-technical workers backgrounds on information systems. They also work with vendors to understand what would be the most suitable systems for their organization. As information technology continues to transform exponentially, it is necessary for specialists to assess how these advancements would help their clients or organizations.
Additional IT Specialist Skills
These additional skills can give IT specialists an edge over other job applicants. Additionally, these skills will help broaden their career options as well.
- Exposure to technical writing.
- Hardware and software certification.
- Program certifications from Cisco, Microsoft, Apple or others
IT Specialist Educational Qualifications & Requirements
The interested candidate should have a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or a related field. Technical courses in software and hardware installations, operating systems, spreadsheet applications, troubleshooting, networking, and advanced database manipulation will be advantageous, as they provide great exposure to the candidate.
If they have scripting skills, such as Perl, Python Or BASH, it will stand them in good stead.
A step beyond an IT specialist is an IT engineer. To most people, an IT engineer is a wizard behind the screen who makes sure computers work smoothly. However, there is much more to the vocation than just installing a firewall and updating the OS. IT engineering is the future. With the world turning into a global village before our very eyes, IT engineers may expect some of the best job offers in days to come.
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IT Specialist Salary
According to Indeed, the average IT Specialist Salary is $69,191 annually in the United States. As per Payscale, the IT Specialist Salary is $55,094 per year and $19.03 per hour. The freelance information technology specialists are in demand for their skill sets. The information technology specialist should go for freelancing and make some extra income.
IT Specialists Career Prospects
As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for computer support specialists are expected to increase 11% between 2016 and 2026, which is much higher than the average for other occupations. This increase is due to the greater demand for support staff as enterprises upgrade and buy more software and hardware equipment.
The standard desk job is no more. The concept of hiring IT specialists as freelancers on short-term contracts as a part of the on-demand workforce is now popular with managed IT and telecom businesses. Field Engineer is a platform that is revolutionizing the hiring of IT specialists and providing better job opportunities.
Additionally, to better prepare for the future of the workforce, IT specialists need to be always prepared to acquire new skills so that they can advance their careers by embracing new specializations.
Get Hired with Field Engineer
In a field that is rapidly becoming high-demand, now is the prime time to sign-up to start a career as a freelance IT specialist. Field Engineer provides remote and freelance jobs globally on their job marketplace. What are you waiting for? Sign up for free at Field Engineer today!
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