An IT assistant provides general IT services and support to computer users, with diverse daily tasks including generating support tickets, monitoring equipment, and organizing files. They may also perform physical tasks such as installing hardware and changing printer cartridges. Strong interpersonal and technical skills are important.
An information technology (IT) assistant is responsible for providing general information technology services and direct support to computer users. A person who does this work can have quite diverse daily tasks. Sometimes he or she is required to work abnormal hours, including morning, evening and weekend shifts, based on the employer’s needs.
On a typical day, an IT assistant might generate support tickets for pending services, monitor networked equipment, perform regular technology maintenance tasks, and research potential technologies for department purchases. He can also expect to contribute to operational policies and organize files related to IT department operations. It is likely that complex configuration tasks will also be performed, albeit under the guidance of supervisors.
This job is possibly one of the most hands-on jobs in an IT department because of the wide range of support services it provides to other members of the organization. In most cases, the person’s job description will include roles beyond remote technical support. Many user manuals and organization-specific training seminars are the responsibility of this individual, and he or she may be required to prepare written guidelines for other employees and conduct workshops.
Finally, an IT assistant serves as a direct point of contact between the department and the rest of the organization. In some cases, the job description may list the term “catch-all” in the assistant’s task list. This means that he will be asked to perform any IT-related task assigned to him, as long as the person is capable of performing the task correctly.
For people who enjoy physically configuring and installing computer systems and networking devices, this job can provide an enormous amount of satisfaction. Most PC and local area network (LAN) hardware installations are the responsibility of IT assistants. Maintaining and deploying the system image also typically falls to these employees.
While all tasks performed by IT assistants are important, some can be less than exciting. They can take on more basic responsibilities like installing Ethernet wiring, cleaning internal computer components, and changing printer cartridges. Someone in this job can expect to perform some physical tasks such as bending, lifting, pulling and carrying objects weighing 27.2 kg or less.
For many people, this position is a satisfying role because of the variety of tasks it involves. Strong interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, effective communication, creative problem solving and reliable organizational skills are important for the job. Those who show promise often find themselves earning promotions within their departments.
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