Is IT for you?

Working on an IT service desk or within a Data Centre can be hugely rewarding for someone that enjoys problem solving and helping other team members. Working within IT however is not for everyone but if you have a keen interest in hardware and software it will definitely stand you in good stead for a career in this sector.

Learning more about the industry and the kind of work you may undertake in an IT role, may help you decide if a career in this industry would suit you. If you’re interested in looking at courses visit the British Computer Society website: https://www.bcs.org/ for further details.

IT Helpdesk support staff primarily receive calls from members of staff (or clients if they are an outsourced IT company or a Data Centre) that have an issue with their computer. The problem could be as simple as resetting a password or could be much more complex where trouble shooting and referring the issue to 2^ndline support may be required.

IT support staff have access to all of the company’s servers and shared drivers so that they can obtain information quickly and easily to help resolve problems. Smaller companies tend to outsource their helpdesk to IT support companies but larger businesses will have an in house helpdesk team to support their staff.

Having a practical understanding of how computers and networks work, troubleshooting problems quickly and easily and enjoying talking to people will all help you in this role. If you are a people person then this will also be advantageous as the majority of people that call an IT helpdesk will have little or no understanding of computers. Being able to remain calm and to keep the caller happy whilst you try and resolve the situation without getting frustrated is crucial for this role.

As well as answering calls from members of staff you may also be required to help with the day to day running of the company’s computers systems. This could involve anything from helping to plan disaster recovery strategies to helping ensure that the company’s data is secure and that their security is up to date.

Working in IT can offer lots of challenges and can be very varied but if you have a love for all things technical and like keeping up to date with technology then this career path could be just right for you.

Some companies also offer apprenticeship schemes so that you can start earning and learning from day one. You can visit the apprenticeship page on the Government website for further information: https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships You can also progress through the ranks as you gain experience and become more knowledgeable, from Senior Engineer to Information Architect who knows where you may end up.