Find out the top 10 core skills you need to master as a computer support specialist and what hard skills you need to know to succeed in this job.

A Computer Support Specialist is a profession who is hired by a company to offer high quality technical assistance to all computer users. He/she ensures that all users are well conversant with the computer systems usage. Also, he or she will offer advice to the clients on how best to manage their computer related systems.

Besides that major role, he/she undertakes the following assigned roles; troubleshoot computer problems, run diagnostic programs to determine the source of the problem, consult on the procurement of new systems, writing training manuals, overseeing all computer information systems and their use, configuring and troubleshooting the network and offering client support.

Core Skills Required to be a Computer Support Specialist

Core skills describe a set of non-technical abilities, knowledge, and understanding that form the basis for successful participation in the workplace. Core skills enable employees to efficiently and professionally navigate the world of work and interact with others, as well as adapt and think critically to solve problems.

Core skills are often tagged onto job descriptions to find or attract employees with specific essential core values that enable the company to remain competitive, build relationships, and improve productivity.

A computer support specialist should master the following 10 core skills to fulfill her job properly.

Problem Solving:

Problem Solving is the skill of defining a problem to determine its cause, identify it, prioritize and select alternative solutions to implement in solving the problems and reviving relationships.

A Computer Support Specialist has a fundamental role in finding ways to address all types of problems through having a good method to use when approaching a problem without being ineffective, favoring or causing painful consequences.

Troubleshooting:

Troubleshooting is solving a problem or determining a question to an issue which is often applied to repairing failed products or processes on a machine or a system.

A Computer Support Specialist must be able to diagnose any trouble in the management flow caused by a failure of any kind and determine to remedy the causes of the symptoms with the final product being the confirmation that the solution restores the process to an excellent working state.

Knowledge of Job:

Knowledge of Job is essential to every employee who needs to have a clear understanding of how their jobs fit into the overall organization to eliminate carelessness and laxity.

A Computer Support Specialist must be able to evaluate this criterion when selecting an employee and know the common descriptions of a person with either right or inadequate knowledge of the job early enough to either keep them or let them go.

Work Attitude:

Work Attitude is one's feelings towards and beliefs about one's job and their behavior that can tell how it feels to be there.

A Computer Support Specialist ought to encourage his workers and provide all the requirements for the workplace to ensure a positive attitude is maintained by the employees that can help them get a promotion, succeed on projects, meet goals and enjoy the job more.

Emotional Intelligence:

Emotional Intelligence is the capability to identify your emotions, understand what they are telling me and realize how the feelings are affecting you and the people around you.

A Computer Support Specialist should be wise to handle different personalities that carry different emotions presented in the workplace while ensuring relationships are managed more efficiently by respecting your perception and the employee's as well.

Consistency and Reliability:

Consistency and Reliability are the ability to be trusted to do what you do best all the time with or without supervision and without failure to produce results.

A Computer Support Specialist is liable to maintain a high level of consistency and reliability by engaging with employees and treating them with respect deserved which produces excellent results in various kinds of reliability coefficients.

Problem/Situation Analysis:

Problem/Situation Analysis is the ability to solve problems and assess situations to know what kind of solution is required to calm it down.

A Computer Support Specialist should learn how to identify and analyze problems and situations as well as use available resources to resolve them constructively by reaching a consensus through looking at an issue in a professional, not personal way.

Training others:

Training is the ability to expand the knowledge base by learning new truths that are useful in the workplace.

A Computer Support Specialist needs to creatively schedule training for his employees in a focused manner that will allow the employee stay useful in the workplace and get new knowledge so that both the business and the worker not suffer from delays and work related stress.

Computer Skills:

Computer Skills are the necessary computer working skills that each employee need to have while seeking to get admitted into the professional world.

A Computer Support Specialist ought to be technologically oriented and hire employees with strong computer skills because they fare better in the job market than their tech-challenged counterparts bringing a high level of quality employees in the job seeking category.

Technical Skills:

Technical Skills are the abilities and knowledge mostly related to mechanical, IT, scientific and mathematical needed to perform specific tasks in the workplace.

A Computer Support Specialist ought to hire employees with particular talents and expertise that helps them perform certain duties and jobs that other skills like soft skills cannot perform to grow both the business and the employee and bring in productivity.

Hard Skills Required to be a Computer Support Specialist

Hard skills are job-specific skill sets, or expertise, that are teachable and whose presence can be tested through exams. While core skills are more difficult to quantify and less tangible, hard skills are quantifiable and more defined.

Hard skills are usually listed on an applicant's resume to help recruiters know the applicant's qualifications for the applied position. A recruiter, therefore, needs to review the applicant's resume and education to find out if he/she has the knowledge necessary to get the job done.

A computer support specialist should have a good command of the following hard skills to succeed in her job.

Computer Support Specialist: Hard skills list

Active Directory
Algebra
Analytical assessment of engineering data
Assembly Language Programming
C++ Language Programming
Calculate Memory and Speed Requirements
Change Control
Cisco Networking
Computer Application Flow Charts
Computer Hardware
Computer Programs and Programming Tools
Computer Networks
Computer Networking Technology
Computer Science Principles
Computer Systems
Computer System Validation
Data Processing Information
Data Processing Systems
Data Security Procedures
Data Storage Technology
Design computer hardware and software interface
Disaster Recovery
Electrical Equipment
Electronic equipment
GAMP
GxP
Hardware
Internet Information Server (IIS)
IT Operations
IT Outsourcing
Java
Knowledge of Mainframe Computers
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
Linear Algebra
Linux
Network Management/Administration
Network Security
Management Control Systems
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Active Directory
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Office
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Word
Operating System
Oracle
Program Mainframe Computer
Prototype Computer Software Systems
Records Management System and Guidelines
Research
Root Cause Analysis and Final Status Reports
Servers
Software
SQL
Statistical Methods
Statistical Modeling
Storage Area Networking (SAN)
Strong Analytical Thinking
Structural Analysis Principles to Computer Systems
Structured Design or Development Methodologies
System Administration
Systems Evaluation
Systems Analysis
System Analysis and Development
Technical
Test and Troubleshoot Problems
Train System Users
Troubleshooting
Troubleshoot Computer Programs and Systems
Virtualization
VMware ESX
WebLogic Development Framework Experience
Windows 2003 Server
Windows NT / 2000 / XP Networking
Windows Operating Systems General Use
Windows Server
Windows Server 2012 R2
Write Instruction Manuals
Write Project or Bid Proposals
.Net

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