IT Dojo: Five signs that you aren’t cut out to be a support tech

Bill Detwiler: So you want to be a computer support technician. Or perhaps you are one already, but you can't decide whether you're just having a bad week or you're really not cut out for the job.

I'm Bill Detwiler, and in this IT Dojo video, I'll discuss several signs that you may not be cut out for IT support.

The ability to do well in any job and to enjoy it depends to a certain extent upon our personalities, skills, and attitudes. But how can you tell if you should -- or shouldn't -- be a support tech?

Well - the first sign that you may not be cut out to be a support technician is that you like technology a lot more than you like people.

Being a great support tech is just as much about communicating well with users, as having the answers to technical problems. In fact, lots of the things that you deal with on a day-to-day basis aren't technical problems at all, but user errors or simply users who may not be tech-savvy enough to figure out the issues they're having with certain devices and applications.

If you're not a people person and you don't have a lot of patience, then you're probably not going to be a very happy or successful support tech.

Of course, you can also err on the other side of this issue. If you're an extrovert who loves talking to people, but you don't have a passion for technology or an interest in keeping up with technical trends, then you're probably not going to be very helpful as a support tech. This is a job that requires a good balance of people-skills and technical expertise.

The second sure sign that tech support might not be your cup of tea is a lack of determination to keep up with tech trends.

Arguably, without a strong independent interest in technology, it is highly unlikely that the support tech field will be a successful choice of careers. Being an effective support tech requires keeping up with current technology and, regrettably, not every company will provide the time and tools necessary for this task during normal working hours. This means that to stay competitive, you will need to devote some of your own time and resources to keeping yourself current.

The third indicator that you're not cut out to be a support tech is that you don't handle pressure very well.

Urgent deadlines, possibly abusive users, and irate corporate executives can all cause high levels of stress.

If you aren't capable of staying calm and thinking logically while others are panicking over presentations that won't print out or accidentally deleted files, you'll probably be miserable in this job.

Forth on our list is a need for constant recognition and praise. Being a support tech often means being invisible until something goes wrong. So if you're one of those people who need constant -- or frequent -- recognition and praise, you'll probably be very disappointed in your role.

Ironically, you'll be the most invisible when you are doing your very best work. No problems to solve -- no glory. The support role is best suited for someone who is self-motivated and is able to take quiet satisfaction in a job well done.

Lastly on or list, if you re a bit shaky when it comes to problem solving -- tech support is probably not for you.

The process of resolving computer problems requires a systematic, logical methodology, with occasional flares of inspiration when the logic fails. Although there is no single "correct" methodology for determining the cause of a problem, the ability to think clearly and logically is an essential qualification for being a support tech.

Now, these are just five warning signs that you might not be cut out to be a support tech. For an additional set of five signs, check out Becky Roberts' download, "10 signs that you aren't cut out to be a support tech," on which this video is based. I'll link to it from the IT Dojo blog.

So, did you hear any alarm bells go off during this video? Are there other traits that go into making a great support tech that might make up for some of these negatives? Let us know what you think about this job role in the IT Dojo blog.

And, for more teachings on your path to becoming an IT Ninja, visit I-TDojo.techrepublic.com. And please let us know if this tip was helpful.

You can also submit your favorite I-T Ninja tips by e-mailing them to us at I-TDojo@techrepublic.com. If we use them for an episode of IT Dojo, we ll send you a TechRepublic coffee mug.

I m Bill Detwiler. Thanks for visiting TechRepublic s IT Dojo.