What are the best ways for Technical Support professionals to gain experience?
Learn from the community’s knowledge. Experts are adding insights into this AI-powered collaborative article, and you could too.
This is a new type of article that we started with the help of AI, and experts are taking it forward by sharing their thoughts directly into each section.
If you’d like to contribute, request an invite by liking or reacting to this article. Learn more
— The LinkedIn Team
If you are interested in pursuing a career in Technical Support, you might wonder how to gain the skills and experience that employers look for. Technical Support professionals help customers solve problems with software, hardware, networks, or systems. They need to have technical knowledge, communication skills, and customer service abilities. In this article, we will share some of the best ways for Technical Support professionals to gain experience, whether you are starting from scratch or looking to advance your career.
One of the first steps to gain experience in Technical Support is to learn the basic concepts and tools that are essential for the job. You can do this by taking online courses, reading books, watching videos, or following tutorials. Some of the topics you should cover include operating systems, software applications, hardware components, networking protocols, troubleshooting techniques, and customer support best practices. You can also get certifications from reputable organizations, such as CompTIA, Microsoft, or Cisco, to validate your skills and knowledge.
-
David Sukamanga
MCSA, MCSE,MCITP, Cybersecurity Analyst Professional, SAP Professional, Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP,ITILv4, Microsoft Azure Management Tools and Security Solutions.
Investing in resources such as education, setup home lab, deploy your own domain at home using the virtual machines. Structure it as real time practice. Plan, design, test and implement, create problems on your home lab not on the production environment. Document every solutions that worked. Attending workshops, conferences, webinars and online learning. It will really do a big deal..
-
Eng. Muneer Ali
IT Manager Project Manager ERP Systems
Through my career, I have noticed the best methods in the field of technical support: 1- Courses in the field of networks 2- Courses on the most famous devices, including Cisco, Mikrotik, Huawei... etc. 3- Courses on wireless devices 4- Knowing how communications and the Internet work and their problems 5- What is a proxy , VPN and others.
-
kieran Hume
Maintenance and Reliability Engineer - PCE
My advice would be to build your development on the structure of product knowledge, investigation/inspection techniques and hands on exposure. One of the biggest influences I have had in my career is exposure to many different engineers from multiple countries/backgrounds/industries. There is no better training than learning from people who have done it before. I was once told when it comes to learning there are no stupid questions which is very true. Training courses and product documentation are great ways to enhance your knowledge but if you don't know how to implement what you know then you are not supporting people efficiently and effectively.
Another way to gain experience in Technical Support is to practice on your own devices and systems. You can set up a home lab, where you can install, configure, test, and troubleshoot different software and hardware. You can also use virtual machines, emulators, or cloud services to simulate different environments and scenarios. By doing this, you can learn by doing and gain hands-on experience with various technologies and challenges.
-
Tyler Baugher
CySA+ | Security+ | Network+ | A+ | Customer Service Tech | TEKsystems | BJC HealthCare IT Contractor
Keep your LinkedIn profile and resume up-to-date, recruiters like to search for candidates. Sometimes the best bet to get started in the world of IT is to let the recruiters come to you and let them set up an interview with another company. Many of these positions have six-month contracts, but experience is everything. You might be offered a full-time position during or after your contract with some luck.
-
Douglas Moreira
There's no easy ways to learn if not through practice. With that in mind, concentrate on enhancing the skills necessary for the tasks at hand. Seek out learning paths within the company and don't overlook networking, as it opens up new, more effective ways of learning the same things.
-
Naazish Moideen
Infrastructure Support Engineer |Certified in cybersecurity (ISC2)|SC200 | SC 900 | AZ900 | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Having hands on experience is the key to learning from my 6 years of career and having it documented for future reference . Home lab is the best way forward to learn technologies real hand. They key takeaway is to have the dedication and avoid procrastinating on it.
(edited)
A third way to gain experience in Technical Support is to volunteer or intern for a company, organization, or project that needs your help. You can look for opportunities online, through your network, or by reaching out to potential employers. By volunteering or interning, you can get real-world exposure to Technical Support tasks and situations. You can also build your portfolio, network, and references. Moreover, you can demonstrate your initiative, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
-
Daniel Bradley
Microsoft MVP - Senior Solutions Consultant - Microsoft 365
I volunteered early in my career when I was looking to get into a support role. The problem is, with a lack of confidence and mentorship early on, your volunteering can quickly turn into, just being the guy who removes hard drives, changes print toners and fixes monitors. Go into volunteering with a clear plan of what you want to learn and when you need to learn it. Don't be afraid to speak up when you are not getting what you want from your free labour.
-
Misha Maslov
Technical Support Engineer
Consider remote internships. Remote internships allow you to gain experience from anywhere, expanding your options and learning opportunities in the field of Technical Support.
-
Alan de Souza Rothmann
Full Stack Web Developer Student | Javascript | HTML | CSS | ReactJs |
Early in my career, I volunteered at a specialized vocational school offering a wide range of technology courses. This experience helped me gain expertise and valuable contacts, or network. Some of these contacts have remained with me over the years, which is essential for professional growth. Also, remember that depending on the technology field you are pursuing, it's crucial to keep your profile and portfolio up-to-date.
A fourth way to gain experience in Technical Support is to join online communities where you can interact with other professionals and learners. You can find forums, groups, blogs, podcasts, or social media platforms that are related to Technical Support topics and issues. By joining online communities, you can ask questions, share tips, get feedback, and learn from others' experiences. You can also showcase your skills, knowledge, and personality.
-
Daniel Bradley
Microsoft MVP - Senior Solutions Consultant - Microsoft 365
Use social media as a way to seek out advice from people further along in their careers. Don't be afraid to connect with people and message them directly, usually, the people making the most noise on social media are those willing to help you the most.
-
Alan de Souza Rothmann
Full Stack Web Developer Student | Javascript | HTML | CSS | ReactJs |
Social media today can be used as a very important tool for acquiring knowledge when approached in the right way. Look to join large communities that are focused on something of your interest, whether it's technology or a company you aspire to work for someday. Follow people in those areas, exchange ideas, and build a strong relationship within the community.
-
Diejomaoh Samuel
Microsoft Certified Trainner (MCT) | Office 365 Administrator | IT Security Engineer
This is a great arsenal as you get to meet like minds and people that have gone ahead of you in your career.they can be a great source of inspiration and help to guide you towards the right direction.
A fifth way to gain experience in Technical Support is to apply for jobs that match your qualifications and interests. You can search for jobs online, through your network, or by contacting employers directly. You can also use platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr to find freelance or remote Technical Support projects. By applying for jobs, you can get exposure to different industries, customers, and requirements. You can also improve your resume, cover letter, and interview skills.
-
Alan de Souza Rothmann
Full Stack Web Developer Student | Javascript | HTML | CSS | ReactJs |
Don't be afraid to apply for job positions shortly after beginning your studies. There are many companies willing to provide opportunities to beginners as a way to teach in their own way. To do this, it's always important to keep an open mind to be able to learn beyond what you've already been studying. Also, don't hesitate to apply for positions even if you don't meet all the qualifications. Everything is negotiable, and it will also depend on your willingness to acquire the knowledge later. But most importantly, DO NOT LIE IN THE INTERVIEW. Be honest when you don't know something, honesty cannot be bought.
-
Farath Shba
☁ The Cloud Guy | Actively helping Jobseekers in the Tech Space
Looking for a job in Technical Support? Try searching online, networking, or contacting employers directly. You can also check out freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr for remote or freelance opportunities. Applying for jobs can help you gain experience, improve your resume and interview skills, and expose you to different industries and customers.
-
Ola Kunle
Technical Support Specialist
Another thing I've found helpful is applying for jobs. Applying for jobs can expose you to see your own lapses and encourage you to cover them by trying to gain new knowledge. Most times, when you apply for new jobs you get to see what other skills organisations are looking for, and you can decide if you want to upgrade your skills. Applying for jobs can also boost your confidence, because by so doing you are making it known that you've got something that is more valuable and you can contribute to other people's lives.
A sixth way to gain experience in Technical Support is to keep learning new skills, technologies, and trends. You can do this by taking online courses, reading books, watching videos, or following tutorials. You can also get certifications from reputable organizations, such as CompTIA, Microsoft, or Cisco, to update your skills and knowledge. By keeping learning, you can stay relevant, competitive, and adaptable in the fast-changing Technical Support field.
-
Robert Valentine
Manager, Data Protection & Application Security at Avanade (an Accenture Microsoft Business Group)
Keep Learning and go beyond what you can do. Learn as much as you can, ask to have a mentor, some organizations allow mentorships. This is a wonderful way to get inside knowledge and a wealth of experience. Learn as much as you can. Read technical web sites, read technical books that interests you. Make it fun and yet gain experience.
(edited) -
Svein S.
Digital Leader at AGTunnel AS
Always keep learning. In IT there is an almost endless sea of stuff to learn. If you want see if there is something you want to specialize in. Getting expertise in a specific field can help you get a job later on. If you want to learn how to code i find the best way to get experience is practice projects. You can easely find this by a simple search "practice project C#" for example. This way you can apply what you learn and gain experience.
-
Michael van den Heever
EX IT Director - Looking for an opportunity to help your business grow.
I cannot emphasize this enough, in todays fast pace world it's vital to be aware of market trends in technology. Especially the key drivers of the technical market, it will educate you in a ways that will be able to hold good conversations with more senior technical people who are inclined to be informed and aware. This will likely make you more popular, and open more doors. There is nothing more fantastic than someone who's breaking into their technical support career and they are able to discuss current technical aspects beyond their own focus. I cannot emphasize this enough, follow and connect with like minded people on LinkedIn and elsewhere. Share your opinion and show your interest.
-
Douglas Moreira
Continual improvement within a company is crucial in today's dynamic business environment. It involves finding one's role, developing essential skills, and a commitment to ongoing learning. Internal learning paths and networking are vital for fostering growth and knowledge sharing. Overall, it's important no never stop improving for personal and organizational success.
-
Krishna Chaitanya ™
Vice President | Ex: Radio Jockey | Brand Curator & Content Creator
I still remember where we used to support Pan American customers with basic desktop issues.. now I see that has changed, we are learning from Americans now... it means, whatever you are good at today is not enough - learning is a continuous effort for our survival...
-
Soliman C.
Technical Support Engineer at BoostUp.ai
For those starting in tech support, my top tip is to develop a 'T-shaped' expertise: possess broad knowledge across tech fields and deep skills in one niche. But here's the twist: complement your tech specialty with unexpected skills, like psychology for user behavior insights or project management for a rounded edge. Also, try reverse mentoring—teach the vets something new. It shows initiative and builds your reputation.