Interesting article on the changing role of the computer repairman

RetiredGuy1000

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“If your culture doesn’t like geeks, you are in real trouble.”
~ Bill Gates

Thankfully, society’s perception of the so-called ‘geeks’ has undergone a huge change in the last few years. With today’s growing dependence on technology, people who are skilled in such subjects now have much more respect. After all, these geniuses are the ones who make our everyday life easier.

Among the computer professionals who we rely on heavily are computer technicians. But unlike before, they are no longer just the “fix-it” guys (or girls). Their job is not limited to just keeping all the devices on a computer network. Their work has evolved over the years and become much more layered and complex. Here are a few ways in which a computer technician’s role has changed:

1. They aren’t just the repair guys
The days when you needed a computer tech’s help only when something was broken or not working are long gone. While repairing and fixing broken equipment still remains an important part of their job, it’s just that—a part of their job (and not their only job).

Even that part of their job has become increasingly complex over time, especially in large organizations where all the computers are inter-connected to each other and to the internet.

2. They are a network’s lifeline
As mentioned earlier, organizations have complex networks of computers and other equipment that are connected to each other. Computer technicians are responsible for not just setting up these networks, but also carrying out scheduled maintenance and regular updates of these complex systems.

As part of routine maintenance of their organization’s network, computer technicians perform important tasks like file and email backups, documenting and securing networks, and ensuring compliance with legal regulations and corporate policies.

3. They are the masters of troubleshooting
If you have ever seen a computer tech trying to find a solution to a particularly persistent problem, you’ll understand the “troubleshooting master” title because they certainly have superhuman abilities when it comes to troubleshooting.

Computer technicians must be experts at troubleshooting software, hardware, internet, as well as network-related problems. They are as deft at identifying and analyzing a problem as they are at finding solutions to it. The modern-day computer technician is not afraid to plunge into a pool of resources to find answers, and he or she does so in the minimum possible time.

4. They are cyber warriors
There is only one word to describe the moment when you realize that the innocuous looking link you clicked on is actually a vicious virus attacking your machine—panic! Guess who comes to save the day? Why, computer technicians, of course!

Computer technicians wage a daily war against deadly viruses. They know a virus when they see one because they keep themselves informed about the latest malware to hit the industry.

They are experts at not only removing malicious viruses, adware, and spyware from the system, but also preventing cyber-attacks and bringing the system back to life if you are unfortunate enough to be a victim of a virus attack.

5. They are super communicators
These days, computer technicians interact with people at all levels—from the lowest rung of employees up to the top. They are heavily relied upon to share information as well as train employees in all departments—from client-facing ones like sales and customer service to business-facing ones like product development, accounting, etc.

It is no wonder computer technicians these days are far from their old image of awkward, introverted professionals. They are, in fact, expected to be confident communicators with great customer service skills.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 88,800 computer support specialist jobs are expected to be added through 2024. Those with formal training from recognized computer technician schools will be at an advantage compared to their untrained counterparts.

However, it’s important to remember that a true computer technician’s education never stops. The learning continues through their career and that’s what sets them apart from the crowd.

Do you think you have what it takes to become a computer technician? Find out more about the profession and Career Step’s Computer Tech training program here!

https://www.careerstep.com/blog/computer-technicians-more-than-just-fixing-pcs-and-printers/
 
My biggest problem in this area is that some new customers expect me to know every setting in every program ever made and not only that, but teach them how to do accounting in QuckBooks or TurboTax or relational tab/page lookup in Excel or the fine details of other obscure programs they've latched onto.
 
Those with formal training from recognized computer technician schools will be at an advantage compared to their untrained counterparts.
I wouldn't be too sure about that. In all my time as a tech, no-one - not in business or residential - has ever asked me for any evidence that I know what I'm doing. Which, on some jobs, is just as well...
 
I've spent my entire career working as a contractor / business owner. I've had 2 people in 20 years ask to see my degree, or certifications.

The only place that wants stupid little letters is faceless corporate land. Which, I suppose I should get my butt into because there's money in there.
 
The only place that wants stupid little letters is faceless corporate land. Which, I suppose I should get my butt into because there's money in there.

Good money but as we've discussed before that's where all (my) stress comes from. I do not seek out business customers for this reason.
 
My biggest problem in this area is that some new customers expect me to know every setting in every program ever made and not only that, but teach them how to do accounting in QuckBooks or TurboTax or relational tab/page lookup in Excel or the fine details of other obscure programs they've latched onto.

This is why it's SO important that you as a technician are able to learn a program on the spot (if necessary, even with a client looking over your shoulder). I thankfully have always had this ability with everything except audio software because I know next to nothing about sound/audio on a technical level. I know about video, just not audio. I don't like sounds by themselves and I don't even listen to music - ANY music. I frankly couldn't care less about audio.
 
I know next to nothing about sound/audio on a technical level.

Not sure this belong in this thread but -
Windows audio absolutely sucks. (I was a live audio engineer in another life.) All my Pandora/Spotify machines go out with APO graphic equalizer and the Peace GUI for it. Makes an incredible difference providing you know how to set it.
 
This is why it's SO important that you as a technician are able to learn a program on the spot (if necessary, even with a client looking over your shoulder). I thankfully have always had this ability with everything except audio software because I know next to nothing about sound/audio on a technical level. I know about video, just not audio. I don't like sounds by themselves and I don't even listen to music - ANY music. I frankly couldn't care less about audio.

Very true, If I don't understand a program I do my damnedest to learn it , and quickly. As nothing more frustrating as a tech on not understanding how something works.
 
There is one glaring hole in that thought process...

Custom apps...

There is nothing to "learn", no Google, no online resources. So you're either going to be bumbling in the dark, or washing your hands of it.
 
There is one glaring hole in that thought process...

Custom apps...

There is nothing to "learn", no Google, no online resources. So you're either going to be bumbling in the dark, or washing your hands of it.

It's called teaching yourself. You don't learn by watching YouTube videos or stupidly searching for answers on Google. That's just finding the answer and following the steps like a monkey. I've taught myself custom software many times. I just dealt with a custom piece of software used at a chiropractic office. He had some guy write it for him like 15 years ago and it had all his patient data in it. I had to figure out how to use it and how to save the data on the spot. It took me about 10 minutes despite never having used the software before.
 
It's called teaching yourself. You don't learn by watching YouTube videos or stupidly searching for answers on Google. That's just finding the answer and following the steps like a monkey. I've taught myself custom software many times. I just dealt with a custom piece of software used at a chiropractic office. He had some guy write it for him like 15 years ago and it had all his patient data in it. I had to figure out how to use it and how to save the data on the spot. It took me about 10 minutes despite never having used the software before.

You've obviously never encountered the black box of custom MS Access. There is no "learning" when the software is flat defective.
 
This is why it's SO important that you as a technician are able to learn a program on the spot (if necessary, even with a client looking over your shoulder).
Depends on the program. If it's QuickBooks or Word or Excel, you should be using the programs yourself in your own business. I don't care how smart you are or how fast of a learner you are, there is no substitute for long term hands on experience doing real work.

I don't think its reasonable for my customers to think I know the ins and outs of the veterinary practice management application or the insurance company's agency management app. I'll get comfortable with installing and maintaining them over time. But I'm not going to learn how to operate the programs. If they're having trouble with a mail merge in their vertical app I'll have them walk me through how they're doing it.

Now, I do know enough about software and computers to recognize that "the computer is (not) locked up". I can tell that their application is hanging, but not really, because a non-modal dialog box appeared then was hidden under them main application window. A simple Alt+Tab or taskbar click highlights the window and cancels it and suddenly their PC isn't frozen anymore.
 
@Diggs Seriously this was hosted on Source Forge and I missed this :eek: talk about being annoyed, I used to recommend dfx for sound improvement and adjustments but compared to this gem you've posted dfx is junk.

@Sky-Knight Been there done that I still get the nightmares or extracting data from a black box like you said, nothing beats a POS system made in ms access to give you chills at night.

@timeshifter My annoyance are pop-up windows the ones outside screen range :rolleyes:. A quick switch on screen resolution usually solves that mess or Windows-M as most of the time the pop-up will still stay on screen but I just love those phone calls of people freaking out on unsaved work.

Shawn W. Dion
aka GreyWolf
 
Sorry but that article has lumped a bunch of specialized areas into computer repair.

This is why big companies have specific departments that handle networking and security and breakfix.

As someone who spent several years providing security and forensic services to a major bank I can tell you right away the guy that was responsible for reinstalling windows was allowed nowhere near the network or the forensic department.

There is a huge difference between a security professional and a computer repair guy.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk
 
I've always had quite a logical mind and like troubleshooting. It frustrates me when i cant find the answer.
I've never been asked to prove any qualifications, i've been asked where i learnt things and i say self taught, which is mostly true. I learn best by doing and can quickly pick things up. Nobody has ever walked away because i say self taught, in fact i get the nod of approval/admiration. I do some work for a fairly big company, they have never asked what qualifications i have, they are happy with the work i do. I have admitted to them when i dont know how to do something and quite often they are happy for me to give it a try anyway.

I dont believe a technician needs any qualifications, experience is the best form of learning, if i need anything fixing i'd much rather someone with years of experience than someone fresh out of education.

I dont really think our role has changed or that we have more respect from others, if anything in some cases i think we can get less respect because computers are now used by almost everyone and they demand and expect answers immediately. Users do not often understand "this is going to take some time" or "i need to do a bit of research on this particular problem", they want it fixed yesterday and often cheaply. The cheap customers have never had respect for us, by the very nature of wanting something cheap they are undermining our experience and worth.
 
Websites like Careerstep are pretty useless in my book. They're around just to generate click revenue for it's investors by pushing other's offerings. Kind of like Linkedin.
 
I've noticed that in medicine EVERYTHING a doctor does has a code. There's a large plumbing company in town. They work by the job. Guy shows up and has a book with a price for every job. I can't see that being applied to our field. And I think that's why no one cars that we don't have formal training or accreditation because it's all new and ever changing.
 
Expanding on the "everything has a code" in medicine, every procedure has a code (CPT code, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_Procedural_Terminology) which is used for billing to insurance companies and every diagnosis also has a code (previously ICD-9-CM with format xxx.yyy.z, now the much more detailed ICD-10-CM). A lot of what medical billers do relates to making sure that the CPT codes being billed match up with diagnoses for any given patient - if a claim is submitted with a diagnosis for abdominal pain and procedure codes for putting a cast on an ankle, someone isn't getting paid.

If you remember going to a doctor and the doc having a sheet ("face sheet") with 3-5 columns of very fine-print lists, those lists were for CPT items so the doc could just check off the things being billed for your visit. Most of the time only a few of them were used, often just the equivalent of "visit" with levels 1-5 depending on how long it was. There was also a spot on those sheets for diagnosis codes.
 
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