Individuals who have contemplated the pursuit of a career in the field of information technology may have at one point asked themselves “What is an IT specialist?” If you are someone who loves technology and computers, the field of IT might be a great career fit.
IT Specialist – A Brief Overview
An information technology specialist is an individual who works directly with technologies including, but not limited to, computers, telephones, fax machines, and electronic devices such as mobile phones. In many cases, a company will have an IT specialist on staff who maintains the organization’s computers and computer networks. IT specialists can also work for independent consulting companies, private computer repair shops, or in any work environment that necessitates assistance with the development and maintenance of a computer.
While some IT specialists are capable of handling issues that pertain to technology, they are more likely to work specifically with computers. This may be the case for several reasons, but mostly because computers pervade almost every sector of society, including schools, the workplace, and public institutions such as museums. While computers have resulted in the more efficient functioning of these entities, their use can also entail various issues such as software troubleshooting and/or how to correctly set up networks. Since IT specialists can resolve these types of issues, they are in great demand within the computer sector.
Education Requirements
Oftentimes, individuals who work as IT specialists obtain bachelor’s degrees in information science or computer science. In other cases, individuals who work in this field earn degrees in management information systems or systems analysis. While earning a bachelor’s degree may make an individual a more marketable job candidate than persons who do not obtain this level of education, some individuals are capable of attaining employment with an associate’s degree. However, any individual who wants to function with expedience and excellence within this sector should learn how to utilize operating systems like Mac OS X, UNIX, and Windows. Additionally, aspiring IT specialists should be capable of installing hardware such as hard drives and modems. Finally, people who want to become IT specialists should know how to troubleshoot hardware and software problems.
Training
According to the Global Post, IT specialist train for a space of three months prior to being hired. In some cases, however, a year-long training might become necessary. This would often be necessary if the IT specialist was preparing to work with complex, large computer systems. Training could be held in a variety of places, including but not limited to computer labs and classrooms. Ideally, training serves the purpose of granting the learner practical and theoretical experience. Within this sector, on-going training is considered an integral aspect of being able to perform jobs with expedience and excellence. As a result of this principle, individuals who work as IT specialists are generally expected to participate in seminars and workshops to stay up to date regarding new techniques and ideologies which have gained prevalence.
Related Resource: IT Director
Conclusion
If you have given any thought to working within the IT sector, you should note that becoming an IT specialist can help you accomplish your personal and professional goals. Now that you have a basic answer to the question “What is an IT specialist?,” you can decide whether the vocational opportunities offered by this type of position would be beneficial or appropriate for you.
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