What Does Technical Support Do?

What does technical support do?

High-level support is the service of a company responsible for providing assistance and advice on matters relating to the company's products and services. They are most often found in the IT and IT sectors. They provide assistance by phone, email or through an internal ticket system. Learn more about the role, activities and how to become a help desk technician!

Helpdesk support skills

Since the role of the help desk agent is direct contact with customers, it is essential to be able to connect with people, understand their problems, questions or concerns and be able to provide clear solutions.

It takes a certain combination of skills, character and soft technical values ​​to create an excellent career in help desk and / or support.
The important skills of technical support specialists include:

• Excellent communication skills
• Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
• Ability to clearly explain technical information.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute multiple tasks
• Knowledge of call location applications.
• Collaborative team spirit
• Analytical and process-oriented approach
• Ability to learn new software and hardware.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to perform diagnostic tests.
• Ability to create case notes and error records.
• Good improvements in the identification process.

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Help Desk Technician Job Outlook

Help Desk Technician Job Outlook

The use of help desk technicians and IT support specialists is expected to increase by 10% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the 5% average for all professions in the United States. The demand for helpdesk technicians will increase as organizations continue to install and update the latest IT systems to reduce costs and gain a competitive advantage.

To improve your job prospects in this field, focus your help desk skills in the IT systems design sector, as the job market for help desk professionals in this sector is expected to grow twice as fast (24%) compared to the same 10- period of the year. Medical care is another area with an accelerated need for IT support specialists.

What are the daily activities and responsibilities of technical support?

• Accept initial requests by phone or email from customers
• Call / email activity log
• Manage the help desk software or ticket system
• Solve and manage simple software, hardware or network problems.
• Provide assistance with the company's products or services.
• Stay updated with updates, changes within the company
• Search questions about available resources (frequently asked questions manual)
• Delegate difficult problems to second level support

Read More @ which is true about outsourcing service desk services?

What Does a Network Administrator Do?

Network administrators help build, maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot effective IT, data and communication networks for organizations, according to the TechRepublic Premium network administrators rental kit. In the job description section of the network administrator hiring kit, some of the specific responsibilities listed include designing a network configuration, analyzing and troubleshooting network problems, improving functionality and efficiency network, monitoring the security of the commercial network, updating network operating systems and, if necessary, assistance.

Network administrators often work together or in coordination with department heads to determine the organization's network goals and requirements and make the necessary changes to the network, according to Indeed's publication on How to Write a Network Administrator Job Description .

In particular, network administrators can expect significant growth rates in the design of IT systems and the related services sector, which is expected to grow by 20% by 2026. As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are adopting cloud services, demand networking and computer administrators will increase, as SMEs typically don't have their own IT departments dedicated to the network, added the BLS report.

Network administrator daily checklist

Network administrators use transversal skills while carrying out daily activities and responsibilities. Effective communication allows network administrators to exchange ideas with colleagues, evaluating general technological needs. Network administrators also train users on hardware and software, communicating complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Network administrators install, monitor, update and resolve network hardware and software problems. They implement techniques to optimize network performance, provide access to new users and also monitor the security of a network.

Testing of Fiber Optic Systems

For technicians who think they can use a few meters and connect cables, connect things and get a valid reading like that, I humbly suggest that your days are days of confusion, frustration, negative criticism and bad and invalid readings. Perhaps some upset supervisors and disgruntled customers.

Preparation:

Sometimes, people say that preparation is 90% of the work. Nothing is more true in fiber optic testing.

To start:

A clean test area is the first requirement. A table top, an inverted cardboard box or any available surface will do so. We generally do not have ideal conditions, but wherever we test, the surface must be clean. Sometimes a tablecloth from a dollar store solves many problems.

Clean the surface with alcohol and wipes, preferably lint-free wipes.

Remove fluff or dust with the air lamp. We prefer to use an air lamp because it leaves no residue and does not need to be recharged.

Verify that the indicators defined on this clean surface are clean. I hope they were in a sealed box. Clean them if in doubt. Make sure they are clean and dust-free around the connector connection points.

Verify that the reference cables are clean before placing them. Ideally, they will be in a clean zip bag.

A type of microscope is required to view the connector end.

Test meters:

Verify that the meters have enough battery. Something below 9 volts is not enough, especially in your light source.

Check that the counter has been leveled. Otherwise, expect them to be dirty and read incorrectly.

Make sure that both meters perform the test at the desired wavelength (λ).

Do your tools work? If in doubt, activate both, set the same wavelength and connect a clean correction cable to each other. Put your energy meter in dBm and you will read the energy from the light source. How much it costs depends on the mode and power of the meter. For example; a 1550 laser source can consume 95 uW of energy. Know your counters and know what to expect.

Test cables (reference cables):

You should have two and, ideally, three of the reference cables needed for each type of fiber you need to test.

Reference cables should be 1-3 meters long. They must be the same size and type as the fiber we are testing. The closer they get, the smaller the variable.

Check each reference cable to make sure it is clean.

Remember, if you insert a dirty connector into a clean connector, you will now have two dirty connectors. If they are dirty, clean them with alcohol and a dry cloth or any other effective method. Check them again and connect them if they are clean.

The covers are clean. They are generally not. We can clean them with a polyester brush. Clean it first with a bottle brush dipped in alcohol. Then dry with the other end of the brush. We can also use the polyester pipe cleaner to clean a dirty joint.

You need joints to tie the strings. They can be SC / SC, ST / ST, LC / LC, LC / SC or many other combinations. Make sure they are clean. If in doubt, clean them with alcohol and remove the dust with the air lamp. For all tests, choose good quality joints, exclusive mode with ceramic inserts for greater accuracy. Keeping test joints in a zippered bag is an inexpensive way to keep them clean.

What next?

Congratulations, you are now ready to test. Guess what? Everything you did at this point was necessary and will save time when starting the test. It will also help to ensure that your readings are correct. There is no guarantee that it will, but you have removed many variables.

Test methods

Method 1 - Single Termination Test:

This test will provide us with the loss of the tested cable, including the loss of the connector connected to the reference connector. If the fiber optic cable is located a few meters away, the loss will be negligible.

What it takes:

Optical test kit, including the appropriate light source and energy meter

Reference cable (launch) of the same type and size of fiber as the system we are testing, with connectors compatible with the test meters.

Adapters to fit the connectors on the cable under test and on the power meter.

Procedure:

Verify that all connectors, adapters and the corresponding work area are clean.

Switch on the appliance, allowing time to stabilize and reach room temperature.

Connect the boot cable to the light source and leave it connected during the test.

Set the Zero dB reference on the energy meter. Let it stabilize.

Read More : fibre optic installation jobs

How Important is a FOA-Accredited Certification

When you take a car, you don't just take color into account, do you? At the top of your head is the mark. Talk a lot about yourself; a status symbol to place. Get in the car and you know that people build their impression of what they see. Getting an acclaimed play all over the world makes you outperform others, as in many other things. Obtaining certification from an internationally accredited institution is almost the same.

Many institutions offer training courses with the hope of finding work abroad later. However, the candidate cannot obtain the qualification at the time of registration, because the certification is not internationally recognized. Therefore, it is essential to seek only training courses facilitated by an organization accredited by the Fiber Optic Association, Inc or FOA.

Nexus-net offers training and certification under mandate and according to FOA guidelines as one of the two registered training centers in the Philippines. FOA recognizes and provides certifications only to technicians certified only by training centers and schools authorized and certified by FOA with their unique school license number issued to them.

Understanding of the FOA certified fiber optic technician

In today's digital world, certification is considered a badge of professional status, which is often a requirement for applying for a job abroad. FOA was founded as a professional company to promote the experience in fiber optics through education and certifications that meet the international standard. FOA is a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and, if your certification comes from an FOA-certified training center like Nexus-net, the chances of getting that FOA jobs anywhere in the world are very high.

What’s the training like in a FOA certified training center?

There are organizations and institutions that offer numerous training courses, including fiber optic technology, leaving an impressive suggestion that this can help them find work abroad later on. However, contrary to what seems impressive, it is a sad reality that many are unaware of. Large companies abroad generally seek the international certification seal. Therefore, it is essential to participate in training promoted by an organization authorized by the Fiber Optic Association, Inc or FOA.

All fiber optic courses offered by Nexus-net have a certification exam at the end of each course. The fiber optic instructor Nexus-net ensures that all participants in the training course are well prepared for certification at the end of the training. Nexus-net does not require experience to obtain certification, although it is a final positive factor. You need to start with a CFOT that includes developing basic skills to prepare, finish, divide and test the fiber optic cables required by the CFOT and then work towards obtaining high level certifications. Experience and exposure in the field can certainly follow as the level of knowledge of optical fibers increases.

You need to start with a CFOT and then work towards higher level certifications. This includes the development of basic skills for the preparation, termination, splicing and testing of the fiber optic cable required by the CFOT.

Seal the deal with a FOA license number

The main advantage of this certification is the recognition of having reached a high level of competence in optical fiber. We all know that certifications generally lead to higher wages and faster career advancement. Employers believe they have demonstrated knowledge and skills and even documented experience.