Isn’t being a PC Technician considered a joy!? Having
the opportunity to troubleshoot computers, repair
computers and networks, maintain hardware and networks
and service customers while making a killer income is a
dream career isn’t it? Yes it is!!
Not so fast
though...
The life of a
successful computer technician is not as glamorous as
most up and coming technicians assume. Whether you
are starting your own repair shop/business, or seeking a
career as a computer tech, you must know what you are up
against to avoid utter disappointment!
Let’s dig deep into the first 3, of the6
Career Killing Mistakes That PC Technicians Should
Avoid!
——–
1. Being in it only “for the
money”
I know….you are probably thinking: “aren’t all
businesses formed to make money?” The answer is OF
COURSE THEY ARE! There is a significant different
between starting a business to become profitable, and
starting a business just for the money. It takes time to
grow a business and many technicians who get into
business for themselves realize that it is more work
than it is play, to start and grow a successful
business. Some computer repair/consulting
businesses can become profitable in less than a year
after startup, while others can take 2 to 5 years or
longer, to break even or make a profit.
If you have little to no love for technology,
computers and computer related technology, you may have
regrets in the future after starting a PC repair
business; since working long hours, few to NO days off,
unpredictable income, and lack of initial profit, are
all realities that “weed-out” the technicians who are
ill-prepared to run a business. If you truly love
computers and have a knack for technology, your success
in the PC repair business is off to a very good start.
As the saying goes… “do what you love and you’ll never
work a day in your life!”
2. Not knowing how to
remove malware
One of the most common problems encountered by
computer users these days, is malware. Viruses, spyware,
trojans, worms, adware, and other threats are here to
stay and wreck havoc on computers and networks. Were you
aware that 35,000 new types of malware are released
daily? Yes..DAILY. If you were to survey 100 computer
repair and IT support companies, you would findthat
removing malware (as well as preventing malware) makes
up a very significant portion of their business’s
income.
A high percentage of computer repair companies
would close their doors and shut down their businesses
if malware removal was no longer needed. What that means
for computer technicians, is that not knowing how to
remove malware from an infected computer does little to
nothing to establish credibility as a reputable PC
technician.
Many computer problems are caused by viruses (and
other malware), and in many cases troubleshooting
computer issues, more often than not; includes scanning
for malware, and removing any that is found, prior to
narrowing down the problem(s) to other culprits. Not
only should a technician know how to identify the
symptoms of malware (when possible), but should also
know how to remove malware using software tools.
A highly skilled technician will
have the ability to remove most types of malware threats
without antivirus & antispyware tools! If
identifying, removing and preventing malware is not your
strong point, I HIGHLY recommend you check
out: The PC Technician’s
Virus Removal Manual, for
a complete solution -with unlimited support and
updates. Check it out today!
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Remember….computers problems are either software
related, or hardware related. It’s counterproductive to
troubleshoot software problems without first knowing how
to identify and remove malware, prior to wasting
unnecessary time with in-correct diagnosis’s. Learning
malware removal will pay off in the long run;
figuratively, and literally!
3. Not liking to “deal with people”
(being non-social, introverted, speaking
“tech talk” etc)
Many technicians who have experience repairing
computers feel that a computer repair business will be a
perfect solution for their career goals. Unfortunately,
that is not always the case. Many people have the
conception that computer technicians are “geeks” and
“nerds” who wear glasses, hang out alone, are
anti-social and do not know how to communicate well.
Several of the aforementioned characteristics actually
describe many computer techs to a tee, but not
all.
In my experience dealing with technicians, many have
not been in an environment that promotes communication
skills; for example a customer service position.
Customers and clients make decisions to buy based on
emotion, and when communicating with “non-techies,” it
is a must to speak in a way that the person
understands.
For
instance:
A customer inquires about a new
computer that is being advertised, and would like to
know how it can help them. Many technicians will
immediately respond: “it is a dual core AMD processor
with 4 gigs of RAM, a 512MB video card, a TV output and
Window Premium.” That is a perfect example of how to
confuse or annoy a customer with tech talk!
-------
A very good way to
communicate the benefits of the new computer to the
customer would be:
“Can you tell me
what you usually do with a computer? It is a dual
core processor which will allow more power for
multitasking, has 4 gigs of RAM which is
beneficial if you use multiple programs at once,
or if you would like to play games; it also has a video
card that will allow watching HD movies and playing
newer games as well as a TV output so that you can use
your television as a monitor. It also includes Windows
Premium which will allow more security features for
keeping the computer protected on the
internet…etc..etc. Notice the
difference?
It is a MUST that a technician
has experience dealing with people on a face to face
level, and understands how to communicate with customers
without seeming too intimidating, confusing, or rude. I
would highly suggest customer service training of some
type for technicians interested in starting a PC repair
business.
Stay tuned for Part II of
the series "Career Killing Mistakes PC Technicians
Should Avoid", coming soon!
