Office Equipment Service Technician
What is the work like?
Office equipment service technicians, often known as field support technicians, are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing printers, scanners, photocopiers and fax machines. Service technicians may also deal with computer equipment.
As a service technician, your main duties would include:
- pre-delivery inspections
- installing new or refurbished equipment
- carrying out scheduled maintenance checks
- diagnosing and fixing faults on site
- fitting replacement equipment if you cannot fix problems straight away
- returning faulty equipment to a repair centre
- logging repairs and writing up maintenance reports on a laptop or hand-held PC.
You may also be responsible for training office staff to use new equipment properly and safely.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You could start working as a service technician through an electronic/electrical engineering or information technology Apprenticeship. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Alternatively, you could take a course at a local college, which would give you some of the skills needed in this job. Courses include:
- BTEC Certificate / Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering (Electronics) Level 3
- BTEC National Award in Communications Technology Level 3
- City & Guilds Progression Award in Electrical / Electronics Servicing: Commercial (6958) at levels 2 and 3.
If you are going to work as a field support technician, you will need a driving licence.
You can find general information about careers and qualifications in the electrical, electronics and IT sectors on the websites for the Institution of Engineering and Technology and e-skills UK.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working, you would normally receive in-house training on specific equipment. You would also attend training courses run by equipment manufacturers, covering the machines they sell or lease.
You could take one of several work-based qualifications to develop your skills, which include:
- Electrical and Electronics Servicing NVQ at levels 2 and 3
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Electronic Engineering.
If your job involves carrying out IT technical support duties alongside servicing , there is a range of work-based qualifications available. For details about these, see the job profile for Computer Repair and Service Technician.
You could also continue to study part-time for higher-level qualifications like a BTEC HNC/HND in Electronic or Electrical Engineering.
Where can I go for more information?
1 Castle LaneLondon
SW1E 6DR
London
WC2R 0BL
Tel: 020 7240 1871
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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Computer Service and Repair Technician
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Service technicians' wages start from £12,000 to £15,000 a year.
- Experienced technicians can earn between £17,000 and £24,000.
- Regional managers can earn between £25,000 and £30,000 a year.
The salary package often includes a company vehicle.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, although you may be on-call to deal with out-of-hours problems.
Most of your work will be indoors in an office environment or repair centre. You will have to travel from job to job if you are working as a field support technician.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good problem solving skills
- excellent technical skills and equipment knowledge
- the ability to work quickly and under pressure
- good people skills for dealing with customers and colleagues
- good communication skills both spoken and written
- a responsible attitude to work
- the ability to read technical diagrams and manuals
- normal colour vision
- an awareness of electrical health and safety issues.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work directly with equipment manufacturers in their repair centres or as a field technician; with smaller companies who carry out sub-contract work on their behalf; and with large organisations who have their own in-house support team. Jobs are advertised throughout the UK in the local press, jobcentres and in recruitment agencies.
Once you have built up your experience, you could progress to service team leader jobs and local or regional field support management. You could specialise in particular areas of work, for example IT services, contract management, helpdesk support or training. You would also have the option to become self-employed and work freelance.
You can often combine this job with technical sales, which involves discussing clients' business requirements and advising them on upgrades or replacement systems and equipment.
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