Help Desk Representatives

It's easy to get computer experience these days, so take advantage of every opportunity. You can subscribe to computer magazines, join your school's computer club, surf the Internet—even playing computer or video games can give you a feel for some of the functions of modern technology. Naturally, you'll want to take as many computer science classes in school as possible; this will help you figure out if you have a natural inclination for the technical arena. Also, look into signing up for more advanced computer classes at a community center or local technical school, or visit online learning platforms such as Udemy and Coursera.

Another good way to experience the job of the help desk representative is to come to it as a customer. You can learn a lot by pitching computer problems or questions to a help desk representative and listening to how they respond to your questions. Also, ask your school counselor or computer teacher to arrange for a help desk representative to speak to interested students at a career day. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a help desk representative to learn even more about the field.

Participate in competitions that are offered by professional associations, youth organizations, and other entities. For example, the Technology Student Association (https://tsaweb.org/competitions) offers 40 competitions for high school students, including in Technology Problem Solving.

Finally, try to get a part-time or summer job at a computer store. This job will give you firsthand experience working with customers and computers. If you have enough computer knowledge, you may even be responsible for helping customers with their computer problems.