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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Technicians
These are jobs for people who like to tinker with electronic equipment and work with their hands. If you like figuring out how things work, you may be interested in some aspect of technical services. Technicians who work in the field of computer installation, maintenance, and repair require specialized training, both initially and ongoing. A college degree isn't necessary, however. Training can usually be obtained through vocational schools, 2-year community colleges, and product training seminars. This category of technical work includes a number of different job titles: Electronics Technician - a general term for technicians involved in hands-on maintenance of computer and electronic equipment. Commercial and Industrial Electronic Equipment Repair - repair technicians who work on industrial machinery with electronic components (not necessarily computers). Service Technician - a computer repair technician usually employed by a computer a computer equipment manufacturer. Technical Analyst - a computer maintenance and repair technician who maintains computer equipment for an organization and its employees (but not in a customer service capacity).
Here are two job profiles: COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT REPAIR These technicians work for large organizations, especially in manufacturing and other heavy industry. They repair all kinds of electronic machinery including industrial robots, electronic components of manufacturing equipment, high tech medical equipment, and communications devices for broadcast media. An industrial electronics technician must be able to: Read and understand blueprints and manufacturers' equipment specifications. Use testing devices such as oscilloscopes, voltometers, and signal generators. Figure out what's wrong with a device, based on diagnostic tests. Replace, adjust, align, and install parts. Operate electronic equipment. SERVICE TECHNICIAN / TECHNICAL ANALYST Service technicians and technical analysts perform computer maintenance and repair. Some specialize in large mainframes while others work as microcomputer (PC) specialists. In either case, their responsibilities include: Installation of computers and peripheral devices (printers, drives, etc.). Performance of routine maintenance procedures. Diagnostics (figuring out what is wrong with a computer or peripheral) and repair. To be effective in this job, it's important to know both hardware and software (system software, especially). Often, in the case of microcomputers, problematic behavior is caused by software glitches and not by malfunctioning hardware. Today, it is also increasingly important to know about networks as well. While the two job titles of service technician and technical analyst are closely related, there are important differences between them. Service technicians work for the manufacturers of computer goods where they provide technical support and repair service to customers. Technical analysts, on the other hand, work for large organizations such as hospitals, universities, and large corporations, where the daily functioning of the organization requires heavy use of computers. Technical analysts serve the user community in the organization by keeping computers up and running, troubleshooting problems, installing new software, managing computer supplies and parts, and the like.
LIKELY EMPLOYERS Manufacturing and heavy industry, large organizations with extensive computing needs, and hardware manufacturers. Technicians may work on-site in repair shops or travel to off-site locations to perform maintenance and repair. REQUIREMENTS, SALARIES, FUTURE OUTLOOK Education and Training Vocational schools and 2-year community colleges often offer programs in electronics which will provide necessary training in digital electronics, devices, components, mathematics, and network technology. It is also possible to acquire training in military service or on-the-job. To stay current, most technicians attend product training seminars conducted by the manufacturers. Average Annual Salaries $32,000 in 1992 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor) Future Outlook Through 2005 The field of computer maintenance and repair is expected to grow at faster than the average rate through 2005. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor)
As far as we can tell, there is one major difference between getting a trade school degree and getting a 4-year college degree. Both are in high demand, will be able to find great-paying jobs, but the college man will get the promotions and better opportunities faster. Perhaps this is true in any field. If you have any experiences contrary to this, please let us know!

Installation, Maintenance and Repair Technicians

These are jobs for people who like to tinker with electronic equipment and work with their hands. If you like figuring out how things work, you may be interested in some aspect of technical services.

Technicians who work in the field of computer installation, maintenance, and repair require specialized training, both initially and ongoing. A college degree isn't necessary, however. Training can usually be obtained through vocational schools, 2-year community colleges, and product training seminars.

This category of technical work includes a number of different job titles:

Electronics Technician - a general term for technicians involved in hands-on maintenance of computer and electronic equipment.
Commercial and Industrial Electronic Equipment Repair - repair technicians who work on industrial machinery with electronic components (not necessarily computers).
Service Technician - a computer repair technician usually employed by a computer a computer equipment manufacturer.
Technical Analyst - a computer maintenance and repair technician who maintains computer equipment for an organization and its employees (but not in a customer service capacity).

Here are two job profiles:

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT REPAIR

These technicians work for large organizations, especially in manufacturing and other heavy industry. They repair all kinds of electronic machinery including industrial robots, electronic components of manufacturing equipment, high tech medical equipment, and communications devices for broadcast media. An industrial electronics technician must be able to:

Read and understand blueprints and manufacturers' equipment specifications.
Use testing devices such as oscilloscopes, voltometers, and signal generators.
Figure out what's wrong with a device, based on diagnostic tests.
Replace, adjust, align, and install parts.
Operate electronic equipment.

SERVICE TECHNICIAN / TECHNICAL ANALYST

Service technicians and technical analysts perform computer maintenance and repair. Some specialize in large mainframes while others work as microcomputer (PC) specialists. In either case, their responsibilities include:

Installation of computers and peripheral devices (printers, drives, etc.).
Performance of routine maintenance procedures.
Diagnostics (figuring out what is wrong with a computer or peripheral) and repair.

To be effective in this job, it's important to know both hardware and software (system software, especially). Often, in the case of microcomputers, problematic behavior is caused by software glitches and not by malfunctioning hardware. Today, it is also increasingly important to know about networks as well.

While the two job titles of service technician and technical analyst are closely related, there are important differences between them. Service technicians work for the manufacturers of computer goods where they provide technical support and repair service to customers. Technical analysts, on the other hand, work for large organizations such as hospitals, universities, and large corporations, where the daily functioning of the organization requires heavy use of computers. Technical analysts serve the user community in the organization by keeping computers up and running, troubleshooting problems, installing new software, managing computer supplies and parts, and the like.

LIKELY EMPLOYERS

Manufacturing and heavy industry, large organizations with extensive computing needs, and hardware manufacturers. Technicians may work on-site in repair shops or travel to off-site locations to perform maintenance and repair.

REQUIREMENTS, SALARIES, FUTURE OUTLOOK

Education and Training

Vocational schools and 2-year community colleges often offer programs in electronics which will provide necessary training in digital electronics, devices, components, mathematics, and network technology. It is also possible to acquire training in military service or on-the-job. To stay current, most technicians attend product training seminars conducted by the manufacturers.

Average Annual Salaries

$32,000 in 1992 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor)

Future Outlook Through 2005

The field of computer maintenance and repair is expected to grow at faster than the average rate through 2005. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor)

As far as we can tell, there is one major difference between getting a trade school degree and getting a 4-year college degree. Both are in high demand, will be able to find great-paying jobs, but the college man will get the promotions and better opportunities faster. Perhaps this is true in any field.

If you have any experiences contrary to this, please let us know!

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