• Computer support specialists provide technical assistance, support, and advice to individuals and organizations that depend on information technology.
• They work within organizations that use computer systems, for computer hardware or software vendors, or for third-party organizations that provide support services on a contract basis, such as help-desk service firms.
• Support specialists are usually differentiated between technical support specialists and help-desk technicians.
• Technical support specialists respond to inquiries from their organizations' computer users and may run automatic diagnostics programs to resolve problems.
• In addition, they may write training manuals and train computer users in the use of new computer hardware and software.
• These workers also oversee the daily performance of their company's computer systems, resolving technical problems with Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and other systems.
• Help-desk technicians respond to telephone calls and e-mail messages from customers looking for help with computer problems.
• In responding to these inquiries, help-desk technicians must listen carefully to the customer, ask questions to diagnose the nature of the problem, and then patiently walk the customer through the problem-solving steps.
• They also install, modify, clean, and repair computer hardware and software.
• Many computer support specialists start out at the help desk.
• Help-desk technicians deal directly with customer issues, and their employers value them as a source of feedback on their products and services.
• They are consulted for information about what gives customers the most trouble, as well as other customer concerns.

• Demand for computer support will result as organizations and individuals continue to adopt the newest forms of technology.
• As technology becomes more complex and widespread, support specialists will be needed in greater numbers to resolve the technical problems that arise.
• Businesses, especially, will demand greater levels of support, as information technology has become essential in the business environment.
• Job growth will be fastest in several industries that rely heavily on technology. These include the computer systems design and related services industry; the data processing, hosting and related services industry; the software publishing industry; and the management, scientific, and technical consulting industry.
• These industries will employ a growing number of support specialists as they utilize and provide an increasing array of IT services.
• Healthcare and related establishments, in addition, may see substantial growth as these organizations look to improve their efficiency and patient care through the use of information systems and other technology.
• Overall growth may be dampened, to a certain extent, as some jobs are outsourced to offshore locations.
• Advances in technology increasingly allow computer support specialists to provide assistance remotely.
• Some employers may seek to reduce expenses by hiring workers in areas that have lower prevailing wages.
• Job prospects are expected to be good to those who possess a bachelor’s degree, relevant technical and communication skills, and previous work experience should have even better opportunities than applicants with an associate degree or professional certification.

Other occupations that deal with technology or respond to customer inquiries include Broadcast and Sound engineering technicians and also radio operators, computer and information systems managers, Computer networks, systems and database administrators, Computer software engineers and computer programmers, and Customer service representatives.

A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or information systems is a prerequisite for some jobs; other jobs, however, may require only a computer-related associate degree. Some employers will hire applicants with a college degree in any field, as long as the applicant has the necessary technical skills. For some jobs, relevant computer experience and certifications may substitute for formal education.