Thursday, September 2, 2010

Combine Business and Technical Skills with Computer Repair and Maintenance

Computers are everywhere we look. We have them in our homes, in our offices, in schools, at libraries and even in our cell phones. These machines help us to do everything from accounting to writing letters to finding the best place for sushi via the Internet. So, imagine how you would feel if one day the screen on your computer went blank without explanation and the machine didn’t turn back on. You’d probably panic and then you’d turn to the Computer Repair and Maintenance industry for help.

Broken down to the most literal terms, computer repair and maintenance technicians are responsible for the diagnosis and correction of any hardware or software issues that may arise on a client’s computer. This means that they are employed in a variety of business and industry settings that include: personal computer support, sales and service, personal computer bench repair, upgrades and maintenance, operation and maintenance of computerized manufacturing equipment, and consumer electronic equipment sales and service.

Due to the nature of their jobs, computer repair and maintenance professionals encounter and fix a variety of problems to ensure that your computer is up and running in no time. First and foremost, these technicians identify (troubleshoot) a computer failure that has put the machine out of action or reduced its performance. Once the problem is found, the computer and repair maintenance tech consults with the owner of the computer and given the go ahead, moves onto the repair stage. In many cases, software issues such as software corruption, incorrect installation, incompatible upgrades or malware cause computer problems. It is up to the tech to isolate and resolve these issues, at the same time being able to explain in laymen’s terms what created the problem and how to avoid its recurrence. Computer repair and maintenance professionals must also be aware of anti-virus software and have the ability to deal with spyware, which is malicious software that collects information from the infected computer-adware and auto-loads ads that come with a software installation. Another part of the field is dealing with new challenges, such as installing and configuring any piece of hardware that a client has elected to purchase and wants to synch to the computer’s database. These pieces of hardware may include cell phones or PDAs as well as printers or fax machines. Lastly, a technician should have a solid background in networking and commonly used operating systems.

To learn how to handle the complexities of the job, those interested in the field should attend a program such as Centennial College’s Computer and Maintenance Repair undertaking. To apply for this one-year program, applicants must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also have the Compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and the Math 11M or U, or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Due to the growth of microcomputer-based systems on the marketplace, a Computer Repair and Maintenance technician has to link his or her computer expertise with general business applications. This concise Computer Repair and Maintenance program makes this connection with a combination of computer-related courses (such as PC Hardware, MS Office, Network Technologies and more) and business-based ones (such as Customer Skills and Communication Skills for Computer Repair and Networking). You’ll also get hands-on experience with installing, maintaining and applying trouble-shooting techniques. Upon completion of the Computer Repair and Maintenance program, you’ll have a valuable combination of abilities to start you off in the career direction of your choice.

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