What does an IT Assistant do?

An information technology (IT) assistant is responsible for providing general information technology services and direct support to computer users. A person who does this job may have quite diverse daily tasks. He or she may sometimes be required to work abnormal hours, including early morning, overnight, and weekend shifts, based on the employer's needs.

In an average day, an IT assistant may generate support tickets for pending services, monitor networked equipment, perform regular technology maintenance duties, and research possible technologies for department purchases. He or she can also expect to contribute operational policies and organize files related to IT department operations. Complex configuration tasks are likely to be performed, too, albeit under the guidance of supervisors.

This job is possibly one of the most hands-on positions in an IT department because of the wide range of support services it offers to other members of the organization. In most cases, the person's job description will include duties beyond remote technical support. Many organization-specific user manuals and training seminars are the responsibility of this individual, and he or she may be required to prepare written guidelines for other employees and run workshops.

Ultimately, an IT assistant works as a direct contact point between the department and the rest of the organization. In some cases, the job description may list the term “catch-all” under the assistant's duties list. This means that he or she will be asked to perform any IT-related task assigned to him or her, as long as the person is capable of performing the task correctly.

For people who enjoy physically configuring and installing computer systems and network devices, this job could provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Most PC and local-area network (LAN) hardware installations are the responsibilities of IT assistants. System image maintenance and deployment typically also fall to these employees.

While all of the tasks performed by IT assistants are important, some might be less than thrilling. They may take on more basic responsibilities, such as Ethernet wiring installation, cleaning internal computer components, and changing printer cartridges. Someone in this job can expect to perform some physical tasks, such as bending, lifting, pulling, and carrying objects weighing 60 pounds (27.2 kg) or less.

For many people, this position is a fulfilling role because of the variety of tasks it involves. Strong interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, effective communication, creative problem solving, and reliable organizational skills are important to the job. Those showing promise often find themselves earning promotions within their departments.