If there are businesses in California that do not use computers, they are few and far between. In businesses and homes, people rely on their computer for research, record keeping, email, and many other important tasks. Without a working computer, people can go through serious withdrawal symptoms and they may find it hard to function entirely. Computer repair specialists are necessary to maintain and repair computer systems.

While some computer repair specialists learn through an apprenticeship, it is often best to complete a vocational program or college program to gain a degree or certificate in computer repairs. The schooling can be tough, and it is definitely geared towards those who like working with their hands and don’t mind assembling items.

What to Expect when Working as a Computer Repair Specialist

Computer repair specialists often set their own hours and own their own businesses. They can work within a larger corporation, but with the high demand for computer repairs, it can be just as easy to set up a home office and work privately. Business is always steady, but workloads can fluctuate, so proper scheduling is necessary in order to keep busy.

Within a corporate setting, computer repair specialists maintain, upgrade, and repair the computers used throughout a business. Updates must often be scheduled for after hours, so working late into the night is common. Troubleshooting is important and must be done quickly in order to keep a business operational and making a profit. Computer repair specialists often spend time helping workers navigate through computer programs and fixing user errors. Phone support is used to fix smaller problems without having to go to the office where the computer is located. Computer repair specialists must be able to give clear instructions over the phone. Patience is required, especially given the fact that many people are less knowledgeable with the interiors of a computer.

From a home setting, computer repair specialists will often drive to a person’s home and fix the computer as needed. If the computer needs major repairs, computer repair specialists will take the computer home, take it apart, and replace broken parts such as hard drives, fans, and modems. Thorough knowledge of the manner in which a computer is built is required, therefore a computer repair degree is required.

A Day in the Life of a Computer Repair Specialist

In general, computer repair specialists spend their days:

  • Setting up or fixing networks
  • Installing virus, spyware, and spam software
  • Scanning for viruses, spyware, and spam and removing any troublesome issues
  • Installing firewalls
  • Installing software
  • Troubleshooting and repairing computer problems
  • Reformatting hard drives
  • Helping get computer systems set up in a home or office
  • Setting up wireless modems
  • Helping recover lost data
  • Backing up data
  • Computer Upgrades
  • Installing computer components such as printers and scanners
  • Setting up new computers and removing unnecessary or unwanted software
  • Tweaking settings for improved computer speeds and performance

On a typical day, a computer repair specialist working from home will often start out working on a computer in his or her home repair shop. If an emergency call comes in, the computer repair specialist will travel to the company or home that calls up and troubleshoot the computer’s problem. This can take a few hours to travel, troubleshoot, and then explain the problem and necessary fix. With a business, it is important to get their computerized system up and running quickly due to the costly loss of business.

Computer repair specialists will also take appointments for routine maintenance or upgrades on a daily basis, so emergency situations must be worked around these regular appointments. Routine appointments may require software upgrades, installations of a new printer to be shared by a number of office workers or private users, or routine cleanings of fans and disk drives.

In California, computers are also used in thousands of classrooms. School districts often hire computer repair specialists to work within the school setting working to upgrade outdated computer systems, install new computers, and solve problems that may occur in both classroom and office computers. School settings often require a lot of patience because it is easy for children to push a wrong button causing frozen screens and more. Additionally, many classroom computers are used for internet research making it easy for some students to end up in sites where spyware and viruses are prevalent.

Computer repair specialists have one of the most important jobs in the world. Without them, computers would become outdated, fail to run properly and cost businesses incredible amounts of money in replacing. The pay is excellent, and work flow is steady. Due to the freedom of either working for a company or working as an entrepreneur, computer repair is a field that is growing steadily and drawing more and more people in.

View a list of schools in California that provide computer repair or support programs.