It might seem like an IT support specialist has one of the most relaxing and simple job, but that’s not really true. The stress that people working in network support are ensuring is nothing fun or simple. The responsibility they have is a big one, and there is a gigantic pressure on their shoulders. This article will go through some of the things that they need to do, and mostly about the labor behind the curtains. You only see your computer and the internet, but there are people in Alexandria constantly working to keep everything going.
The People behind Network Support
All of the activities needed in order to have a well-working network, are done by specialists. After setting up a system, monitoring is also needed. So, the work never really stops. This article published on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-does-network-support-specialist-do-skills-network-engineering-kpybc#:~:text=Network%20support%20specialists%20are%20the,Close%20menu) talks of all of the work that network specialists are doing. An IT support specialist will configurate a network, and then maintain it. This kind of work can be very challenging, because it seems like every responsibility falls onto them. Any technological problem that comes up in a company, is the for them to fix. You might think that it’s their job, which is true, but it sometimes can be more overwhelming than other job in the office.
Think of the many tiny problems, related to technology, that come up every day in an office. Maybe there’s an important e-mail that needs to be send, and something is not working. If that is the case, you quickly need to contact someone that offers network support in Alexandria. But, things like these don’t only happen in big office, but homes too. If you are a remote worker, problems with the system or the internet are the worst ones. And while you might find some fixes online, many problems are more complicated than just a few clicks.
The Work of an IT Support Specialist
First of all, the work that an IT support specialist is always emotional. As an IT support specialist (https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-does-network-support-specialist-do-skills-network-engineering-kpybc#:~:text=Network%20support%20specialists%20are%20the,Close%20menu), you must always be available for your clients. Also, you must always be ready for someone to shout at you. When something is not going as planned, people tend to try and find the guilty person, and eventually shout at them. And even if, technically, it’s not the specialists fault, the client will act like it is. Maybe it doesn’t seem like such a big deal, because it’s just a crazy client shouting. But, an article published on the verywellhealth (https://www.verywellhealth.com/trauma-response-to-being-yelled-at-5248787) website talks about the negative effects of being yelled at.
You don’t have to be a child for yelling to affect you negatively. It can make you feel bad about yourself, because you start feeling like you are not doing well enough. And, unfortunately, it can lead to depression or anxiety. Many people working in jobs like ‘Customer Support’ talk about how mentally tired they feel all the time. Being the one that needs to fix the problems is not easy, because everyone somehow assumes you are also responsibly for them. The one answering the phone, or the one that must actually talk with the client, is the one that’s going to be guilty of what’s happening, in the eyes of the one that needs help.
Are Humans Running Out of Empathy?
It often seems like people forget that work is just work. Or, it seems like people don’t care that other people have feelings too. Everyone that you are interacting with every single day has their own life with their problems. That cashier at the store might’ve had a bad day, and shouting surely won’t help either them or you. Most people are quick to judge, or want to find someone to blame for what’s happening. If you are working and your internet drops, you get angry, and you will probably shout at the person you are calling to ask for help.
The people offering network support in Alexandria are people just like you. It’s best to just keep calm, and explain the problem that you have. Most times, keeping calm will fix the problem way quicker. But, it does seem like humans are slowly running out of empathy. This is probably a result of the pandemic, and the fact that we are all always on our phones. Everyone is just some pixels on a phone. Fortunately, acknowledging the problem is the first step towards fixing it. Understanding that others are not robots, and people just like us, will probably help with being nicer and kinder.
Are Humans Still Needed in IT?
Many people ask this question, because it seems like AI and machines can handle it all now. And, while it’s true that AI and automation made some tasks easier, humans are still highly needed. Any machine on this world, no matter what it does, needs the supervision of an expert. There are many things that humans can still do better and quicker than machines. There are many problems that require critical thinking and creativity, which machines lacks. Also, there are problems that needs a pair of eyes and hands to be fixed!
The second element that cannot be replaced by computers is communication. Even if humans are not as empathic as they once were, communication is still there. Plus, relationship between people can always be further improved. There are many IT problems that fix with just a little patience and communication, which AI can’t do.
Conclusion
The main idea of this article is to understand that the IT support specialist you keep calling when the internet drops in your office in Alexandria also has feelings. Work is stressful for everyone, and trying to understand that others are going through things too can help us behave kindlier. Behind your big desktop full of letters and images, there is someone that set that system up. There are people constantly making sure that everything works flawlessly. Work like this often gets discredited, but that needs to stop.