At AlphaKOR, our Technical Specialists work with a variety of businesses to strengthen, maintain, and improve their IT infrastructure… and more! The role of a Technical Specialist is to review, diagnose, and resolve computer networking and operative problems. These IT professionals work with various software and hardware to secure and maintain the integrity of businesses so that businesses can focus on daily operations. As with any technology, your IT infrastructure must be maintained or problems can arise that could negatively impact how your business operates.
In this month’s employee feature, I sit down with Alfred Giorgis. Alfred is a Technical Specialist at AlphaKOR and has been a valuable member of our team for over four months now! In this interview, we gain career insight into what the average day of a Technical Specialist looks like, Alfred’s personal experiences on the job, and advice for those looking to obtain a career as a Technical Specialist. Meet Alfred…
What drew you to the Technical Specialist position?
IT was something that I was always interested in, and I needed a change in my career path! So, I took it upon myself to pursue this path and was drawn to the Technical Specialist position.
What educational background did you need to secure this role?
I ended up going to Trios College to get my Diploma in Network Administrator.
What does the average day look like for you in your role?
When I start my day, the first thing I do is open our emails and see what tickets have been created. Then I begin to prioritize the tickets that are most important. Once that is done, then I address them and start troubleshooting.
Did you work in the IT industry prior to working at AlphaKOR?
Prior to working at AlphaKOR, I did not work in the IT industry. This was a complete career change for me. At my old job, I did some troubleshooting with the machines I worked on.
What is it like working for a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?
Overall it has been busy, keeps your day occupied. It does present new challenges because you never know what you are walking into.
How do you manage your time working for multiple clients?
Prioritize and typically it is based on the most urgent tickets that need immediate action. Most of the time clients are understanding, which helps a lot.
What skillset is critical to your job?
Problem-solving and critical thinking. But the most important one for me would be customer service, being able to communicate with the clients and helping them understand the issue.
What key qualities do you think a strong Technical Specialist possesses?
I think a strong Technical Specialist possesses knowledge and professionalism in the workplace.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
Learning, I am always on my feet thinking. No problem is the same, always something different which gives you the opportunity to troubleshoot and find diverse ways of solving problems.
What is the least favourite part of your job?
Honestly, I do not have one because I am new to the IT world.
How do you hope to grow in your field of work?
Just by taking notes on every problem I solve and listening to others who have been in the IT world for a lot longer than I have. I am always writing down how they solve issues and remember them for the next time.
What have you learned at AlphaKOR that has helped you grow on a personal level?
Learn to make mistakes, that is how you grow and do not get frustrated when you cannot solve them. There is always help available for you.
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could choose one superpower, it would be knowledge! I would love to have the power of being able to understand and solve everything that comes your way.
Do you have a favourite quote or motto that inspires you every day?
“Control what you can control.” This is one of my favourite quotes, growing up and seeing the world around me. I learned that some things are out of my control, and I should not waste time worrying about what I cannot control.
For someone who would like to obtain a position as a Technical Specialist, what advice would you give to them?
Learn as much as you can because, in the IT world, you are always learning new things. Mistakes will happen and that is how you learn and grow.
Careers in Business Technology
Are you an energetic and passionate IT professional who thrives on providing excellent service to both clients and fellow staff? If so, we want AlphaKOR to be the place you want to work. We want you to love your job. Because when you love your job, you’ll do great things. Come and do great things with us! To view our current openings, please visit our Career Opportunities page.