Tech Support Career Guide and Interview Preparation
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Tech Support Career Guide and Interview Preparation
This course is part of IBM IT Support Professional Certificate
Instructor: IBM Skills Network Team
7,452 already enrolled
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What you'll learn
Summarize the basic functions and tasks of the technical support specialist role.
Describe some career paths for technical support and the job prospects for the field.
Review technical support fundamentals and refresh essential skills.
Discover what to expect from a technical interview so you can come prepared.
Details to know
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your Personal Development expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from IBM
There are 3 modules in this course
This course is designed to prepare you to enter the job market as a technical support specialist. It provides guidance about the regular functions and tasks of support professionals and options for career development. It explains practical techniques for creating essential job-seeking materials such as a resume and a portfolio, as well as auxiliary tools like a cover letter and an elevator pitch. You will learn how to find and assess prospective job positions, apply to them, and lay the groundwork for interviewing. You will also get inside tips and steps you can use to perform professionally and effectively at interviews. Let seasoned professionals share their experiences to help you get ahead of the competition.
A note: This course often discusses technical support specialists specifically, but the majority of the content will apply to technical support specialists overall, and the terms “technical support engineer,” “help desk specialist,” “IT specialist,” and “technical support specialist” will be used interchangeably.
Your job search will be much more effective if you do some primary work before you begin. In Building a Foundation, you’ll learn how to clearly understand the jobs you will be looking for. You’ll learn how to write a basic resume and collect your previous work examples into a portfolio. You’ll also create some other materials that will be useful, such as a cover letter and an elevator pitch.
What's included
11 videos1 reading2 assignments5 plugins
11 videos•Total 67 minutes
- Introduction to Technical Support Professional Certificate •5 minutes
- Understanding the Role of A Technical Support Specialist•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Paths in Technical Support•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Setting Goals•5 minutes
- Opportunities in Technical Support•6 minutes
- Build your portfolio •7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Optimal Portfolios•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Technical Specialist Roles•6 minutes
- Draft your resume •10 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Attention-Getting Resumes•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Standing Out from the Crowd•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Job Titles•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz•30 minutes
5 plugins•Total 130 minutes
- Lab: Draft your Resume•60 minutes
- Drafting Basic Cover Letter•15 minutes
- Lab: Draft your Basic Cover Letter•30 minutes
- Gathering References•10 minutes
- Drafting an Elevator Pitch•15 minutes
Job Seeking and Interview Preparation helps you understand how to put yourself forth as a memorable candidate. You’ll get guidance on researching prospective companies and assessing job leads to sift out the ones you want to focus on. You’ll learn about rehearsing for interviews and why it can make a big difference in your performance. And you’ll learn ways to network and let people you meet help you find your ideal role.
What's included
10 videos2 assignments2 plugins
10 videos•Total 62 minutes
- Company and Industry Research•6 minutes
- Networking Online and Off•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Building Your Network•5 minutes
- Assessing job listings •7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: A Closer Look at Job Listings•4 minutes
- Technical Review: Technical Skills Fundamentals Review•8 minutes
- Technical Review: Soft Skills Fundamentals Review•6 minutes
- Refreshing Essential Technical Support Skills•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Job Interview Prep•6 minutes
- Interview rehearsal•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz•30 minutes
2 plugins•Total 75 minutes
- Applying for a Job •15 minutes
- Lab: Prepare for an Interview•60 minutes
After you’ve attracted a company’s attention, it’s important to know how to follow through. The Interviewing module will guide you through the interview process from beginning to end. You’ll learn about common types of interviews and what to expect from them, including code challenges. You’ll also learn some crucial tips for making a great impression in a final interview and how to follow up so that you stand out from the crowd.
What's included
8 videos4 readings2 assignments2 plugins
8 videos•Total 38 minutes
- Overview of the Interview Process •3 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Case Study Insights•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Tech Screen Expectations•5 minutes
- Final interviewing•8 minutes
- Technical Interviewing: Discussing a Project•3 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Interviewing•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Candidate Good Impression•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoint: Negotiations•5 minutes
4 readings•Total 32 minutes
- Unethical Questions and Behaviors•10 minutes
- Check List•10 minutes
- Congrats & Next Steps•10 minutes
- Thanks from the Course Team•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•10 minutes
- Graded Quiz•30 minutes
2 plugins•Total 30 minutes
- Second-round Screening•15 minutes
- After the interview •15 minutes
Earn a career certificate
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Reviewed on Aug 22, 2025
Great course, highly recommended for beginners entering the IT career space.
Reviewed on Oct 27, 2023
I have a lot to learn of this free course. Thank you Coursera!
Reviewed on Aug 20, 2024
well exciting and detailed course. i appreciate the oppoutunity
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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