Technicians install, inspect and repair complex equipment and machines, helping businesses operate more productively and efficiently. Whether you’re working in an office, a laboratory or a factory, technicians can help to reduce downtime and improve production standards.
If you’re looking to test your technical talents, there’s great demand for jobs across several sectors, such as industrial maintenance, information technology and building maintenance.
With technicians helping businesses improve their systems in numerous ways, including safety, accuracy and performance, troubleshooting skills and operational intelligence are essential to success. Below, we look at the core responsibilities of a technician while providing tips that enhance your prospects.
The role of a technician
Thinking about training to become a technician? No matter your chosen sector, you’ll spend your days completing the following responsibilities.
Interested in getting a job as a technician? Explore job postings on MyCareersFuture.
1. Conduct inspections and schedule reviews
With many organisations featuring sprawling systems, technicians must follow a detailed calendar of maintenance work that ensures every aspect receives attention. Working to a set schedule helps prevent equipment and parts from breaking down.
As technicians conduct these inspections looking for problems and troubleshooting issues on the spot, bigger concerns may require immediate attention. This means gathering the right tools and developing a solution that addresses the issue.
2. Document completed work
Technicians must not just complete precise inspections and maintenance; they must also document the entire process. Why? These documents are vital for you and colleagues looking to understand the equipment’s upkeep and performance.
If another technician is called in to work on the system, they can review your documentation to see what issues have recently occurred. Meanwhile, this information can also detail safety concerns, prevent faults, solidify warranty claims and even increase equipment resale value.
3. Train junior technicians
Once you’ve gained experience with a specific system, technicians will often train new employees to help them get used to the organisation’s procedures. This mentoring process is an excellent way to reduce downtime and implement safety policies.
Rather than leaving trainee technicians to learn everything about the infrastructure on their own, having a more qualified colleague show them the ropes helps get them quickly up to speed. This way, the organisation can benefit from a highly trained workforce.
The must-have technician skills
After considering a technician’s everyday tasks, developing the right skills can help you land the ideal position.
1. Problem-solving skills
Technicians deal with a myriad of complex challenges day in and day out. Supported by outstanding problem-solving and analytical skills, it becomes much easier to diagnose an issue and produce an effective solution.
Using a logical framework to work through numerous possibilities, you can rapidly identify potential problems to pinpoint the issue. This thoughtful approach will help you resolve problems with greater efficiency.
2. Physical fitness
While physical fitness might not be your first thought when thinking about essential skills for technicians, ask any long-term employee in the space, and they’ll tell you it can’t be overlooked. This is because you’ll be spending most days on your feet.
You can reach an extraordinary number of daily steps as you go through your office or facility to check on equipment and machinery. Meanwhile, some technicians may need to squeeze into tight spaces and hard-to-reach spots, so being in good shape can help.
3. Time management
Technicians must have top-notch time management and organisational skills to succeed. No matter which type of technician you become, expensive equipment and machinery require regular inspections to avoid costly breakdowns and lengthy repairs.
If a specific aspect of the system is ignored for too long, it can bring the entire business to a standstill. This means customers get left in the lurch while damaging the company’s reputation. However, technicians with superior time management will never miss an inspection.
If you’re ready to get started, you can visit career fairs to learn more about technician roles and the industries that require this role. Take note of these tips to make the most out of career fairs.
