How to Become a Technical Consultant Technical consultants are professionals who help organizations improve their IT systems and operations. They set up hardware and software solutions, improve IT systems, fix technical issues and teach staff how to use technology. They also help organizations stay updated with the latest technological trends and innovations.
In this article, we will explain what technical consultants do, how to become one, and what skills and tools they need.
What do technical consultants do? Technical consultants are responsible for doing various tasks related to IT support and consulting. Some of their typical tasks include:
Evaluating an organization’s technological needs and operations and giving expert advice for improvements
Setting up hardware and software solutions and making sure they work well
Improving IT systems and fixing technical issues
Teaching employees within an organization how to use technology effectively
Staying up to date with the latest trends and developments in IT and giving innovative solutions
Technical consultants can work for various types of organizations, such as:
Computer systems design companies
Consulting firms
Private corporations
Financial institutions
Enterprise companies
How to become a technical consultant? To become a technical consultant, you need to have a mix of education, experience, skills and tools. Here are some steps you can follow to pursue this career path:
Get a degree in IT or a related field. You can start with an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in IT, computer science, information systems, computer engineering or a related field. A degree can help you learn the basic skills and knowledge in IT concepts, tools and techniques. You can also take courses or certificates in modern IT tools and technologies from accredited schools or online platforms.
Get some experience in IT or a related field. You can look for entry-level jobs or internships in IT or a related field, such as help desk technician, network administrator, software developer or junior IT analyst. Experience can help you improve your practical skills and knowledge in IT tasks and challenges. You can also work on personal projects or join online competitions or hackathons to show your abilities.
Get some relevant certifications in IT. Certifications can help you show your skills and credibility in IT domains and technologies. There are many certifications you can choose from depending on your interests and goals. Some of the common ones are:
CompTIA A+: A vendor-neutral certification that covers the skills and knowledge in installing, configuring, troubleshooting and maintaining hardware, software, networks and mobile devices.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals: A vendor-specific certification that covers the skills and knowledge in cloud concepts, core Azure services, security, privacy, compliance and trust.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): A vendor-specific certification that covers the skills and knowledge in network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals and automation.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: A vendor-specific certification that covers the skills and knowledge in designing, implementing and managing secure and scalable solutions using AWS cloud services.
Advance your career as a technical consultant. You can look for more senior roles or specialized roles in IT as you gain more experience, skills and certifications. You can also pursue further education or training to keep up with the latest trends and developments in IT. Some of the career paths you can follow as a technical consultant are:
Technical consultant manager: A role that involves managing the technical consultant team and strategy of an organization.
Technical consultant engineer: A role that involves developing and maintaining the technical consultant infrastructure and tools of an organization.
Technical consultant specialist: A role that involves focusing on a specific aspect or domain of technical consulting, such as cloud computing, cybersecurity or data analytics.
Conclusion Technical consultants are professionals who help organizations improve their IT systems and operations. They set up hardware and software solutions, improve IT systems, fix technical issues and teach staff how to use technology.
To become a technical consultant, you need to have a mix of education, experience, skills and tools. You can start with a degree in IT or a related field, get some experience in IT or a related field, get some relevant certifications in IT, and advance your career as a technical consultant.