What Is a Remote Helpdesk and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Remote help desk jobs are telecommuting customer service jobs in which you help users with technical support and troubleshoot issues related to hardware or software. A remote help desk technician, for example, is the first to take a call or respond to an email from a customer about a technical issue. In a remote help desk job, your duties are to catalog the problem and walk the user through diagnostic steps to determine what the problem is and how to fix it. If you cannot figure out the problem, your responsibilities include passing the call or email on to a help desk specialist or a field technician who can service the issue. Other job titles include help desk administrator and help desk analyst.

The qualifications to get a remote help desk job include a background in IT and a variety of technical and interpersonal skills. Most help desk jobs require a minimum of an associate degree in IT, computer science, or a closely related subject. Some employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience, such as doing technical or help desk-related work during college. You may need certifications or demonstrated knowledge and experience on specific systems or proprietary hardware and software. Since this is a virtual job, you need reliable internet and phone access.