Earlier this week, MeloTel announced that it is looking for a new IT Support and Computer Technician. While there are many nuances of the job that include being incredibly computer-savvy and an excellent team player, there is another important trait that candidates for this position must have. Being a good problem solver is critical. Not only is it important for this new career opportunity, but it is one that is necessary for the success of any business.
Being a good problem solver entails an ability to attack issues head on without getting flustered. After all, many of the problems that you will be working to solve come as harrowing experiences for the people who have them. Your cool, calm and collected approach is the first step to taking care of their issues. But, it’s also imperative that you’re able to confidently come up with a number of solutions that will allow you to critically select the most appropriate fix.
Here are five keys to being a good problem solver:
1. Identifying the problem. Clearly, there’s no way to be able to fix a problem if you don’t know what the problem is. At MeloTel, we’re aware that most clients who have computer issues don’t have any true idea of the nature of the issue. A good problem solver treats his or her customer as a priority, looking to discover the root cause of the issue expeditiously. By locating the exact reason for the problem, he or she can best manage a resolution.
2. Analyzing the problem. Once the source of the problem has been determined, it’s important to figure out the various circumstances that may arise from it. For example, is the issue causing the computer to lose data? Is it creating uninvited shutdowns? Is there a computer virus present? What solutions have already been attempted that have not worked? By analyzing the problem, you can whittle out suggestions for fixing it that won’t work.
3. Determining multiple solutions. As we alluded to earlier, it’s important to come up with a number of possible solutions. A good problem solver always has a Plan B – and a C and D, for that matter. Of course, there may also be more than one solution to the problem. It’s important to be able to evaluate the various scenarios that may present a fix and decide which one will be the most effective.
4. Choosing the best solution. Obviously, top-notch problem-solvers get it right the first time. The definition of an expert problem solver is one who has properly identified and analyzed a problem so that he or she may come up with a number of solutions that present the perfect fixes. Once you have come up with a solution to the problem, it’s important to conduct the work accurately so that the problem is adequately resolved.
5. Following up to ensure success. You know what they say about making assumptions. Don’t assume that because you’ve done your due diligence to come up with what you think is a perfect solution to a problem, that the problem won’t rear its ugly head again. Making sure to follow up with your clients to ensure that the issue hasn’t re-occurred is a great way to determine if your problem-solving abilities are at an expert level.
We would just like to remind you that if you are an excellent problem solver and are interested in applying for MeloTel’s new IT Support and Computer Technician position to please email your cover letter and resume to careers@melotel.com. This will help us to reduce the amount of calls coming into our office which we’d like to reserve for helping our clients. We look forward to speaking and meeting with you soon!