reddit help desk resume

• • Resolved technical issues for over 100 employees, increasing overall productivity by 20%
• • Implemented new IT systems, increasing system efficiency by 15%
• • Led a team of 5 junior IT specialists, improving team efficiency by 10%
• • Resolved technical issues for over 50 employees, ensuring minimal downtime
• • Assisted in the implementation of new IT systems, reducing system errors by 25%
• • Collaborated with the IT team to meet quarterly targets, achieving 100% of goals
• • Supported senior IT specialists in resolving technical issues, contributing to a 10% increase in efficiency
• • Assisted in managing IT systems for 20 employees, maintaining 100% system uptime
• • Assisted in the preparation of quarterly IT reports, achieving 95% accuracy

5 Help Desk Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your help desk resume should highlight your technical proficiency. Showcase your experience with relevant software and troubleshooting methods. Demonstrate your customer service skills clearly. Employers need to see your ability to communicate effectively and resolve issues efficiently.

All resume examples in this guide

Desktop Support

Help Desk Manager

Service Desk Manager

Technical Support Manager

Resume guide, in this guide, you’ll learn, looking for related resumes, how to create a help desk resume that gets you hired, the right way to write a header for a help desk resume, how to make an outstanding experience section for your help desk resume, 18 essential skills to highlight in your help desk resume.

The customer is king.

But as a help desk…

You’re the king of customer service.

Anyone can pick up the phone or respond to an email, but very few can do so efficiently.

Your work extends way beyond solving simple technical problems.

Without you, companies can’t keep up good relationships with their clients. Many businesses would struggle to improve their brand image and keep their loyal customers around.

You help employees from inner departments solve tech issues in a timely fashion. That’s how you allow everyone to be more productive and stay focused on crucial tasks.

Thankfully…

The days of simple FAQ pages and Q&A sections on forums are over.

Companies have understood the full extent of your importance. That explains why headhunters today work hard to recruit the best help desk professionals.

But to land the job you want:

You need an outstanding help desk resume that promotes your worth. And that’s what we’re going to teach you today.

We created this guide to help you make a brilliant resume that stands out and gets results.

We’ll show you how to feature the right skills, experience, and other essential sections to make you shine.

Let’s get started.

• Why reading the job description is crucial to picking and featuring the right experience and skills on your resume
• How to structure and format your resume to inspire recruiters and keep them reading
• Best way to showcase your relevant experience and convince headhunters of your worth
• Top technical and soft skills to help you master your job duties and excel at customer service
• Most important additional sections to include if you want to outshine your competition
• Computer Science Resume
• Network Engineer Resume
• Tech Resume
• IT Project Manager Resume

A help desk resume is your chance to leave a strong first impression on recruiters and make them want you.

It's not just a bunch of details or meaningless words sitting on a page. In reality, it's the portal through which you'll land the job you want at the company of your dreams.

Every detail matters, from the way you structure your resume to the way you write your sentences.

Therefore, you must remain strategic in your approach.

First of all:

You need to pick a proper layout for your resume .

There are lots of options to choose from, but not all of them will fit your background.

Here are your two options:

If you have a rich work history and lots of details to share, a reverse-chronological layout is best. Combine that with a double-column temlplate and you can fit everything within a single page without sacrificing any details.

A single column resume template works great for you if you're just getting started as a help desk. You don't want to leave lots of white space in your resume, so you can structure the information to fill the whole page. You might prefer the funcional resume layout in such case, as it allows you to focus on skills, rather than experience.

You need to be different from everyone else.

Think about it for a second…

The company needs assistance from a professional help desk. They've been looking for an ideal candidate for a while — yet they still haven't hired anyone.

Why do you think is that?

Two reasons:

• The majority of applicants don't have the right set of experience and skills to compete for the job
• No one has addressed the hiring company's needs precisely, and most candidates are ego-centric only looking for their own interest

That's where you'll beg to differ and prove yourself deserving of the position.

You'll highlight your unique expertise, most excellent qualities, and career achievements to stand out from the pack. But more importantly, you'll tailor your resume to answer to the company's needs precisely.

This way, you're outperforming everyone in the race and give recruiters a million reasons to hire you.

Best sections for a help desk resume

• Certifications

What recruiters want to see in a help desk resume

• The right customer service experience to help you assist clients effectively
• A solid background in IT and computer science to prove your fitness for the job
• Quantifiable achievements and work results demonstrated through reliable metrics and precise numbers
• Eagerness to learn various technical skills quickly and apply the knowledge in practice
• A set of soft skills including solution-oriented mindset, patience, and interpersonal abilities to allow for flawless communication

The header is a small section sitting at the top of your resume to help you identify yourself.

It only includes personal details - so it shouldn't affect your chances of getting hired.

You want recruiters to remember who you are in a pile of hundreds of resumes. So, this is your chance to hammer your name into their heads.

You must follow the right structure in making your header. You have to feature your key personal details. And you also need to leave away any unnecessary information.

So, where do you begin?

It's simple.

For starters, you only need to include the following information:

• Email address

Next, you'll work on placing them correctly on the page.

Make your name memorable by using a bigger font and separating it from the rest of the details.

The job title comes underneath your full name but in a smaller font.

Featuring your full address is optional, especially if you live far away from the hiring company's location.

So, adding just the city and state in your address is okay.

LinkedIn is where most headhunters go to publish job postings and find qualified candidates. And the platform presents an opportunity for applicants to showcase their worth beyond a one-page resume.

Featuring a link to your LinkedIn profile is your way of helping recruiters notice you. It allows them to learn more about you before the interview, which is something they're grateful for.

Let's look at a couple of examples:

Recruiters must be sure that you're their best candidate they can hire before choosing you.

They want to see that you have solid experience with customer experience. And they need to be sure of your IT skills and problem-solving abilities.

But how do you prove any of that?

Well… it's quite simple!

Show that you've done it all before.

Craft an experience section that presents your job experience professionally. Then, fill it with details about your career successes and accomplishments.

Here are three golden rules to follow when writing your experience section:

1- List your experience in chronological order.

A perfect experience section must be chronological. That means you should start from the most recent position and continue further down.

You don't need to include every single position you've ever had. So, be careful when choosing what you put in this section.

2- Be specific.

It's more important to show than just tell when talking about your work history.

Headhunters are tired of reading repetitive job tasks over and over again. Every applicant they come across sounds the same with all the generic duties they find on Google.

The key here is to give recruiters what they want to see specifically. And to find that, you must look through the job description .

Make each bullet point you list here counts by mentioning the impact you had in your previous positions.

But more importantly:

Everything you mention here has to be relevant to the job you're applying for.

3- Quantify your achievements.

This rule gives hiring managers a rational anchor point for comparison. If your numbers are better than everyone else's, you'll separate yourself from the pack.

You won't be stuck at the bottom with the unqualified candidates who also claim to be good at customer support.

Each bullet point must come with a concrete example or a quantifiable achievement to inspire headhunters.

Use precise numbers of the results you achieved in the past to quantify your career wins.

Check out this example:

• • Responsible for customer service and inquiries
• • Helped customers with technical issues related to the company’s products and services
• • Stayed up-to-date with the latest company technologies and software updates

Nobody likes buzzwords , especially not hiring managers.

They've read hundreds of resumes where job responsibilities are listed with no concrete numbers to prove them.

There's nothing to back up those claims and achievements. As a result, such resumes get largely ignored or even count against the applicant.

The solution is to focus on concrete numbers to demonstrate your impact as a help desk professional.

You need to keep an active language when showcasing your work as a help desk. Stick to action verbs and industry-specific verbs to highlight relevance and competence.

Now, here's what a great help desk experience section looks like:

• • Answered, evaluated, and prioritized 3200 customer inquiries and support requests while maintaining 98% ratings of positive feedback
• • Assisted in the hiring and scaling of the team from 10 teammates to 35 by screening potential candidates
• • Recorded, tracked, and updated support interactions using the company’s ticketing system to help with software development

Featuring the right skills in your resume is key to getting you hired.

Recruiters often find themselves stuck choosing between candidates with the same level of experience. So they rely on the skills section to decide on the best applicant for the job.

But here’s the thing:

It isn’t always clear to you as a job-seeker which talents are essential to showcase in your resume.

Companies differ in the way they operate and deal with their customers. The technologies and tools they use also vary significantly from one industry to another.

As a rule of thumb, you must focus this section on two types of skills:

• Soft skills
• Technical skills

Soft skills include customer service, the ability to stay on top of client requests, troubleshooting, problem-solving, etc…

Patience and solution-oriented thinking are also crucial to helping you excel at your job.

Moreover, you must demonstrate a willingness to learn and adapt to new tools whenever needed. That shows hiring managers your eagerness to succeed at the job and go the extra mile.

On the other hand:

Technical skills vary widely based on the technology used by the company. There are no universally sought-after technical skills in the job market today.

You can recognize what the company needs from you in the job offer. And many tools and technologies are so popular that most businesses in the market today are using them.

So, by this point…

Your primary focus should be to find the most relevant abilities required for the job. Once you identify them, you’ll only need to narrow your list down and present it in this section.

To do that, you should:

• List all the soft and hard skills you possess in one list.
• Define the most sought-after soft/technical talents by reading the job description and keep them in a separate list
• See which skills correlate the most (those are the ones your help desk resume needs to feature)

Here’s our hand-picked list of the most critical help desk resume skills:

Most sought-after technical skills for help desk resume

• Active directory
• Desktop support
• Technical support
• Service desk
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Google Suite
• Troubleshooting
• Email support

Best soft skills to showcase in your help desk resume

• Customer service
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Multitasking
• Attention to detail
• Solution-oriented

Key Takeaways

• Read the job description thoroughly to identify the hiring company’s needs and address them in your resume
• Create an eye-grabbing header to keep headhunters reading
• Feature your relevant work experience and solidify your claims through precise metrics and quantifiable achievements
• Showcase your technical/soft skills in your experience and skills section to make your resume more appealing
• Feature your educational background and certificates to stand out from the crowd and outshine your competitors

Help Desk resume examples

Explore additional help desk resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Desktop support roles are similar to a foundational pillar in IT infrastructure. Therefore, desktop support trends can impact the way whole organizations function.

Emphasize your ability to troubleshoot swiftly and accurately. Display your familiarity with common operating systems and applications. Demonstrate your soft skills relevant to desktop support such as communication, team work and patience. Prove that you understand user issues and solve accordingly. Frame your resume in such a way that it showcases your skills in hardware and software, as well as how those skills led to efficient troubleshooting.

Don't just list qualifications; show how you used them to improve the system. Following 'skill-action-results' could look like 'improved ticket resolution time by...' or 'reduced system crashes by...' and so on.

Help Desk Managers play a critical role in customer service. Their actions can have great influence on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Experience in software such as ticket tracking systems and database software is a must. Showcase your customer service skills and ability to manage teams. Demonstrate how you have implemented support strategies that reduced resolution time and improved satisfaction.

Avoid simply listing skills. Instead, show how your management style and technical abilities resulted in improved key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, 'Reduced average call handling time by implementing...', 'Increased customer satisfaction by...' et cetera.

A Service Desk Manager role is as a bridge between users and IT operations. This influential role can shape IT processes within a company.

Your resume should demonstrate your expertise in IT service management principles like ITIL or COBIT. Highlight how you have developed and implemented operational procedures that improved efficiency.

Don’t just list your skills. Instead, show how they have led to more efficient operations. Following 'skill-action-results' could look like 'lowered downtimes by implementing...', 'improved service delivery through...' and so on.

Technical Support Manager roles form a cornerstone of customer and client support systems. Trends within this sphere have far-reaching implications for any tech company.

Among others, highlight your ability to manage and train a team of tech support representatives. Tout your familiarity with a range of software and hardware specific to your industry. Demonstrate a history of increasing customer satisfaction rating by streamlining the tech support process.

Show, not just tell, your skills. e.g. 'lowered tech support turnaround times...', 'improved customer satisfaction ratings by...' and more.

Looking to build your own Help Desk resume?

• Resume Examples

Resume Keywords to Land Interviews and Get Hired

Should you include your age on your resume, canadian resume format & how-to guide for 2024, can i handwrite my resume, how to beat the applicant tracking system, how do you respond to a resume received email.

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5 Help Desk Resume Examples Built to Work in 2024 

Help Desk Resume

• Help Desk Resumes by Experience
• Help Desk Resumes by Role
• Write Your Help Desk Resume

Being a help desk technician is all about being the go-to support hero for tech-related woes. You’re the friendly face or voice that guides users through their IT troubles, from computer hiccups to forgotten passwords. 

Your knack for problem-solving and communication makes you a troubleshooter extraordinaire. However, crafting a resume that showcases your IT prowess can be as tricky as decoding a complex error message. 

If you’re ready to put your skills on paper and land that dream job, we’re here to lend a hand. Our expert-written help desk resume examples can help you with everything from picking the right job skills to making your experience pop. To top it all off, use our free cover letter builder for the complete application.

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• It may not seem like much at first but specifying how you used industry-specific tools to make quantifiable differences can go a long way! Don’t sleep on your technical experience either! Add any instances when you monitored and improved a network’s security.

Entry Level Help Desk Resume

• The essence is to demonstrate that you’ve actually put textbook theories to work, which culminated in tangible outcomes in the real world. Maybe it’s a summer job as a cashier, where you mastered your customer service. If such is not an option, capitalize on the job-relevant seminars you attended, and the college projects you carried out.

Help Desk Analyst Resume

• You want to stay clear of terms like “aided” and “assisted” and instead bring out the big guns—words that convey leadership (think led, authored, negotiated), accomplishments (think overhauled and upgraded), and technical prowess (think analyzed, monitored, and executed).

IT Help Desk Resume

• Can’t forget about regulations too now, can we? If you’ve ever helped a company save costs on potential compliance fines, make sure to mention it and prove your dedication to any employer!

Help Desk Technician Resume

• Once done, back up these metrics with actionable points like increasing a system’s uptime rate from 87% to 98.3%, or improving overall productivity by 26%.

Related resume examples

• Customer Service
• Office Assistant

Adapt Your Help Desk Resume to Match Every Job Description

When it comes to showcasing your skills as a help desk technician, you’ve got a toolbox full of tech expertise that employers are eager to see. Your resume is where you can dive into it. Be specific and steer clear of vague, generic terms—your IT-focused resume should shine a spotlight on your technical prowess.

Zoom in on the hard skills you’ve honed. List the software applications you’re fluent in, any cyber security frameworks you’ve mastered, and, of course, any programming languages that you’ve conquered. 

Highlight your know-how in networks, malware detection, and understanding system vulnerabilities. Remember, the key is to match the skills you have with what the job demands.

Need some help?

15 top help desk skills

• Ticketing Systems
• Hardware Knowledge
• Network Troubleshooting
• Cybersecurity
• Mobile Device Support
• Active Directory

Your help desk work experience bullet points

Your days working as a help desk technician are often a whirlwind of assisting users, resolving IT issues, and ensuring smooth tech operations. However, when it comes to your resume, it’s the remarkable achievements that truly matter.

Your work ensures that everything runs smoothly without interruptions or costly downtimes, and it’s important that you highlight this. Showcase moments you’re proud of, whether speeding up response times, reducing system downtime, or increasing user satisfaction. 

Quantify your achievements with metrics whenever possible to lend them more weight and set yourself apart from the competition.

• Highlight how quickly you were able to acknowledge and address user requests or IT issues.
• Showcase your ability to resolve issues on the first interaction, minimizing the need for multiple support interactions and improving user satisfaction.
• Use surveys or feedback data to quantify user satisfaction and report consistent ratings of 95% or higher.
• Quantify how your support efforts reduced system or network downtime, resulting in increased productivity and cost savings.

See what we mean?

• Developed a weekly backup schedule through Acronis Backup which decreased data loss incidents by 97%
• Led a project to update password security policies using LastPass, curbing security breaches by 56%
• Facilitated 1,742 remote support sessions using TeamViewer, resolving 92% of issues without on-site intervention
• Leveraged Microsoft Teams’ bot and integration features to automate routine tasks, enhancing team productivity by 18%

9 active verbs to start your help desk work experience bullet points

• Implemented
• Optimized 
• Coordinated
• Collaborated 

3 Tips for Writing an Entry-Level Help Desk Resume

• Showcase relevant coursework and academic projects that demonstrate your technical abilities. For instance, you could mention a group project where you contributed to designing and implementing a help desk ticketing system for your IT class. These hands-on experiences provide valuable insights into your capabilities and problem-solving skills.
• Your hobbies and interests can be a goldmine of relevant skills. If you’re passionate about building computers, troubleshooting software, or managing home networks as a hobby, don’t hesitate to mention it. Show how your love for technology extends beyond the classroom and into your personal life, highlighting your dedication to the field.
• Use a career objective statement to outline your aspirations as a help desk technician. Be specific about the kind of support you want to provide and the impact you aim to make. This helps employers understand your goals and motivations, even if you have limited professional experience .

3 Tips for Writing a Help Desk Resume With Prior Experience

• Working in a help desk environment means working with people, but don’t list “teamwork” in your skills section. Instead, emphasize your customer-centric mindset by adding metrics like the number of resolved support tickets or the average 5-star rating you get every month.
• If you’ve developed expertise in specific areas of help desk support, such as hardware troubleshooting, software configuration, or network diagnostics, don’t be afraid to brag about it. For instance, if you’re skilled in remote desktop support, emphasize how your proficiency can benefit remote workers.
• List any certifications that align with the help desk field. Certificates such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, or HDI Support Center Analyst can boost your credibility. 

You can include a career summary , but it’s optional. If you choose to have one, make it job-specific. Focus on your key proficiencies, such as specific operating systems (Windows, Linux, MacOS) that directly relate to the job.

It’s usually better to focus on your technical skills, namely hardware and software proficiencies. Talk about your in-depth knowledge of Spiceworks, RDP, backing up data, and IT security—your soft skills will shine through your cover letter.

Metrics that demonstrate your impact can set you apart. Highlight statistics such as reduced response times, increased user satisfaction scores, first call resolution rates, or decreased system downtime. 

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Looking for an IT Help Desk resume?

[ Click here to directly go to the complete IT help desk resume sample ]

IT help desk is an important part of any organization.

As an IT help desk professional, it is your responsibility to provide technical support to customers and uphold the productivity of an organization.

And in this blog, we have listed all the tricks and tips to help you frame the perfect job-winning IT help desk resume that can get you on the radar of the recruiters.

Before going further, take a look at our IT help desk sample resume to know what an ideal resume should look like:

• Programming Languages: Java, Python, C#, C++
• Service Management Software: TOPdesk, ServiceNow, Spiceworks, Jira Service Desk, SolarWinds Service Desk
• Oversaw 15+ help desk staff members who were tasked with assisting customers remotely, by e-mail or phone, or in-person
• Played a key role in hiring, scheduling , and providing employee evaluations and feedback
• Administered repairing, upgrading , and complete configuration of 200+ PCs and related peripherals
• Performed periodic hardware & software checks to ensure that they are functioning properly; improved quality by 17%
• Motivated the team members, administered training materials and gave KTs to small or large audiences once a month
• Trained 150+ non-IT employees on analyzing & repairing minor hardware/software failures to increase efficiency by 15%
• Performed random audits to ensure that the help desk team of 50+ employees is providing good customer service
• Increased client satisfaction by 30% through effective communication and problem solving
• Attended major support calls (~20/day ), 5+ walk-in customers, and 30+ emails daily for Tier 2 & 3 levels technical support
• Developed, executed, and followed IT operational policies, standards, and work instructions for customer support
• Installed and updated hardware & software and recommended computer equipment to reduce the overall cost by 18%
• Designed & performed tests on 15+ applications as per the required standards and ensured data security
• Documented all software/applications upgrades & modifications and maintained the IT & software Inventory
• Responded to user's inquiries ( 25+ daily ) regarding computer, email, phone connectivity, software or hardware inquires
• Answered, evaluated, and prioritized incoming telephone , voicemail, e-mail, and in-person requests for assistance
• Collaborated with 7+ vendors to troubleshoot issues related to IT equipment, LAN/WAN connectivity, and software
• Installed and configured computer systems & installed/updated to the latest software/applications for 30+ employees
• Responded to 15+ customer inquiries in a day, diagnosed the issue and assisted them in troubleshooting challenges
• Updated, maintained & monitored all aspects of computer networks and resolved network related issues
• Assisted in resolving technical issues concerning 15+ client's accounts and the company's software infrastructure
• CompTIA A+ Certified Professional | CompTIA | Apr '17
• GPA: 4.5/5.0

Here is a brief overview of our 2022 It Help Desk Resume Blog:

• Unless you are a job hopper or looking for a change in your career, make use of the reverse-chronological format.
• Create separate sections to highlight your key skills and technical skills in an IT help desk resume skills.
• If you are a certified professional, make sure that you mention the details in your IT help desk technician resume.

To analyze more about what to put on a resume for IT help desk job, keep reading.

You will also learn how to write a job-winning IT help desk support resume while simultaneously learning:

• What to put on a resume for IT help desk job that can make you stand out.
• How to highlight your skills in an IT help desk entry level resume.
• How to create a keyword optimized IT help desk resume.
• How to compose a suitable IT help desk resume summary.
• How to optimize your IT help desk resume skills.

Hiration's Online Resume Builder is here to help you write the perfect IT help desk resume with professional assistance.

Our Online Resume Builder is stocked with a huge library of resume examples and an IT help desk resume template that will make your job application easier and effective!

All you have to do is replace the pre-filled information in our example templates with your details as per the targeted job application requirements.

Follow the given steps and learn how to write an IT help desk resume that will further help you communicate your skills to the recruiters:

Pick the Right IT Help Desk Resume Format

Include distinct sections to organize your it help desk resume, start by framing your it help desk resume header, draft a flawless it help desk professional experience section, provide the details of your education in the it help desk resume, highlight your it help desk resume skills, conclude your it help desk resume with a suitable summary/objective, use hiration’s services to create the perfect it help desk resume.

Here is a list of all the topics that you will learn in this blog:

[ Back to Table of Content ]

The Applicant Tracking System is a reliable software used by most recruiters and employers during the hiring process.

And the right resume format can help you enhance your IT help desk resume in the most effective way and make it easier for the recruiters to recognize your professional expertise.

Pick the most suitable resume format from the most distinct ones described below:

Reverse-Chronological: This is one of the best and the most preferred resume format because your most recent and relevant professional details are highlighted upfront to make it recruiter-friendly. Additionally, it is also ATS-friendly and hence gives you a higher chance to get recognition from the recruiters.

Functional: This format is not the best kind to be used as it is not effective enough to help you rank high on the ATS. But for freshers, job-hoppers, and people looking for a change in their career, this resume format can have its benefits. Try and avoid using it if you have a smooth sailing career trajectory.

Combination: This resume format can be effective for framing your IT help desk resume if you have extensive years of professional experience ranging between 15-20 years. You can highlight both your skills as well as your work experience and describe them in detail.

In case you are not sure about which resume format to use to frame your resume for IT help desk, you can always rely on our resume experts at Hiration.

Here is an opportunity to get your resume reviewed by professionals to make it recruiter friendly and ATS-compliant.

There are two types of resume sections and you need to know exactly which sections to include in your resume that can help you frame a job-winning resume.

The sections listed below are the traditional or standard sections that should be included in your resume at all times:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Professional Experience

The below-given sections are optional and you can include them whenever required or deemed necessary to add value to your standard sections:

• Certifications (if any)
• Additional Information (if any)
• Awards & Recognitions (if any)

To learn more about resume sections you can go through Hiration's 2022 Guide to adding the right sections in a resume .

Or you can simply go to Hiration’s Online Resume Builder and create an IT help desk support resume that can help you get shortlisted for the job of your dreams.

If you are someone who uses "CV" or "Resume" as your resume header, you have to stop stating the obvious and start saving precious space on your resume.

Your name should be written at the topmost part of your IT help desk resume to maintain its unique identity and make it allow the recruiters to keep an easier track of your resume.

Use the largest font size in the range of 16-20 font size and simply leave a space between your first name and last name.

In case of a middle name, just write the initial of your middle name, add a full stop and place it between your first and the last name.

To get an in-depth knowledge of curating the perfect resume header, you can go through Hiration’s 2022 Guide To Writing The Perfect Resume Header .

Look at the IT help desk resume example illustrating an ideal resume header that we have made with Hiration’s Online Resume Builder :

IT Help Desk Resume: Personal Information

Provide the required details to make sure that the recruiters get in touch with you for any likely shortlist.

An ideal personal information section should contain the following:

• Contact Number: Provide the contact number that you actively use through which the recruiters can easily get in touch with you.
• Email Address: Provide an email address that has your real name to maintain a professional approach.
• Current Location: If you are applying for a job abroad, mention your state and country. Else simply mention your current city and state of residence.

Additionally, you can also mention the details of the following as per your discretion:

• LinkedIn profile link
• Link to an online portfolio

For more details on this section read Hiration's 2022 Guide to composing your contact information .

Refer to the sample IT help desk resume given below to see what an ideal personal information section looks like in an IT help desk support resume:

Our Online Resume Builder can help you put together an impeccable IT help desk entry level resume.

IT Help Desk Resume: Profile Title

The second-largest text in the range of 14-16 font size should be used to curate your profile title on a resume.

It communicates your current designation, your functional industry, and the level of seniority in your field of work.

If you are tempted to exaggerate your profile title, get rid of the thought because it can only spell doom for your job application.

Be accurate with what you have professionally done and where you stand in your professional podium for the recruiters to recognize your professional status.

An ideal profile title should look like the one shown in our below-given IT help desk sample resume:

Our AI-powered Resume Review Service is available to give your resume an in-depth and constructive analysis within minutes of uploading it on our tool!

Since the professional experience section takes up most of your resume you need to make the best use of this section.

Every relevant work experience or the current job profile that you are holding should be described for the recruiters to easily recognize your professional expertise and raise your chance of being shortlisted for the targeted job profile.

To ensure that you frame an impressive professional experience section, you need to apply the following factors:

STAR Format

• Frame Points

Bucketing & Bolding

[ Back to Table of Content ] Use the STAR format to describe your work details for the recruiters to easily recognize your potential:

STAR refers to:

• S: The s ituation, backdrop, or context of your contributions.
• T: The actual t ask that was assigned to you.
• A: The strategy you put into a ction to execute the assigned task.
• R: The r esult or outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure.

Framing Points

[ Back to Table of Content ] What do employers look for in resume for IT help desk?

Well, the answer is simple!

They simply look for those applicants who are qualified to shoulder the responsibilities of an IT help desk.

Just as simple as the answer is to the question asked, your professional experience statement should be simple and easy to understand too.

Let us look at the two sets of IT help desk resume examples that we have given below for you to understand the effectiveness of framing your points and how it can be easily done.

IT Help Desk Resume Example 1

"As an IT help desk for the XYZ company I was assigned to oversee 10 help desk staff members who were given the task to remotely assist the customers and clients, through e-mail or phone. I also played a key role in the process of scheduling meetings, hiring, and providing evaluations of the employees. I have successfully administered the complete configuration of 150+ personal computers for two different departments by repairing and upgrading. Additionally, I performed periodic hardware or software checks to ensure that they were properly functioning and improve the quality of work by 15%."

IT Help Desk Resume Example 2

Oversaw 10 help desk staff members who were assigned to remotely assist customers, via e-mail or phone Played a key role in the process of scheduling, hiring, and providing evaluations of employees Administered the complete configuration of 150+ PCs for two departments by repairing and upgrading Performed periodic hardware/software checks to ensure the proper functioning and improve 15% work quality

Framing Points: Analysis

From the two IT help desk resume examples illustrated above, we can observe that:

• Writing a long paragraph to describe your professional roles & responsibilities as an IT help desk does not do justice to your expertise and potential. It is hard to recognize your skills at a glance and most recruiters may not spend enough time going through the whole paragraph.
• Whereas, framing one-liner bullet points are easier to read and hence the recruiters would easily recognize the positive impact you had on your work. Moreover, one-liner points tend to focus on your main involvements and do not highlight vague points.

In conclusion, you can curate ATS-friendly resumes by using bullet points to frame one-liners and communicate your professional caliber to the recruiters.

[ Back to Table of Content ] Another important factor that can contribute towards enhancing your professional experience section is bucketing and bolding.

To understand why it is so, look at the two IT help desk resume examples give below.

Administered materials for training materials and conducted KTs to both small and large audiences every month Trained 100+ non-IT employees on how to analyze & repair failures of hardware/software Increased 50% client satisfaction through effective communication and problem solving Attended support calls (~30/day) and 40+ emails for Tier 2 & 3 levels technical support Provided customer support as per the IT operational policies and standards to ensure the best service

Training & Customer Satisfaction Administered materials for training materials and conducted KTs to both small and large audiences every month Trained 100+ non-IT employees on how to analyze & repair failures of hardware/software Increased 50% client satisfaction through effective communication and problem solving Client Relationship Management Attended support calls (~30/day) and 40+ emails for Tier 2 & 3 levels technical support Provided customer support as per the IT operational policies and standards to ensure the best service

Bucketing & Bolding: Analysis

• Framing points in one-liner alone are not enough to get the attention of the recruiters as it does not make the highlights of your points stand out for the recruiters to easily recognize.
• Whereas applying bucketing and bolding makes it easier for the recruiters to recognize the most significant points without having to read through the whole resume.

In conclusion, you must always list all the similar points under the relevant buckets by creating unique headings. And enhance your framed points to communicate your work experience for the recruiters to easily read and comprehend.

To understand this section in detail and learn how to master it, read Hiration's guide on framing the work experience in your resume .

IT help desk resume sample for Professional Experience

Here is an IT help desk resume sample signifying an ideal professional experience section:

IT Help Desk Resume Keywords

To make sure that your IT help desk entry level resume ranks high on the ATS, you need to keyword-optimize your resume.

Suitable keywords can be found in the IT help desk job description.

Before you start sending out your resumes to the recruiters, make sure that you compare your job description and the keywords included by the recruiters in the job listing.

Pick the most relevant and significant keywords that highlight your professional skills and list them in your professional experience section and key skills section.

You can also add suitable keywords in your IT help desk resume summary and IT help desk resume skills sections.

Including the right keywords in your resume can raise your chances of ranking high on the ATS and give your better opportunity to end up being recognized by the recruiters who can give you the required shortlist.

Every time you wonder what to put on a resume for IT help desk job, remember that your educational qualification can raise your chances of landing your dream jobs.

Do not skip the education section in your resume, especially if you are writing an IT help desk entry level resume.

The education section of your resume should ideally consist of the following details:

• Name of the school/university you have attended.
• Name of the courses you have pursued.
• The location of your school/university.
• Enrollment and graduation dates in the month & year format.

We have an exhaustive guide written just for this section on Hiration's 2022 Guide on how to list education on your resume .

Refer to the IT help desk support analyst sample resume showcasing the ideal education section for your resume:

IT Help Desk Resume: Certifications

Apart from the details of your educational qualification, you can also add any relevant certifications that validate your eligibility to practice your line of work.

The certification section of your IT help desk support resume should consist of the following details:

• Certification course name.
• Name of the institute of affiliation.
• Location of the institute of affiliation.
• Enrollment and completion date of the course in the month & year format.

Hiration's 2022 Guide on listing certifications on a resume has more in store for you to get a better understanding of this section.

The below-given sample resume for IT help desk is showcasing what an ideal certifications section for your resume looks like:

Create an impeccable resume with the help of our Online Resume Builder .

It is safe to say that this section can do wonders for your resume and raise your chances of being shortlisted by the recruiters if curated effectively.

Most of the skills that need to be highlighted in this section are ideally present in your professional experience section. So simply scan through your one-liners and pick those skills that have been justified, then list them in this section.

To use this section in your favor and rank high on the ATS, add suitable and relevant keywords that are mentioned in the job description.

Make sure to read Hiration's 2022 Guide on what skills to put on a resume and learn more about curating the perfect skills section.

Here is an IT help desk resume sample showcasing the perfect key skills section:

IT Help Desk Resume Summary

A resume summary is an important feature of a resume that can help you give the recruiters an insight into your resume in just a few lines without wasting their time.

It is most suitable if you compose this section in the end because that way it will be easier for you to decide which points to skip and which points to mention.

Compose an IT help desk resume summary only if you have more than 3 years of work experience to highlight in your resume.

Try to keep it short and precise in 3-5 lines and add suitable keywords

There is more about this section in our Resume Summary Guide so make sure that you go through it to learn how to compose a suitable IT help desk resume summary.

Attached below is an IT help desk resume sample showcasing the ideal resume summary:

In the meanwhile, make resume-writing an effortless affair with Hiration's Online Resume Builder now!

IT Help Desk Resume Objective

Compose an IT help desk resume objective if you are a fresher writing an IT help desk resume entry level or have very less experience to highlight in your resume.

It gives an overview of your resume just as an IT help desk resume summary.

The only difference is that you need to keep professional experience on the sideline and focus on your skills and describe how you can contribute towards the higher goals of an organization.

Read Hiration's 2022 Guide on Resume Objectives to learn more about resume objectives.

Looking for a state-of-the-art resume builder and review services to help you build an impeccable It help desk resume?

Visit our Online Resume Builder and explore the best we have to offer you.

Resume Review & Free Resume Templates

Send us your existing resume to get it reviewed by the resume professionals at Hiration.

Your resume will be reviewed in compliance with the below-mentioned parameters:

• Compliance with industry norms ** Conversion Scope
• ATS Compliance
• Content Relevance
• Recruiter Friendliness
• Design Compatibility
• Global Compatibility
• Performance Assessment
• Resume Formatting (font, margins, the order of sections, etc.)

Online Resume Builder for Your Resume

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• JD-resume matcher
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• LIVE resume editor
• Option to save unlimited resumes

Our Online Resume Builder is here to help you create job-winning resumes.

Key Takeaways

• Always use the right resume format that best suits the trajectory of your career and the requirements of your job application.
• Label your resume with your name as the header and provide your contact details along with an accurate profile title.
• Frame action-oriented one-liner points and apply the bucketing and bolding to make them effective.
• Make sure that your resume is keyword optimized to rank high on the ATS and raise your chances of being shortlisted by the recruiters.
• Clearly mention the details of your education and certification to enhance your resume.
• Create a separate section to highlight your most significant skills.
• Compose a suitable IT help desk resume summary to give an overview of your resume.

Now that this blog has come to an end, we advice you to make use of all the IT help desk resume examples and IT helpdesk resume samples while writing the best resume.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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• Career Blog

Help Desk Technician Resume: Examples and Best Practices

As businesses become increasingly reliant on technology, the role of a Help Desk Technician has become essential. A Help Desk Technician is responsible for providing technical support and troubleshooting to end-users, either over the phone or in-person. In this article, we will explore the importance of a well-crafted Help Desk Technician resume and highlight the best practices for creating an outstanding one.

Help Desk Technicians are responsible for supporting and resolving technical issues for end-users. They must have excellent communication skills and be able to navigate complex technical issues. They also must have the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. A Help Desk Technician may also be responsible for maintaining an inventory of hardware and software, updating systems, and maintaining documentation.

Importance of a Stellar Help Desk Technician Resume

A Help Desk Technician resume is a critical tool in the job search process. It is often the first document that recruiters and hiring managers see, and it must make a positive impression. A well-crafted resume can make the difference between getting an interview and being overlooked. Many Help Desk Technician jobs require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, but experience and industry certifications can also be valuable. Therefore, it is essential to tailor the resume to showcase relevant skills and experience.

Key Skills in Help Desk Technician Resume

When it comes to writing a help desk technician resume, it is important to mention key skills that are essential to perform the job efficiently. Here are the six essential key skills that every hiring manager looks for in a help desk technician resume:

A. Technical Skills

Technical skills are necessary to solve customer issues in real-time. Help desk technicians should have expertise in operating systems, networks, hardware, software, and various tools to provide seamless service. Mentioning technical skills such as proficiency in operating systems like Windows or Linux, knowledge of programming languages like C++ are some examples of technical skills that make your resume stand out.

B. Soft Skills

In addition to technical skills, having soft skills also makes a difference in how effective you are in handling customers. With exceptional soft skills, a help desk technician can improve customer satisfaction, and ensure the issue is resolved quickly. Some of these skills may include empathy, listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.

C. Analytical/Problem-solving skills

On occasions, customers may encounter problems that may not have a straightforward solution. A help desk technician should possess the necessary critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills to identify, troubleshoot, and solve these issues. Demonstrating expertise in analyzing and diagnosing issues, recommending practical solutions with an attention to detail can help you stand out.

D. Communication skills

As a help desk technician, you would interact with customers daily, and excellent communication skills are essential in the job. You should be able to communicate effortlessly, use proper tone and language, and also be an active listener to understand the customer’s problem accurately in order to formulate the necessary responses.

E. Customer Service skills

The role of a help desk technician is all about delivering excellent customer service. While technical skills are crucial, customer interaction is the important part of Help Desk Operations. Mentioning your ability to focus on customer needs, being patient while helping the customer, and your ability to keep calm under pressure can make a strong impression.

F. Time management

Help desk operations rely on time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. Ensuring that all customer issues are resolved within a reasonable time frame is an essential responsibility of help desk technicians. You should demonstrate competencies such as multi-tasking, being punctual with tasks, and prioritizing high priority tasks first.

When writing your help desk technician resume, highlighting all these key skills, and mentioning your accomplishments and experience helps to set you apart and generate interest from potential employers.

Formatting Tips for Help Desk Technician Resume

As a Help Desk Technician, you need to have a resume that effectively communicates your skills and experience to potential employers. While it’s important to have relevant experience and qualifications, it’s equally important to have a resume that is easy to read and understand. In this section, we will discuss some formatting tips that can help you create a professional and attention-grabbing Help Desk Technician resume.

A. Importance of Formatting

Formatting your resume is critical in making it stand out among the hundreds of others that hiring managers receive. A well-formatted resume not only highlights your skills and experience, but also shows that you have attention to detail and are organized. A poorly formatted resume, on the other hand, can be difficult to read, and may cause the hiring manager to overlook important information.

B. Choosing the Right Layout

The layout of your resume should be simple and easy to read. To achieve this, consider using bullet points to highlight your achievements, and ensure that your headings and subheadings are clear and consistent. Avoid using too many fonts or colors, as this can make your resume look cluttered and unprofessional.

C. Using Standard Sections

Your Help Desk Technician resume should include standard sections such as an objective statement, a summary of qualifications, and a work history section. Including these sections not only makes your resume easy to read, but also shows that you understand the traditional structure of a resume.

D. Tips for Non-Standard Sections

If you have experience or skills that don’t fit into traditional sections, don’t be afraid to include them in your resume. For example, if you have experience using a specific software or tool that is relevant to the job you’re applying for, consider creating a section specifically for this skill. However, make sure that these non-standard sections are still easy to read and follow.

E. Use of Keywords

Including relevant keywords in your Help Desk Technician resume is important for two reasons. First, it can help your resume get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) that many companies use to screen resumes. Second, it shows that you have a good understanding of the industry and the specific skills and experience that are valued in the field.

A well-formatted Help Desk Technician resume is critical in making a good first impression on potential employers. By following these formatting tips, you can create a resume that effectively communicates your skills and experience, and increases your chances of landing an interview.

Components of a Help Desk Technician Resume

A well-crafted Help Desk Technician resume should include the following components:

A. Objective Statement

This statement provides a brief overview of the candidate’s career goals and aspirations. It should be tailored to the specific company and position sought.

B. Summary Section

This section should provide an overview of the candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. It is a brief introduction to the rest of the resume and provides the reader with an initial impression of the candidate’s suitability for the position.

C. Work Experience

• Listing Work Experience  This section should provide an overview of the candidate’s previous positions held, including job titles, company names, dates of employment, and job duties.
• Highlighting Relevant Experience  The candidate should pay special attention to highlighting experience that is directly relevant to the Help Desk Technician role they are applying for.

D. Education

• Listing Relevant Degrees and Certifications  This section should list the candidate’s degrees, certifications, and licenses. It is important to include only those that are relevant to the position being applied for.
• Adding Information about Professional Development and Specialized Training  The candidate may also want to include any additional training or certifications that they have obtained outside of their formal education, such as online courses, workshops, or certificates of completion.

E. Skills and Abilities

• Listing Relevant Technical Skills and Proficiencies  This section should list the candidate’s technical skills and proficiency with software and hardware that are commonly used in the Help Desk Technician role.
• Highlighting Relevant Soft Skills  It is equally important to highlight soft skills such as customer service, communication, and problem-solving. These skills are critical for success in a Help Desk Technician role.

F. Job-Specific Accomplishments

• Providing Specific Examples and Metrics  This section should showcase the candidate’s achievements and contributions, with specific examples and metrics.
• Showcasing Achievements and Contributions  This section can include anything from improved efficiency to the implementation of new systems or processes.

G. References

It is optional to provide references in a Help Desk Technician resume, but if the candidate chooses to include them, they should ensure that they have the permission of the person listed, and that the reference is relevant to the position. It is also important to provide up-to-date contact information.

A well-crafted Help Desk Technician resume should include a clear objective statement, a summary section highlighting relevant skills and experience, detailed work experience, relevant education and training, technical and soft skills, specific job-related accomplishments, and optionally, references.

Examples of Effective Help Desk Technician Resumes

In this section, we will provide two examples of effective help desk technician resumes. One will be for someone with limited experience and the other for someone with extensive experience.

Example 1: Help Desk Technician with Limited Experience

• Objective Statement : A help desk technician position at ABC Company where I can utilize my technical knowledge and customer service skills to provide exceptional support.
• Work Experience : Limited experience, but highlight any relevant internships or part-time work in the field.
• Education : List any relevant coursework or certifications, such as a CompTIA A+ certification or a degree in computer science.
• Skills and Abilities : Highlight technical skills and abilities such as troubleshooting, software installation, and hardware repair, as well as soft skills such as communication and problem-solving.

Example 2: Help Desk Technician with Extensive Experience

• Objective Statement : A senior-level help desk technician position at XYZ Company where I can use my extensive technical knowledge and leadership experience to provide top-notch support.
• Summary Section : A brief summary of your experience and accomplishments, highlighting the most significant achievements.
• Work Experience : List previous positions and duties, emphasizing any leadership roles or special projects.
• Education : List any relevant degrees, certifications, or training courses.
• Skills and Abilities : Highlight technical skills and abilities such as network management, server administration, and software implementation, as well as soft skills such as leadership and team collaboration.
• Accomplishments : Describe your most notable accomplishments, such as major projects you led or significant improvements you made to the help desk’s operational efficiency. Be sure to quantify your achievements with specific metrics or examples wherever possible.

By following these examples, you can craft an effective help desk technician resume that highlights your skills, abilities, and accomplishments in the field. Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for and always proofread carefully for errors and typos. Good luck!

Tips for Writing an Effective Help Desk Technician Resume

If you’re looking to land a position as a help desk technician, it’s crucial to showcase your skills and experience in your resume. Here are some tips to help you create an effective resume that will grab the attention of potential employers:

A. Customize Your Resume to the Job Posting

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is submitting a generic resume to multiple job postings. To stand out, customize your resume to the specific position you’re applying for. Carefully read through the job description and make sure your resume highlights your relevant skills and experience that match the expectations of the employer. Make sure to use similar language and keywords as the job posting to make it easy for recruiters to understand how well-suited you are for the job.

B. Emphasize Relevant Information

As a help desk technician, certain skills and experience are more relevant than others. Don’t waste precious real estate in your resume listing every detail of every job you’ve ever had. Instead, focus on highlighting the information that is most relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if the position requires knowledge of a specific software, make sure to call out your proficiency with that program.

C. Use Action Verbs and Active Voice

Avoid writing lengthy, passive sentences that lack punch. Instead, use strong action verbs and active voice to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. This will make your resume sound more compelling and help grab the attention of recruiters. For instance, instead of writing “Responsible for answering customer inquiries,” try “Provided excellent customer service by promptly responding to customer inquiries.”

D. Avoid Clichés and Overused Phrases

Generic phrases like “works well in a team environment” or “excellent communication skills” don’t add much value to your resume. Avoid these overused phrases and focus on more specific details about your skills and experience. Use your resume as an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths and accomplishments.

E. Proofread and Edit Your Resume

Even the most well-written resume can be derailed by typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies. Before you submit your resume, take the time to carefully proofread and edit it. Use spell check and grammar tools, read it aloud to catch any awkward phrasing, and have a friend or family member review it as well. This extra attention to detail will help ensure that your resume is error-free and looks polished.

Following these tips will help you create an effective help desk technician resume that showcases your skills and experience in the most compelling way possible. Good luck!

Best Practices in Help Desk Technician Resume Writing

As a Help Desk Technician, having a well-written and impactful resume is crucial to getting noticed by potential employers. Here are some best practices to follow when crafting your Help Desk Technician resume:

A. Keep your Resume Concise and Readable

Your resume should be easy to read and concise to avoid overwhelming the hiring manager with unnecessary information. Keep your sentences short and direct to the point, and avoid using dense paragraphs. Use bullet points to highlight your key achievements and technical skills to break up the text and make it easier to skim through.

B. Use Formatting Strategically

Good formatting can go a long way in making your resume stand out. Use a clean and professional font, and make sure to leave ample white space to improve readability. Use bold and italicized text to emphasize important details such as job titles, companies, and technical skills. Avoid using flashy colors or graphics, as they can disrupt the readability of your resume and distract from the content.

C. Consider Incorporating an Executive Summary or Objective Statement

An executive summary or objective statement is a brief, 2-3 sentence paragraph at the beginning of your resume that highlights your key strengths, experiences, and goals. This can be an effective way to catch the attention of the hiring manager and provide a clear snapshot of your qualifications for the position. Keep it succinct, and use this section to showcase your most relevant skills and experiences.

By following these best practices in crafting your Help Desk Technician resume, you will maximize your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers and landing your dream job.

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As summer interns descend on the Hill, this resource office is ready

Kilmer was himself a House intern in the early 1990s in the office of the late Rep. Al Swift, and the experience was enlightening, though not necessarily for the right reasons. The Washington Democrat said he spent a lot of time opening and sorting mail.

“On one hand, I was bright-eyed and just happy to be in the building,” Kilmer said. “And on the other hand, it wasn’t the most robust experience from an educational and professional development standpoint.”

He didn’t have much interaction with the congressman until the last day of his assignment, when Swift invited Kilmer to his office.

“He said, ‘I’m now going to teach you the most important lesson of this internship. This is a lesson that people in this town would kill to learn and I’m going to teach it to you,’” Kilmer recalled. Swift then reached into his desk and pulled out a cigar, which he taught Kilmer how to light and smoke.

“I think as an institution now, we should aspire to perhaps more valuable lessons,” Kilmer laughed.

Kilmer — now ranking member of the House Administration Modernization Subcommittee, which is tasked primarily with implementing ModCom recommendations — said the select committee took up the internship issue in part because it found intern experiences varied greatly from one office to another. Some were “meaty” and full of meaningful opportunities to learn and engage in professional development. Others were filled with drudgery and menial tasks. 

“Part of the idea of establishing a House intern resource office is to ensure that all interns receive consistent onboarding. That they’re set up for success. That they’re able to acclimate quickly to the demands on the Hill and in their offices,” Kilmer said. “And that we’re providing the support and the resources to make sure that intern opportunities are available to folks from diverse backgrounds, so that we have a Congress and a congressional staff that looks like America.”

Hill internships have traditionally catered to a mostly white, mostly wealthy group of young adults, who can afford to forgo pay for a semester to boost their resume. It wasn’t until 2018 that Congress passed legislation allocating funds to pay House and Senate interns in member offices. And the House only set aside funds to pay committee interns in 2021. The Senate still doesn’t allocate funds for committee interns, despite repeated attempts led by Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz.

“To ensure we are able to hire the most qualified workers, we must enable all individuals to have the financial freedom to serve as interns without undue hardship,” Schatz wrote in a letter earlier this month to Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who lead the Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee.

Paying interns is a step toward increasing diversity, advocates argue, though a study published by the nonprofit Pay Our Interns found that in 2019, most of those paid internships ended up going to white students. The group recommended more intentional efforts to recruit diverse candidates.

And Mahfood-Bradley and Martini see an opportunity to address diversity, in part by partnering with staff who moved over to the CAO when the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion was defunded in the fiscal 2024 budget. 

“When they’re recruiting for careers in Congress, we’re also facilitating conversations about internships in Congress,” Mahfood-Bradley said.

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When do student loan repayments start? The debt ceiling deal gives a firm deadline

For more than three years, tens of millions of federal student debt holders haven’t had to think about saving for or paying off their loans, but that’s all ending very soon. 

In the wake of the debt ceiling deal hammered out between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, millions of former students will see their student loan payments and accrual of interest on those loans resume as early as late August.

The pause, first implemented by former President Donald Trump, was a welcome relief after COVID-19 sparked an economic downturn that made it more difficult for many who'd borrowed tens of thousands of dollars to pay for their schooling to keep up with payments. Biden extended the pause and its 0% interest rate multiple times despite growing pressure to lift the moratorium.

But last week, in exchange for a raised debt ceiling , the Biden administration agreed, among other things, that it wouldn’t renege on the “final” pause like it did last year. Last August, the administration said the fourth and “final extension” would expire on Dec. 31, 2022, but by November, it extended that deadline to either 60 days after the Supreme Court issues a decision on the relief program or 60 days after June 30 – whichever came first.  

Without a Supreme Court ruling before June 30, the end of summer is when payments restart, and interest begins adding up again. Sixty days after June 30 is Aug. 29. 

“People should know the clock starts ticking and interest starts accruing,” said Scott Buchanan, executive director at the Student Loan Servicing Alliance trade organization. "They should start contacting their servicers now."

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What if the Supreme Court makes a ruling? 

The repayment pause is separate from a Biden proposal that would forgive an estimated $400 billion in student loan debt, a much-debated plan under review by the Supreme Court.

At this point, a Supreme Court ruling striking down the administration’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for about 45 million Americans with federal loans would only start the clock slightly earlier in August.  

If the Supreme Court says student loan forgiveness can go ahead, about 25 million Americans would still have to start paying. That’s because, of the roughly 45 million people who hold student debt, Biden said about 20 million would have their debt completely erased, leaving 25 million who would still have to make some payments. The payments may just be smaller due to shrunken balances from forgiveness.

There’s an off-chance people would have to start repaying even sooner than August. Congress passed a bill to overturn Biden's student-debt cancellation and throw borrowers back into repayment immediately. If the bill gets to Biden’s desk, though, he’s said he will veto it, leaving the debt ceiling agreement at the forefront. 

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What should I do first to prepare? 

According to Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, the first thing borrowers should do is create a StudentAid.gov profile or make sure their contact information is current to avoid missing crucial updates. A profile also lets borrowers apply for repayment plans and complete loan counseling.

Then, contact your loan servicer. Now, not later, to save yourself from long hold times .  

Facing a cash crunch, the Department of Education modified its contracts with loan servicers that included cutting the pay they earn servicing each borrower and the minimum number of hours customer service centers must open each week. Those cuts translate into fewer servicers working fewer hours to help people coming off a fifth consecutive payment pause.  

Individuals who aren’t sure who their loan servicer is can log into their StudentAid.gov profile and view those details under the “My Aid” section. Once you connect, servicers can remind you what your payments and responsibilities are, help you enroll in affordable repayment programs and manage other logistics of paying student loan bills. If you had autopay before March 13, 2020, you must reenroll in autopay. Your payments won’t automatically restart. 

“It’s going to be very busy for at least a couple of months with longer hold times,” Buchanan said. “It’s just a matter of whether it will be 30 minutes or two hours.”   

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Can I do these things online? 

Yes, you can update your contact information in your profile on your  loan servicer ’s website and in your  StudentAid.gov profile . On your loan servicer’s website, you’ll also be able to register for autopay or reenroll. It’s important that if you were enrolled in autopay before March 13, 2020, and have not reenrolled since, you must opt-in again, or else your payments won’t restart. 

On the StudentAid.gov website, you can check out  Loan Simulator  to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate. You should consider applying for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. An IDR plan can make your payments more affordable, depending on your income and family size, and IDR plans have been modified to appeal to more people. Plans can also be readjusted later depending on one’s financial situation.

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When can I expect my first bill? 

Once the payment pause ends, you’ll receive your billing statement or other notice at least 21 days before your payment is due. Those statements should include the payment amount, due date and any upcoming interest.

In the meantime, you can get an estimate of your payment amount and due date through your loan servicer online or by phone. 

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What if I can’t pay? 

◾ Check your employee benefits . “Look into whether your employer offers any form of student debt assistance – whether it’s direct payment support, access to a financial adviser, or a student loan management solution that can help you easily understand and pay down your debt,” said Edward Gottfried, product director at financial wellness benefits company Betterment at Work.  

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For example, Aetna matches employees’ U.S.-based student loan payments up to $2,000 a year for a lifetime maximum of up to $10,000 for qualifying loans; PwC offers associates and senior associates up to $1,200 a year toward student debt; and Google matches up to $2,500 a year. 

◾ Start cutting expenses and pick up a side hustle . The job market is cooling but still pretty strong, so you may be able to find extra work. In the meantime, Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, said individuals should reevaluate their expenditures and stop spending as though the debt is forgiven. She suggests borrowers set up interest-bearing accounts into which they can deposit amounts equal to their anticipated monthly payments. While the interest on those accounts can be beneficial, what’s more helpful is the practice of budgeting and forming a new routine around those payments, Mayotte said.

◾ Check if you’re eligible to lower your payments with a new plan . You can speak to your servicer or use the online Loan Simulator for options. 

◾ As a last resort, contact your servicer to request a temporary pause or lower payments through short-term relief ( deferment or forbearance ) .  Remember, interest may be charged during deferment or forbearance. Deferment and forbearance also affect loan forgiveness options, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or IDR plan forgiveness. 

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What if I miss a payment? 

A missed payment means your loan is delinquent. If your loan is delinquent for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the three major national credit bureaus. Delinquency will affect your credit score, making it harder to get credit. 

After 270 days of delinquency, you’re in default and can lose your access to more student aid and damage your credit score. 

The government can also take your tax refund, part of your Social Security benefits, or up to 15% of your paycheck to pay off your defaulted loan. 

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. 

Contributing: Chris Quintana