Issac
Is there any career where I can just build computers.
I love doing IT but I mainly love the hands-on parts about it. Building my own PC was fun so I was wondering if there are any careers out the just for troubleshooting and pc building. #computer #it
6 answers
Michael Allen
Michael’s Answer
For just PCs, probably not something sustainable. You'd have to find a niche where your handbuilt PCs were so far better than what one could get from Apple or Dell that people would want yours.
However, big server farms (like those from cloud computing vendors like Amazon) require constants maintenance. If pulling apart computers and putting them back together is your thing, I'd look at becoming part of an IT staff for a corporation where you can do that type of work all day. You might even have a hand in designing the computer componentry of the servers you're maintaining.
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for the amazing advice you provided to Isaac above. I actually had a few follow up questions I wanted to ask out of my own curiosity:
1. What are some other careers you might suggest to someone who loves working with computers? What type of career path did you take to become a software architect?
2. What next steps might one take to identify what part of the tech/computer industry would be best for them? Any online resources would be great!
Thank you so much in advance.
Cheers,
David
David Ohta
COACH
ahh i am going to custom build gaming pc's for people and i don't know if it is legal to do it without a bachelor's degree. i plan to start when i can but im not sure how. i cant find a job that is just for this so i might have to start my own company
Issac
Rob Laird
Rob’s Answer
Companies who run large data centers require hardware technicians. Here's a typical Google job posting: http://goo.gl/vGa6nY. If you enjoy networking but are looking for hands-on, a certified fiber optic installer may also be of interest. Look into some of the job postings that data center providers like Equinix may have: http://equinix.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=4694102.
These kinds of jobs can also be great stepping stones if you decided later you wanted more of an engineering focused role.
Lirio Delgado
Lirio’s Answer
Another option is a role in IT support, where you help users troubleshoot hardware and software issues. This often involves building or upgrading computers and ensuring systems run smoothly.
If you're interested in a more specialized field, consider becoming a systems engineer or a hardware engineer, where you'll design and build computer systems for specific applications.
Freelancing or starting your own business in computer assembly and repair can also be a viable path, allowing you to focus on the hands-on work you enjoy. Taking relevant courses or earning certifications, like CompTIA A+, can help you gain the skills needed for these roles.
Viswa Kumar
Viswa’s Answer
Building computers were my first ever "Aha" moment which introduced me to this wonderful world of computer science. However things have changed lot now. At this time, world is going "virtual". Not because of pandemic, but because of number of reasons like cost reduction, limited liability, elasticity etc.
So I would say, starting a career on building PCs / home computers isn't really sustainable. However I would advice you to explore the possibility of building / maintaining datacenters. If you are hardware loving person, there is a pretty decent chance that you would like this too. Search for jobs like datacenter management, site reliability engineering etc and see if that fits your interests. All the best.
Greg Walden
Greg’s Answer
As an IT Specialist or System Administrator for these companies, you may get to troubleshoot and even repair the computers (depending on how the support contract the corporation has with Dell, HP, etc) but as far as building them out - probably out of luck. As an independent builder, you won't have the ability to compete with these big companies and most people buy their computers online or at Walmart and most gamers know how to build their own rigs so they won't need anyone else.
25 years ago, there was a good market to build computers for people as computers at the store were expensive and you could build a system for someone cheaper than they could buy it at the store and most people did not have the skill to build and configure a computer. That does not exist anymore.
You may be able to do this work in a niche market - per say, custom video surveillance systems where you can custom build a computer for that purpose or custom firewalls like Untangle, IPFire, etc that require custom parts that most store computers do not have. I built an Untangle Server for a church a few weeks ago that required 5 NIC cards.
Matt Manuel
Matt’s Answer
The first two answers are really good and I can't add much to them other than to say, "I agree!"
There is another option: Custom PC builder for high-end consumers and professionals. This is a niche, and high risk. I do know of one person who makes a living custom-building PCs for people. He tends to focus on building amazing gaming machines, and has also built professional rigs for 3D artists. The advantage he provides is a high level of customization combined with knowledge that all the parts will work well together.
If you are entrepreneurial, you might consider something like this. Perhaps you could start doing it part time while you pursue one of the more mainstream careers identified by other respondents.