How do you become a copy tech ?

[gillje]

I was wondering about what kind of training & classes you would take to become a copy tech ?

I'm a screenprinter, and in the past couple of years I've started working a lot with photocopiers and more recently duplicators... So while I don't have any technical training I am really interested in getting to know how these machines work. Where do I start? How did you become a copy tech? Let me know!

thanks!!

[blackcat4866]

Most of us started out green as technicians, by getting a job with the dealer. I had good mechanical & electrical skills back when machines were mostly mechanical, so I was in.

This is one of those jobs that you can't sit back on your laurels. Most every day day you've got to learn a new procedure, or a new machine, or a new piece of software. If you're not up to walking in blank and trying to figure out a solution, then this is the wrong job for you. =^..^=

[nmfaxman]

You will never get rich fixing copiers.
I think most of us do it for the challenge.
Every day something new and different, except PMs.
This forum is a very good example of die hard techs that enjoy this career, no matter how much we all bit*h.

[JR2ALTA]

Get an Associates Degree in anything mechanical or even computers. You're experience sounds somewhat applicable.

My advice would be to apply at the big places, it might suck to work there, but smaller companies usually can't afford the time it takes to train someone from zero.

[ddude]

Repairing office equipment is fun and interesting work, but most often you will not make a lot of money as a tech.

[fixthecopier]

I got my first job in this as manual labor building copiers for a contract. They liked what they saw and kept me to train as a tech.

[gillje]

Yeah I wasn't thinking about this as a way to get rich or anything, more so just to learn about how to take care of machines that I spend a lot of time with. The extent of my experience so far is pretty much just reading about problems people have on this forum and how they troubleshoot so... A school nearby offers a few courses in basic electronics maybe I should start there??

[blackcat4866]

... A school nearby offers a few courses in basic electronics maybe I should start there??

Yes. You'll need some basic electronic skills. This is a great way to start. Computer literacy helps too (though I started with none). =^..^=

[jonhiker]

Include computer basics, some companies are requiring, or at least, rpreferring, A+ and some also give more weight if you have Network+ as well.

i started in dispatch and parts before moving into the field as a tech. a lot of us do it, because you are more independant in your work day than some other jobs.

[jmaister]

you have to be comfortable talking to high profile clients, or people in general.

If not yet, you can always train to be charming. watch tv shows and aspire to be the slick talker(j/k).

Learning electronics anywhere is great way to start. You dont need to get to the calculus part, just know how the "law" applies to your job.

and, safety first.

[CT Copier Repair]

Got given a manual show how to use a Hi Pot Earth ground tester to not kill myself and that was it. Its a carreer that you need to read and read and figure things out and always understand that its your fault. HAve to have an inquiring mind, not take much personally and have fun cause if its not fun then you are shot.

Good luck

[jmaister]

Got given a manual show how to use a Hi Pot Earth ground tester to not kill myself and that was it. Its a carreer that you need to read and read and figure things out and always understand that its your fault. HAve to have an inquiring mind, not take much personally and have fun cause if its not fun then you are shot.

Good luck

i thought its engineer's fault?

[cccjjn]

You will never get rich fixing copiers.
I think most of us do it for the challenge.

Tell that to the owner of my dealership who started 25 years ago fixing copiers out of his house. Now he's very well off with a company doing roughly $6,000,000 a year.

[Hemlock]

Tell that to the owner of my dealership who started 25 years ago fixing copiers out of his house. Now he's very well off with a company doing roughly $6,000,000 a year.

How much of that do you see at the end of the week?

[SGT_Snacks-64]