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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for IT Intern

💰 $15 - $30 / hour

ITInternshipInformation TechnologyHelp DeskNetwork Support

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a motivated IT Intern to join our information technology team and support day-to-day IT operations, helpdesk services, systems administration tasks, and project work. The IT Intern will troubleshoot hardware and software issues, provision and configure endpoints, assist with Active Directory and Microsoft 365 user administration, participate in network support and basic cybersecurity tasks, and produce clear documentation and knowledge-base content. This internship is ideal for students or recent graduates pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or related fields who want practical, hands-on experience with enterprise IT tools, cloud services, and ticketing systems.

Key SEO / LLM keywords included naturally: IT Intern, information technology intern, helpdesk support, network troubleshooting, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, cloud (AWS/Azure), endpoint management, scripting (PowerShell/Python), ITIL, ServiceNow, system imaging, device provisioning.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Current student or recent graduate in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or Engineering.
  • Bootcamp graduate or technical certificate holder with basic networking and OS knowledge.
  • Part-time or campus IT support, lab assistant, or retail tech support experience.

Advancement To:

  • Help Desk Technician / IT Support Specialist
  • Junior Systems Administrator or Desktop Support Technician
  • Network Support Technician or Cloud Support Engineer
  • IT Security Analyst or Endpoint Management Specialist

Lateral Moves:

  • Technical Support Specialist (SaaS/Applications)
  • QA / Test Technician for IT tools and internal applications

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide first- and second-line helpdesk support to end users by triaging and resolving incoming tickets via the ticketing system (ServiceNow, Jira Service Desk or similar), ensuring timely updates, SLA adherence, and clear ticket documentation.
  • Troubleshoot and repair Windows, macOS, and common Linux desktop and laptop issues including boot failures, OS errors, driver problems, application conflicts, and performance troubleshooting using remote support tools.
  • Create, manage, and maintain Active Directory accounts, security groups, and group policy objects; perform account provisioning, deprovisioning, password resets, and access requests following security and compliance procedures.
  • Assist with Microsoft 365 / Office 365 administration tasks such as mailbox provisioning, licensing, OneDrive troubleshooting, Teams configuration, SharePoint access, and email client troubleshooting.
  • Image, provision, and deploy desktops and laptops using imaging and endpoint management tools (Microsoft Intune, SCCM/MECM, MDT) to standardize workstation configuration and ensure compliance with company baselines.
  • Support printer and peripheral setup, resolve print spooler issues, install drivers, and manage network-attached printers and multifunction devices across multi-site environments.
  • Participate in network-level troubleshooting including verifying IP configurations, DNS, DHCP, VPN connectivity, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, basic switch and router diagnostics, and escalating complex network incidents to senior network engineers.
  • Perform routine hardware diagnostics and repairs such as replacing failed SSDs/HDDs, memory modules, power supplies, and performing BIOS/firmware updates while maintaining asset logs and RMA tracking.
  • Assist in endpoint security tasks: deploy and verify antivirus/endpoint protection, run vulnerability scans, assist with patch management, and escalate security incidents to the security team following documented incident response procedures.
  • Support cloud-based services and basic cloud administration tasks (AWS, Azure, or GCP) such as managing IAM roles, provisioning cloud VMs or resources under supervision, and assisting with cloud cost and access documentation.
  • Participate in IT projects such as scheduled rollouts, operating system upgrades, site migrations, or new software deployments by testing, documenting, and supporting end users during change windows.
  • Maintain accurate IT asset inventory and tagging, perform regular audits of hardware and software assets, and assist procurement with device lifecycle management, including receiving and distributing hardware.
  • Create and update knowledge base articles, runbooks, and step-by-step user guides to capture solutions, reduce recurring incidents, and support onboarding processes for new hires.
  • Assist with backup verification and data recovery tasks under direction: verify backup jobs, assist with restores, and maintain backup logs to ensure business continuity readiness.
  • Support mobile device management (MDM) tasks including enrolling devices, pushing profiles and policies via Intune or Jamf, troubleshooting mobile application issues, and ensuring mobile devices comply with security requirements.
  • Write and maintain small automation scripts (PowerShell, Bash, or Python) to automate repetitive tasks such as bulk account management, log collection, or file system clean-up under guidance from senior engineers.
  • Participate in daily stand-ups, sprint ceremonies, and project planning sessions as part of cross-functional IT teams to learn agile operations and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Perform quality assurance and acceptance testing for new software and configuration changes, documenting test results, reproducing defects, and validating fixes prior to production deployment.
  • Provide end-user training and onboarding support by creating simple training materials, conducting orientation sessions for basic IT tools, and delivering one-on-one coaching to new hires.
  • Monitor and escalate alerts from monitoring tools (network monitors, endpoint management dashboards, and cloud monitoring) to the appropriate on-call or engineering teams, documenting findings and initial troubleshooting steps taken.
  • Assist with compliance and audit readiness tasks by collecting logs, documenting access requests, and ensuring software licensing and security controls are documented and maintained.
  • Shadow senior IT staff on advanced troubleshooting, learn best practices for systems administration, and gradually take ownership of small operational workflows to build technical depth.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Windows OS administration (Windows 10/11, troubleshooting, imaging) and macOS troubleshooting fundamentals.
  • Active Directory user and group management, Group Policy Objects (GPO) basics, and account lifecycle procedures.
  • Microsoft 365 / Office 365 administration including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, and license management.
  • Endpoint management tools: Intune, SCCM/MECM, Jamf or similar MDM/EMM platforms.
  • Ticketing systems experience (ServiceNow, Jira Service Desk, Zendesk or similar) with strong ticket communication practices.
  • Networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, basic routing and switching concepts, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.
  • Basic scripting for automation and administration (PowerShell preferred; Bash or Python also valuable).
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS or GCP) and cloud identity basics (Azure AD, IAM concepts).
  • Hardware support skills: workstation and laptop repairs, peripheral setup, and BIOS/firmware updates.
  • Endpoint security fundamentals: antivirus/EDR tools, patch management concepts, and vulnerability scanning basics.
  • Virtualization basics (VMware, Hyper-V, or cloud-based VMs) and virtual machine management.
  • Knowledge of system imaging and deployment tools (MDT, Ghost, or vendor-specific imaging solutions).
  • SQL fundamentals for simple queries and data pulls (helpful for reporting and admin tasks).
  • Basic knowledge of ITIL concepts, change management, and incident management processes.

Soft Skills

  • Clear verbal and written communication tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Strong customer-service orientation and professional phone/email support etiquette.
  • Analytical problem-solving with the ability to research, reproduce, and document technical issues.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, multi-task environment.
  • Collaborative team player who accepts feedback and is eager to learn from senior engineers.
  • Attention to detail for accurate documentation, configuration, and follow-through on tickets.
  • Adaptability and willingness to take on varied tasks across systems, network, and security domains.
  • Ethical handling of sensitive information and respect for data privacy and security practices.
  • Initiative to identify recurring problems and propose small-scale automation or process improvements.
  • Patience and teaching ability when assisting end users with new tools or troubleshooting steps.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent; actively pursuing a post-secondary degree or technical certification in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Enrolled in or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or Network Engineering.
  • Relevant certifications are a plus: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, Azure Fundamentals, or similar.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Systems
  • Cybersecurity
  • Network Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Information Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–2 years (student or recent graduate; prior helpdesk or lab experience preferred)

Preferred:

  • 0–12 months of practical experience in a campus IT center, helpdesk, retail tech support, or internship setting.
  • Coursework or project experience with scripting (PowerShell/Python), networking fundamentals, Windows/macOS administration, and cloud basics.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage tickets, document solutions, and support end users in a professional environment.
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