TROUBLESHOOTERS
What is troubleshooting?
Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem-solving usually applied to electronics, software, or processes. It involves tracing a symptom back to its root cause.
Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in troubleshooting professionals:
- Troubleshooting
- Technical support
- Domain expertise (e.g., websites, software, manufacturing)
Why do you want to hire troubleshooters?
The trick to finding top troubleshooters is to identify your needs. Do you require help identifying the cause of a persistent bug in your mobile app? Or is your goal to find a troubleshooter who can offer technical support to your customers for a consumer electronics product? The cost of your project will depend largely on your scope of work and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.
HOW TO HIRE TROUBLESHOOTERS
Troubleshooters are strong problem-solvers with a solid background in their chosen area of expertise. They can offer technical support to your business’s employees and customers.
So how do you hire troubleshooters? What follows are some tips for finding top troubleshooters on Upwork.
How to shortlist troubleshooting professionals
As you’re browsing available troubleshooting consultants, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the professionals you may want to interview. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:
- Industry fit. You want a troubleshooter who understands your industry so they will have the specialized domain expertise needed to solve your problems.
- Project experience. Screen candidate profiles for specific skills and experience (e.g., serving as an IT help desk representative).
- Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular troubleshooter.
How to write an effective troubleshooting job post
With a clear picture of your ideal troubleshooter in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
An effective troubleshooting job post should include:
- Scope of work: From eliminating software bugs to providing technical support, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries or technologies, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Ready to launch your troubleshooting project? Log in and post your troubleshooting job on Upwork today.
FAQS FOR HIRING TROUBLESHOOTERS
How much does it cost to hire a troubleshooter?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced troubleshooter may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their troubleshooting services more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How long should you contract a troubleshooter to complete your project?
As difficult as it is to estimate how long you will need a troubleshooter, budgeting time is very important to keeping your project on track.
Be prepared to budget more time for more-demanding troubleshooting projects. For example, providing technical support via chat, phone, and email is typically less involved than conducting a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify the root cause of a failure in a consumer electronics product.
What are the steps involved to hire troubleshooters?
Here’s how to hire troubleshooting consultants in four simple steps:
- Identify your project needs, whether it’s troubleshooting electronics or software.
- Define the scope of work and write a detailed job post. Be specific about deliverables (e.g., provide IT help desk support for a web tool via live chat).
- Review proposals and shortlist potential troubleshooters for unique skills needed to bring your project to life (e.g., providing IT support for a Java-based software-as-a-service app).
- Interview troubleshooting talent to gauge whether they’re the right fit for your project.