You buy your computer, take it home and start to fiddle. They kind of explained things at the computer store and while you can kind of figure out some things, somehow it just doesn't seem as easy as it was when the salesman was walking you through things.

Whether you're an individual or a business, hiring a computer consultant can make sense for a number of reasons. Maybe you're tired of banging your head against the wall.

A consultant may be able to solve in minutes a problem that would take you hours.

Maybe you're sweating an upgrade or new-purchase decision. Salesmen in computer stores are interested in sale dollars and often you end up with a system that is not completely right for your needs. If you don't know the market and make the wrong
decision, it can cost you money.

Maybe you're floundering with the software and hardware you have. Consultants can provide one-on-one training that's tailored to your experience and skill level.

Maybe you want to add a piece of hardware. You buy a scanner, take it home, hook it up and find that it doesn't work with your computer. A consultant has the knowledge to be able to sync hardware to your existing machine/s and have them up and running in a fraction of the time you would have taken (if you can get it going at all) and without the headaches.

In one sense, finding a good computer consultant is like hiring any other kind of help. But the stakes can be high, with thousands of dollars of equipment and possibly your business (whether personal or professional) at risk. And with anybody who has even a byte of experience being able to call himself a consultant, many so-called professionals may be more confused than you.

So how do you know who to trust and who to use as your computer consultant? When finding a computer consultant, look for the following:

• Unless a consultant runs into an unusually weird problem, they should be able to complete repairs in a reasonable time frame and for a reasonable fee. (There are many out there who charge over inflated prices. Ring around and do your homework before hiring someone. Beware of companies that want to charge a fortune just to look at your computer before they even do anything to it. Also be very careful to make sure when you drop a computer off to a firm that you know exactly what charges you will be up for).
• A consultant should have your needs as their first priority. Do they listen? Do they ask lots of questions about your situation and plans? Ask them to repeat their understanding of what you want.
• Do they use language you can understand? Do they explain things well or use jargon and try to snow you with gobbledygook. That's the best way to get stuck with a big bill later for things you don't need. If you don't understand, keeping asking them to explain it to you until you are both clear about the situation.
• Is your consultant up to date with the latest? Things change so quickly in the Information Technology world that your consultant should be constantly studying to keep his/her knowledge and skills current.
• Good consultants recognize this as a necessity. Your consultant should show you the latest technologies and have a good understanding of more than one type of system so he/she can offer you the best solution for you. Do they only use Microsoft? Or only Novell? Or only Linux? While it is good to specialise in one area, to exclude all others is not giving you the best opportunities but rather shows your consultant is not interested or able to learn other technologies.
• Your consultant should also be well connected. No computer genius knows everything, and the really smart ones recognize, and share, the limits of their knowledge. Rather than work with someone who will muck up your system tying to solve a problem they have not encountered before, a good consultant will say, "I have not encountered this before and have done all I can, so I will go and research it and get right back to you with a solution."
  
• If all goes well, and it should, you won't regret bill-paying time, having saved money or time along the way by making an informed decision. Most commonly, computer consultants charge by the hour, presenting their bill at the conclusion of work being done. Ask to see a breakdown of the charges if you do not understand them.

It has been said that a computer lets you make more mistakes more quickly than any other invention in history, with the possible exceptions of handguns and hard liquor. A good computer consultant can help prevent mistakes from happening in the first place.

Finding an honest, reliable computer consultant who has your needs as their first priority can be difficult to find so once you have found one, hang onto them!