Learn how to start your networking career

The networking industry is changing rapidly, and so will networking careers. Maybe you're just starting out, maybe you want to take your career to the next level, or maybe you want to restart your career. Regardless of your work experience, knowledge and skills, and career development trajectory, I believe everyone can find suitable advice in this article.

Network engineer positions may have different requirements for candidate experience, education, and certifications, but one constant is that network engineers should have the skills to build, deploy, and maintain computer networks to support the services a business needs.

[[276274]]

In this article, we’ve compiled expert advice for network engineers that will help you no matter where you are in your networking career. It includes information on careers in telecommunications and Wi-Fi, and explores how 5G will impact job responsibilities.

The following expert advice can help emerging, transitioning, and still-learning network engineers better advance their networking careers.

What responsibilities does a network engineer position include?

Network engineers have a variety of responsibilities that fall into multiple categories and require different skills. However, all potential network engineers should have a general understanding of multi-layer network communication protocols, such as IP and TCP. Engineers who understand how these protocols work will be better able to develop basic network knowledge, said Terry Slattery, chief architect at NetCraftsmen.

The network engineer position is complex, which is why it is often divided into subcategories. Potential responsibilities include the following:

• design
• operate
• Network Management
• automation
• Cybersecurity
• Unified Communications
• Equipment Design

Each career path has different responsibilities, requirements, and training. For most networking careers, certifications and work experience are just as important as advanced degrees, Slattery said. Engineers should renew their certifications every few years to ensure they stay current in their industry knowledge, he added. As of mid-2019, salaries for network engineers ranged from $60,000 to $180,000 per year. However, these salaries vary based on the candidate's location, market, work experience, and certifications.

What steps should I take to improve my networking career path?

As the networking industry transforms, network engineers who aspire to advance their networking careers must keep up. One way to ensure engineers maintain relevant networking skills is for those engineers to obtain and maintain the necessary certifications, said Amy Larsen DeCarlo, principal analyst at Current Analysis. Specifically, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification provides foundational knowledge on how to build and maintain network infrastructure.

Network engineers should renew their certifications every few years, which requires testing to complete. Certifications don't replace experience, but they can assure employers that candidates have the necessary basic networking knowledge, DeCarlo said. Continuing education or focusing on a specialty area can also help engineers advance their networking careers while staying aware of emerging technologies, such as cloud services.

What are the top telecommunications certifications?

Different types of certifications benefit different aspects of networking. Tom Nolle, president of CIMI, said that for a career in telecom networking, the three main certification categories are: vendor-based, technology-based or role-based. Vendor-based certifications are suitable for candidates who primarily use equipment from a single vendor. However, these certifications can be time-consuming and usually require prior training or work experience.

Technology-based certifications typically cover different categories of equipment, such as wireless or security services. This includes certifications from the International Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetic Society and the Telecommunications Certification Organization. These certifications are best for entry-level engineers or those who want to specialize in a specific area of ​​networking. They are the equivalent of an advanced degree, Nolle said.

Role-based certifications are more basic and are suitable for people who do not have a degree or who are looking for a job as a field technician. Certifications can make candidates more attractive to companies because they demonstrate that the candidate has the skills and experience that the employer is looking for. An example of this type of certification is the NCTI Master Technician, which is specifically for field and process work in the cable industry.

Why should I actively participate in WiFi training?

One of the most complex areas of networking is wireless LAN (WLAN)—specifically Wi-Fi. Yet Wi-Fi is essential in today's networking environment. Like other networking career paths, WLAN engineers should frequently update their Wi-Fi training to maintain its value, says network engineer Lee Badman.

Wi-Fi's history is complex, and its future can be daunting. Wi-Fi training is an effective way to learn about common issues. Badman said that in the past, many problems arose because enterprises and network teams lacked the same comprehensive understanding of Wi-Fi. Without a consistent Wi-Fi education plan, Wi-Fi training can be the difference between success and failure.

While the training inconsistency issue still exists today, Badman recommends that those interested in WLANs take the Certified Wireless Network Professionals course as a starting point. He says a variety of vendor-agnostic courses are also available for other wireless positions.

Do 5G networks require new network engineer skills?

Mobile networks seem to be evolving as quickly as Wi-Fi, leaving many professionals wondering what 5G will mean for the future of networking careers. In data centers, job requirements won’t change much, said independent analyst John Fruehe. However, 5G could usher in a new era for cloud-based mobile applications and drive changes in security.

Given this new combination of enterprise networks, cloud services and 5G, network engineers should be mindful of gaps in network security, Fruehe said. However, employees in carrier networks may already see changes to the way their companies build and deliver communications services as a result of current 5G deployments. For example, 5G may require engineers to follow new fine-grained programmability to manage the growing number of services that will run on 5G.

Areas of networking where network engineer skills are critical include: software-defined networking, software-defined radio access networks, network function virtualization, automation, and orchestration. This shift is because when engineers program devices, manual command line interfaces will no longer suffice, as virtualization and automation are better suited to program devices.