| engineering is a process in which an independent | | | | minority of network engineers because many |
| contractor or company will determine the | | | | who study on their own will lack other essential |
| internetworking requirements for switched | | | | skills needed for this profession. Employers looking |
| networks and then develop and implement the | | | | to hire a network engineer will most likely go for |
| hardware or software in order to meet the | | | | the one who holds the degree. They want to hire |
| needs of the system's users. Network engineers | | | | an engineer that will be able to adapt to many |
| are the spines of the computer infrastructure for | | | | different scenarios and handle various issues that |
| any business. The larger businesses have the | | | | might arise. Network engineers that hold degrees |
| ability to employ several network engineers | | | | have the upper hand because they know how to |
| whereas other smaller businesses often hire a | | | | tackle any situation due to their advanced training. |
| consultant who is summoned only when the | | | | It is always best to take it a step further after |
| network has problems or needs an update. | | | | getting a degree in computer science or IT. There |
| In order to join the team of network engineers, | | | | are important certifications to obtain that prove |
| you must have the necessary skills as well as a | | | | your knowledge of the important hardware and |
| love of computers. As with any other career, you | | | | software used by network engineers. These |
| also need to follow certain steps in order to | | | | certifications are named after the companies that |
| accomplish your goal. These are the top five | | | | make the equipment and/or the software, such |
| requirements needed to become a network | | | | as Cisco, Microsoft, Novell and Oracle. Cisco |
| engineer. | | | | certifications are the most numerous, and most |
| 1. While you're in college, take another computer | | | | important. Of all of them, the Cisco Certified |
| related field. Although it's called network | | | | Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is the "expert level" |
| engineering you don't need an engineering degree. | | | | certification, and is held by fewer than three |
| You also have the option of studying a totally | | | | network engineers in a hundred. |
| different major or minor than information | | | | Be prepared to work long hours and shifts that |
| technology (IT). | | | | might start in the evenings. Businesses usually |
| 2. While in school, try and hook a job in the | | | | want all of the network maintenance completed |
| campus IT office. Some colleges hire students as | | | | at night in order to avoid disruption during normal |
| IT support techs that work in the dorm and | | | | business hours. There will also be many tasks that |
| classroom environments. The job usually counts | | | | you will perform such as: |
| as part of your computer studies and it is a great | | | | - managing anti-spam and viral protection; |
| opportunity to build up your resume. | | | | - monitoring usage of the network; |
| 3. Learn how all different types of operating | | | | - suggesting and providing IT solutions for |
| systems work. This is important because there | | | | business and management issues; |
| are many businesses that use different systems | | | | - installing, maintaining and supporting existing and |
| for their computers and company laptops as well. | | | | new server and hardware/software |
| Make sure to familiarize yourself with all of them, | | | | infrastructure; |
| otherwise you will not be the broad-based | | | | - ensuring that all of the IT equipment being used |
| network engineer that companies will hire. | | | | is in compliance with the industries' standards; |
| 4. If you get an internship, try and pick a | | | | - using the most cost-efficient and -effective |
| company that specifically has an IT department | | | | ways to use the servers; |
| or is an IT consulting firm. There are a lot more | | | | - setting up passwords, user accounts and |
| students majoring in the computer-related | | | | permissions; |
| industries these days. That's why the experience | | | | - monitoring the way in which employees use the |
| you acquire needs to be a cut above the rest. | | | | web; |
| 5. Communication is a key element in a | | | | - providing training to other users with varying |
| networking engineer's career. Therefore, if this is | | | | levels of IT knowledge; |
| the profession that you choose, you will often be | | | | - working closely with other departments and IT |
| working with others that are not as tech savvy | | | | staff members; and |
| as you will be. You need to be able to speak your | | | | - keeping all internal networks up and running. |
| special lingo in laymen's terms. If you have a | | | | Although there are many tasks to handle when |
| problem with communication, perhaps taking a | | | | you're a network engineer, the opportunity to |
| communications skills class can help you improve. | | | | take a love and knowledge of computers and |
| There are the chosen few that have had the | | | | expand it into a fulfilling career can be a |
| ability to become engineers without a college | | | | life-changing experience. If you use the tools |
| degree. These individuals have been able to use | | | | available to you, there is no reason that you can't |
| their innate computer knowledge to gain some | | | | obtain a degree, some industry certifications or |
| success in the field. However, are usually in the | | | | both in this fast-growing field. |