Many view computer networking as one of the best and “‘hottest’ career fields available today” (Yarnell, 2002). Some claim that a serious shortage of qualified people to fill these networking jobs exists, and these claims may lure some people into the fray hoping for an easy position with a fast-growing company.
Several types of positions exist in networking; each with different average salaries and long-term potential, and one should possess a clear understanding of these. Unfortunately, job titles in networking, and in Information Technology (IT) generally, often lead to confusion among beginners and experienced individuals alike. Bland, vague or overly bombastic titles often fail to describe the actual work assignments of a person in this field.
The basic job titles one sees for computer networking and networking-related positions include Network Administrator, Network (Systems) Engineer, Network (Service) Technician, Network Programmer/Analyst and Network/Information Systems Manager.
In general, network administrators configure and manage LANs and sometimes WANs. The job descriptions for administrators can be detailed and sometimes downright intimidating. Consider the following description that, although fictitious, represents a fairly typical posting: Candidate will be responsible for analysis, installation and configuration of company networks. Daily activities include monitoring network performance, troubleshooting problems and maintaining network security. Other activities include assisting customers with operating systems and network adapters, configuring routers, switches, and firewalls, and evaluating third-party tools.
Needless to say, a person early in their career often lacks experience in a majority of these categories. Most employers do not expect candidates to possess in-depth knowledge of all areas listed in the job posting, though, so a person should remain undeterred by the long, sweeping job descriptions they will inevitably encounter.
A Network Technician tends to focus more on the setup, troubleshooting, and repair of specific hardware and software products. Service Technicians in particular often must.....
