Network engineer : Entry requirements

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in the following subjects is likely to increase your chances:

• computer science;
• electrical/electronic engineering;
• physics;
• mathematics;
• computer software/computer systems engineering.

Entry with an HND is possible. A diploma in computer studies/computer science, electrical/electronic engineering and software engineering would be most helpful in securing a role.

Relevant work experience is beneficial, including experience gained through vacation work and summer placements, and being on the user end of IT systems is useful, too, as it gives you an idea of the types of problem that arise. Experience of team-working is also important.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of your employer's business and industry needs as well as the technical demands;
• recognition of the importance of customer focus and/or of serving the needs of the end user;
• excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate with staff who are not technically trained;
• the ability to take on a variety of tasks and pay attention to detail;
• analytical and problem-solving skills;
• team-working skills and the ability to feel comfortable working with different work teams, clients and groups of staff across an organisation;
• organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your workload.

Large companies, such as retailers and banks, regularly recruit graduates directly into their IT departments, and some smaller businesses are also willing to consider people straight from degree courses.

Tough competition for network engineer jobs means employers have their pick of candidates. Entry requirements typically include a Bachelors degree, certifications and perhaps several years' experience working on a help desk or as a system administrator.

Network engineer : Training

Many colleges and private training organisations participate in theCisco  Networking Academy programme, which provides certification at several levels for students and network professionals.

Whatever knowledge you already have when you enter this field you can be sure that, in this rapidly changing industry with its many and frequent advances, you will need to make training a constant part of your career development. Large companies may send you on appropriate training courses and will provide training as they introduce new systems or expand their IT facilities. But you will often find you need to seek out appropriate training for yourself, especially if you are seeking promotion or a career move.

Relevant qualifications include:

• MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) and MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer);
• CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certification;
• Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) and other Novell certifications;
• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) and/or Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA).

Courses may be expensive and you may have to pay the fees yourself, so make sure they are relevant by checking they cover the topics most frequently mentioned in job vacancies.

e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for business and information technology, has created the National Skills Academy for IT  in conjunction with employers. It aims to help subscribers who are interested in, or already working in, IT to identify suitable courses, qualifications and apprenticeships. There are courses, mentors, eBooks and more available online.

Network engineer : Career development

Your career path will depend to a certain extent on the size of the organisation you work for and the scope of its IT systems. Having gained experience, network engineers can progress to network management positions or, with additional training, transfer into other IT roles, such as project management.

Those who start as help-desk technicians can sometimes progress to network engineer posts, then on to senior network support and finally network controller (mainly involved in decision-making, staff management and advice on future strategy). This may be a typical career ladder in an organisation such as a large bank or a major government department. If you work for a small company, you may be the network controller from day one and also have many other IT and technical support-related responsibilities.

Network engineering and network support roles tend to move you away from programming, so if this is something you enjoy and want to keep up, you need to be aware of this before you commit yourself to a systems support roles.

Some network engineers choose to broaden their careers into other IT, customer-related or management functions. Customer relationship management is a possibility, especially if you enjoy the 'people' side of the work and are also interested in the overall development of the business.

A common career option is consultancy work as a network analyst, either with an IT consultancy firm or on a self-employed basis. If you work for a small consultancy, you may become involved in all aspects of sales, technical advice, network engineering and customer relations, or you may choose to work freelance.

There are also some opportunities to teach or train, although this may only provide part-time work, such as teaching evening courses.

Network engineer : Employers and vacancy sources

Network engineers can find work in any organisation with large, sophisticated IT systems. Examples of typical employers are banks, building societies, retail groups, large government departments, schools, hospitals, utility companies, local authorities, transport providers and management consultancies.

Some organisations, including many local authorities and other public sector bodies, now outsource all their IT systems to specialists, so these specialist companies often have vacancies for people with networking skills.

Network engineers can be employed by a large IT company to manage the firm's own systems or work in their contract services. Large companies, such as Microsoft, provide an extensive range of installation and customer support services and they recruit graduates and experienced staff into all areas of IT support.

There are also many small consultancies that work by setting up and managing systems for organisations that are too small to warrant full-time IT support.

Network engineer : Job description

Network engineers are responsible for installing, maintaining and supporting computer communication networks within an organisation or between organisations. Their goal is to ensure the smooth operation of communication networks in order to provide maximum performance and availability for their users, such as staff, clients, customers and suppliers.

Network engineers may work internally as part of an organisation’s IT support team or externally as part of an IT networking consultancy firm working with a number of clients.

Other job titles used to refer to this kind of work include network support, support engineer, IT support engineer, helpdesk support, network administrator, first-line support, second-line support, security engineer and network architect.

Typical work activities

The work is influenced by the size and type of the employing organisation. In a large investment bank for example, a network engineer may have specific responsibility for one area of the system. In a small company, the engineer may be troubleshooter for almost any IT-related problem that arises.

There are different types of network, such as:

• LANs - local area networks, linking a limited area such as a home, office or small group of buildings;
• MANs - metropolitan area networks, linking a large area such as a campus or city;
• WANs - wide area networks, which link nationally or internationally;
• GANs - global area networks, combining all of the above with satellite mobile-communication technologies.

The type of network will affect the engineer's responsibilities.

Typical tasks usually include:

• installing, supporting and maintaining new server hardware and software infrastructure;
• managing email, anti-spam and virus protection;
• setting up user accounts, permissions and passwords;
• monitoring network usage;
• ensuring the most cost-effective and efficient use of servers;
• suggesting and providing IT solutions to business and management problems;
• ensuring that all IT equipment complies with industry standards;
• analysing and resolving faults, ranging from a major system crash to a forgotten password;
• undertaking routine preventative measures and implementing, maintaining and monitoring network security, particularly if the network connects to the internet;
• providing training and technical support for users with varying levels of IT knowledge and competence;
• supervising other staff, such as help-desk technicians;
• working closely with other departments/organisations and collaborating with other IT staff;
• planning and implementing future IT developments and undertaking project work;
• managing the website and keeping internal networks running;
• monitoring the use of the web by employees.

Posts entitled 'technical support' usually include responsibility for other IT equipment, such as printers and scanners.

Online Network Engineering Schools

The studies in online network engineering allow students to get skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands in communication. Today, instant relay of information is a requirement in businesses applications. Communication through text, video and voice makes it possible for one to make decisions in a timely manner.
These functions are made possible through a wide range of engineering techniques. Pursuing a degree in network engineering allows one to learn the different technologies that are used in governing the flow of information. Students can use some of these resources listed below to improve their knowledge and skills in networks.

Resources in Computer Network Engineering

Materials found here make it possible for students to understand the studies and courses found in computer network engineering. Some of the resources provide an in depth understanding of operating systems, design, installation and configuration of computer networks.

1. Yet Another Linux BlogFind information on topics such as Linux, Microsoft, Open Source programs and how they relate to network engineering. There are guides and tips on Ubuntu, Linux usability, Windows and much more.
2. Saturn Network BlogThis resource focuses on SEI architecture technology user network. Read articles and guides on a wide range of topics such as Software, engineering in networks, the discipline of software and system architecture.
3. Packetlife.netThe information found here is provided here include guides and articles by engineers from prominent networking companies. Find out more about companies that deal in high put Ethernet switching and routing. One can also learn about different products found from different companies.
4. A Software’s Architect Point of ViewFind analyses of topics such as Dynamics Networks and Evolutionary Dynamics. Get an insight on Adaptive Systems and how one can manage decisions in light of the effects of high level interconnectedness between many entities.
5. Codebetter .comStudents looking for information about ASP.NET might find this resource useful. There are tips and hacks on ASP.NET 2.0 Anthology written and documented by professionals. Find practical solutions given here using C#.
6. Greg Sowell ConsultingRead about selective outbound routing, cabling and antenna technologies. Other topics that cab be found here touch on wireless technologies, VOIP, Windows, servers, security, programming and scripting.
7. Polymath ProgrammerStudents might find the information available here about Math and programming beneficial. Get more insight in Polymaths, Polymath programming and much more.
8. Karl Reinsh’s BlogSome of the topics found here include rule engine within .NET. This allows one to understand how to get access to WF rules. Take a look at the examples and guides provided on different topics covered here.
9. Marco on CEOGuides and articles on complex event processing can be found in this resource. Read about CEP language, system information models, structure of a rule, general attributes and rule life management on CEP.
10. Coding HorrorThe information available here can be of help in learning how to code. Find out how one can improve their skills on the keyboard, programming and scripting.

Training Resources for Students Attending Online Network Engineering Schools

Students attending online network engineering schools might find resources on installation and configuration helpful. Find out how this is done on world wide computer networks, computer network wiring, network security and network management using some of the materials listed below.

1. B# .Net BlogRead about .NET framework 3.0, .NET framework v2.0, and v4.0. There are more resources on hosting, coding, languages, functional programming and code development.
2. RB BlogFind topics on Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4 Beta 2 here. Learn about their development and how it is available for users. More information available here includes guides on AJAX, Azure, PHP, and entity framework.
3. NET Community Content on InfoQThere are many topics that covered here that might be of help for students learning network engineering. Read about functional approaches to parallelism and concurrency. .NET, architecture, internet applications, Silverlight and unit testing guide can are also found here.
4. CIO’S Guide To Cloud Computing and On-DemandThis guide focuses on cloud computing and On-demand. Network engineering students can also benefit by reading other topics such as social networking, oracle, SAP, cloudsourcing and much more.
5. Darknet – The Darkside /Ethical Hacking, Penetration and Testing and Computer SecurityRead articles and insights on Ajax application security, web application, free XSS scanner and penetration testing. More can be found on social engineering tools such as computer based social engineering tools and malware detection tools.
6. ServInt Source – A blog by and About Serve IntThis resource provides information on low voltage servers which are key to green hosting. Find out about disk space upgrade in Servint’s History, web hosting, VPS hosting, enterprise hosting and much more.
7. Cisco Route Switch BlogThe information here mainly focuses more on Cisco route switch. Students can also get advice on how to prepare for Cisco exams, what order to take exams, and the amount of time for getting full certification.
8. Cisco EngineerFind tips and guides on installing and supporting Cisco products and solutions.  Get to understand more about switches, routers, LAN and WAN issues.  Find out how to tale V4 CCIE R&S Exam and how to go about MPLS tasks.
9. Become a Cisco Certified Network AssociateThis is a complete resource for students looking forward to getting certified.  Find questions and answers that might be of help when studying for exams.  Students might also find some of the download materials useful for their studies.
10. ArdenParker.comRead guides and articles provided by a Cisco certified systems instructor and network consultant. The resources detail his experience in designing, installing, troubleshooting, and operating large enterprise WAN and LAN networks. Find out more about network management systems here.

Study Resources for Students Attending Online Network Engineering Schools

The information found in this category documents skills in internet network connections, protocols, webpage hosting and mastering. Find out how one can develop critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills as they train and learn different courses found in network engineering.

1. Carl ProjectFind out how to troubleshoot hardware and common issues on Catalyst Series Switches Running Cisco IOS system software. Learn what one can do to correct common error messages. Read abut buffers, queues and threshold on Catalyst.
2. CCIE CandidateStudents can follow discussions, events, technology and work-life in the networking industry. The resources found here include articles media and information on a wide range of ideas on network engineering.
3. CCIE, the BeginningIndividuals interested in finding topics such as balancing GRE tunneled multicast traffic, direct multicast load balancing, load balancing through Ethernet, MLP and ECMP might find this resource useful.
4. Blindhog.netThis guide lists a wide range of topics found in network engineering. One can read about CCIE, Cisco, Cisco routers, Cisco VOIP, BNS3, and Voice LAB.  Find out common problems associated with PSTN when placing inbound calls through a Cisco H323 Gateway and more.
5. Gokul BlogFind insights articles in Cisco, general issues in network engineering, performance and PROTO.  More topics that can be found here include telecom professionals, Voice 2.0 and VOIP.
6. All Cisco- Network Study NoteOne can find information on IT certification CCIE, CCIP, CCNA, CISCO Network optimization and security tips here. Read about Cisco diagnostic command and TCP/IP troubleshooting.
7. Should have gone with CiscoStudents looking for information in Cisco training and certification might find this resource useful. Find out about certification, the course, data centers, news and more information about Cisco. Guide on routing and switching can also be found here.
8. GetStatIt ITLearn about IT infrastructure content from experts in the field. Find out its relationship with network engineering. Read about VMare vcloud director installation tips and more on networking.
   Aaron’s Worthless WordsNetwork engineers and students might some of the topics listed here useful. They include VPN hardware selection, SLA monitoring on the PIX/ASA, changes to CCNA voice, CCVP, and CCSP.
9. Network NinjaFind topics such as digital growth and its effects on businesses and society, open shortest paths, fundamentals and scenarios in open shortest path first – OSPF and much more. Learn about Cisco sharing expertise and much more.

Information and News Resources for Students Attending Online Network Engineering Schools

One can find these resources helpful as they provide information, news, current affairs and events in networking engineering and information technology. These materials can be of benefit in allowing students to anticipate a wide range of issues in the industry such as challenges, growth and career development.

1. Wayne’s Engineering News SiteFind news, product updates and more in network engineering. Read about how these resources are used to provide better and quality services.
2. Engineering Grand Challenges – UC San DiegoRead about practical uses of the skills and knowledge gained in network engineering. This resource highlights day to day uses of engineering and covers a wide range of projects that use skills and resources found in the industry.
3. Society of Women Engineers Region G BlogThis resource lists current news, information and events taking place in the industry. One might find the materials beneficial in keeping up with current affairs and technology in different fields found in engineering.
4. Route My WorldThe materials found here focus mainly on topics related to routing. Find out more about implementing VLANS, and Inter-VLAN routing. There is information on configuring wireless client access, security features and support for voice.
5. Cisco IOS Hints and Tricks – Tips and Reviews for Network ProfessionalsFind tips and tricks in a wide range of issues such as manually influencing the root bridge election. Read about network security, routing, broadcast domains and collision domains and how to manage them.
6. CCIE TalkRead about incorporating wireless into the BC plan, mobile solutions on the go, mobilizing enterprise application and the value of mobility. Learn more about optimized WAN application delivery, best practices for unified communications and more.
7. Network WorldFollow guides on CCIE experience and Cisco. Some other topics that can be found here include CCIE 3.0 Blueprint expansion. Read about implementation, optimization and troubleshooting Core IP technologies.
8. InevitableSome of the topics found here discuss being future ready for flexible IT and Net applications. Learn more about cloud computing, CCIE Voice, Cisco, and training and development of NetApp.
9. ipexpertThis resource focuses on CCIE topics such as routing and switching, security, service provider, storage, voice, and wireless.  Find out more about CCDE practical and written exams and how one can go about getting certified.
10. Collin McManaraStudents can learn how to fix UCS configuration failures due to local disk configuration requirements. Find out more about such problems and how they can be fixed. Other topics covered here include cloud computing, Cisco, Data Center, EMC and the benefits of fiber channel over Ethernet.

Supplementary Resources for Students Attending Online Network Engineering Schools

These resources allow students to understand the different types of technologies used in network engineering. Find out how one can build on their skills and knowledge to become better in computer networks and distributed systems.

1. Wireless CCIE – Here I Come!Find notes on Cisco CCIE for wireless certification here. Students can also benefit by learning using videos and podcasts. Read information on different topics such as Polaroid, spectrum, Voice, wireless and WCS.
2. Pac ketUSome of the issues covered here in networks include performance with out of order TCP in IOS CBAC, filtering LNK and PIF files, and introduction to AAA on IOS devices. Get insights on the benefits of IP inspects and much more.
3. My Cisco Learning PathStudents might find CCNA and CCNP course summaries found here beneficial. Read about frame relay and other topics on the multipoint interface, point to point interface, and reviews.
4. AerohiveGet to know about why Wi-Fi access has become a necessity. Read about leveraging distributed WLAN intelligence and WLAN virtualization technology and more.
5. My80211.comFind Cisco’s short video on DFS and their wireless controller solution. There is more information on Cisco such as WLAN guides, RF fundamentals, site survey and VoIP lab.
6. Always the NetworkLearn how to test link or circuit using lperf.  One can also find some of the commands listed here useful. There are informational guides on network engineering, questions, challenges and tutorials.
7. Wireless LAN ProfessionalsRead about WLAN penetration testing, WLAN VAR and troubleshooting, wireless LAN value, and more. One is sure to find the tutorials, training materials, whitepapers, downloads, videos and forums beneficial.
8. Will Hack for SushiThis resource provides information on other issues that might be of help to network engineering students. Read about ethical hacking wireless testing aids, reflections on “hole 96”, evading IPS/IDS with TCP, Facetime protocol analysis and Network scanning.
9. David SujidmanStudents and network engineers might find this resource useful. It documents topics such as why GRE is needed for IPSec VPN. Find out about reserving bandwidth and MLP LFI on serial link.
10. Matt Hill CCIE#22386Get insights and articles on CCIE, dynamics, layers2 and MPLS. Learn more about routing, routing loops, application layers and dynamips.

Online network engineering studies are designed to equip students the necessary skills to help them succeed in the industry. One can choose a profession from the diverse careers found in engineering. Online study guides and resources help students to prepare better as they get ready for job opportunities available in the industry.

interview-questions

Are you thinking about getting a job as a Network Engineer?  Are you considering leaving your present position and getting a new job at a new company?  Has it been a while since you've interviewed?   If you've answered yes to any of these questions then this is the post for you!  We've compiled a list of things you need to do to be prepared for on your next interview.  We've also compiled a list of some tips for making sure you ace that interview as well as a list of 20 Network Engineer Interview Questions.

Can you pass the test?

TIPS for PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

1. Study - Before you go to you Interview, open the books up and give yourself a general review of networking.
2. Update your Resume - Read your resume and update it.  The last thing you need when you are putting your best face forward is to have a resume that is full of grammatical errors.
3. Watch out for Social Networks - Many employers are getting very smart and will search on your name.  Be sure if they find your facebook or myspace page there isn't anything there that you wouldn't want them to see.
4. Google yourself - Search for yourself on Google and see what you find.  You would be amazed an what might pop up. Make sure nothing derogatory shows up.
5. Get Certified - One of the best things to do to prove you know what your talking about is a certification.  This gives a new employer an easy way to understand your  knowledge level.

Preparing for NETWORK ENGINEER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. IP Addressing- Make sure you know subnetting (without a subnet calculator!).  Know the value of every bit in each each Octet.   Know subnet masks and what their slashed notation is and CIDR
2. Memorize administrative distances of all routing protocols.
3. Review the simple stuff, like 3way handshakes in tcp, setting up hrsp, ip helpers, and vlans.
4. Review Spanning Tree - Know what a root bridge is, know what VTP does
5. Review VLANs and be able to explain what a vlan is.

Employers know you can look things up in a pinch but what do you know off the top of your head that you can hit the ground running and fix a problem if it arises.  Or if they send you out to a remote location to setup a router, with no internet, can you get the thing online and working?

Put yourself in their shoes, what will they need from you? Review the job description and target those things specific to the job your interviewing for.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR NETWORK ENGINEERS

1. What is the subnet mask 10.2.1.3/22?
2. What is the administrative distance of EIGRP, eBGP, iBGP?
3. What is your favorite routing Protocol?
4. In EIGRP, what is a Stuck in Active route?
5. In OSPF, what is a totaly stubby area?  What does Area Zero do?
6. Which internal routing protocol would use if you needed to route between Cisco and non-Cisco equipment?
7. Explain what a 3-way handshake is in TCP?
8. What is a VLAN trunking protocol?
9. What is the different between 802.1q and ISL?
10. Explain what is an Ether-Channel?
11. What do you need to do to setup a VTP domain?
12. What is Spanning Tree used for?
13. What is a root bridge and why do you need one?
14. What is needed on a router interface to allow DHCP to function on a subnet?
15. Describe what a stateful firewall is?
16. What is HSRP?  Is this an open standard?
17. In a PIX/ASA, what are security levels used for?
18. What two things are needed in a PIX/ASA firewall to allow traffic to pass from a higher security level to a lower security level?
19. In IPSec VPNs, what is diffe helman?  What is it used for?
20. In an IPSec tunnel, what is main mode?

Do you know the answers to these questions?  Have any more questions you would like to add? Leave a comment below and let us know the answers or more questions?