Today’s increasingly computer-centric business world means that graduates of network engineering technologist courses are some of the most hireable professionals in today’s economy. Automated business processes, which are becoming commonplace, require information technology tools and professionals who know how to run, repair and improve them. Do you think you have what it takes to work in IT? Here are the skills you’ll need:
Career: Network Engineering Technologist
With big business comes big computers – sometimes a larger firm will even have an entire room of servers! There’s no doubt that keeping these machines well-maintained requires a professional master of computer networks. If a machine overheats, or a system crashes, a network engineering technologist must be able to quickly locate the source of the failure within the server, and provide technical support as quickly as possible. Lost time means lost money for the firm, making network engineering a high-stakes, high pay-off job. The salary for network engineers was projected to increase by 6.9% in 2014, and this trend is likely to continue into 2015.
Knowledge of Hardware and Software
Because different computers run on different systems, it is critical that a network engineering technologist has up-to-date knowledge on the latest hardware and software programs. This may involve studying computer architecture, operating system design, and computer operating systems like Linux and Unix. Necessary software knowledge could include Java, C# and .NET. A network engineering technologist might even advance their career by earning industry-standard certifications from Microsoft, Cisco and Red Hat.
Install and Manage Security Programs
As the administrator of a computer network, a network engineering technologist has the duty of installing and managing security programs to keep the network safe. Security protocols may include internet filters, firewalls, anti-spam, intrusion detection and log management systems. Being a network engineering technologist also requires an eye for potential security breaches or network weaknesses, and what measures to take if the network is infiltrated. Preventative security measures might include installing network traffic and security monitoring software.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are necessary when training for any career, no matter if you’re attending paramedic college or taking community services worker courses. While it may not be the first career that comes into mind when you picture “customer service”, working as a network engineering technologist involves plenty of back and forth communication. Say a server crashes, or there is a security breach: a network engineer must be in constant communication with the affected offices or individuals until the problem is fixed. A network engineering technologist must also have good teamwork skills, since they usually work on a computer network with other network engineers and IT staff.
What do you think is most interesting about a career in IT?