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Network Administrator Career
Network administrator career is a perfect IT career if you love to administer communications among computers. This article covers network administration occupations to help you assess your fit to the field. As you may have read from my ten hottest careers report, computer careers are among the fastest growing occupations over the 2002 - 2012 period (updated for 2004 - 2014 period) and they include network administrator and system administrator.
If a system administrator deals with the hardware and the software of each computer in a network, a network administrator makes sure that each computer can communicate with each other. The system administrator is responsible for data and its availability to the network, but the network administrator manages the data distribution throughout the network.
Network Administrator Career Paths of EntryThere are many paths of entry to network administration careers. You'd be better off if you're a college graduate with up to date skills and technologies. Completion of a certification in a certain network software, offered by variety of vendors and product makers, is sometimes required to qualify for entry-level position. But for a supervisory position, your practical experience in technical aspects and people management are essential.
You can find many network administration training and education on the internet, if you want to become qualified for a network administrator job. With online training and certification, you'll get flexibility in schedule and be able to attend class without traveling.
Network Administrator Career AdvancementAs an entry-level network administrator, you'll involve in routine maintenance and monitoring of network systems. Once you gain experience and expertise, you may advance into more senior-level positions with more responsibilities. For example, senior network administrators may present proposals to management on network matters. You may also involve in your employer's network design. Besides technical aspects, as a network administrator, you need to have strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. The constant interaction with other computer personnel and users requires you to communicate effectively in writing and/or in person. The writing skill is useful for manual preparation, and your oral communication skill will help you in presenting your recommendations to management.
To stay in front of your field you need to keep your skills current and acquire new ones. Just find available continuing education programs. Employers, vendors, colleges and universities, and private training institutions usually offer such a kind of programs. You may also attend professional development seminars offered by computing services firms.
Network Administrator EmploymentAs a network administrator you'll be able to find work in a wide range of industries. They are computer related, such as computer systems design, computer manufacturers, semiconductors, electronic components, and related products and/or services. But you'll also find a job in industries which involve in high intensity of information processing, such as banks, government agencies, insurance companies, airlines, media, and educational institutions. Employers of network administrators range from small, startup companies to worldwide, multinational corporations. The wide acceptance of the Internet and telecommunications technology has also attracted industries, such as construction, to increasingly recruit computer-related workers.
Firms in high competitive industries that expand their computer systems for conducting online business are in needs of network administrators. The employers demand network, data, and communications security specialists who can help them use technology to communicate with employees and customers.
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