Network Administrator Career Advice

Since you have chosen the path of Network Administrator vs. System Administrator, I suggest you take the approach on obtaining a Cisco Certification. You have a couple of options that would provide you with the necessary core networking skills in order to be competitive as you resume your job search once you finish your degree. In addition, I suggest you that you do in fact finish your BS in Computer Science for a number of reasons. Firstly, most high paying jobs are requiring atleast a BS and two, if the job doesn't that gives yourself an upper hand in the job game. Good luck and most importantly remember, there isn't anything you can't do if you set your mind to it.

Jermaine C. Oldham
A.A.S Information Management
B.S. Information Technology
MBA
MCSA

Check with the computer department at your college. Not the academic department, but the business unit. They probably have a net admin who would be happy to show you around their operation.

Thanks for all the advice. I been practicing for the CCNA for a couple weeks now and the pratice test looks pretty easy. I'm a student at University of California, Irvine. I will talk to my counselor about looking for Network Administrator in Campus.

I think u must read a lot. If u want to be a good net administration study TCP-IP since it covers majority of networking. Technology is changing and innovations are introduced on a fast pace.. so reading would help a lot. Try studying cisco v3 it could jumpstart you :)

I think everyone could agree that reading books
is a good start. For network administration,
I'd say try O'reilly and Cisco Press books.
I've found those to be the most helpful.

The other one, is if you want to land a better
job right off the bat, set up test networks at
home, get help desk (usually min. wage) jobs
wherever you can. The thing that will make you
valuable to an organization isn't if you can
know the textbook answer, its if you know the
real world answer.

In other words, when you are on a tight budget
what are some work arounds to get the same
result, what are some non-proprietary (read:
cheap to free) network tools you can use to
solve problems just as quickly as the
proprietary ones, what are the solutions to
occasional problems that occur but aren't ever
discussed in textbooks, etc (check online tech
forum sites). This also pretty much comes from
trying and screwing up your test networks
majorly and figuring out what you did wrong.

At least in my limited experience, what will
make you the most desirable to others as well is
one simple thing: knowing how to diagnose a
problem you've never seen, research a solution,
and fix the problem. As a network admin, it is
impossible to know every answer, and most bosses
will realize that. However, that won't ever
excuse you from researching an answer thoroughly
and understanding why something happened.

Hi since we both are interested in the same Job I was wondering if you can send me your Network Administrator Job Study Report or maybe a career portfolio!! This is would be great help check the tasks and responsibilitieso of the job, Entry requirements and also Training opportunities and prospects!! I would grateful if you could send me information

Thank you!!

I want to support a computer network. Would I be wise to get a Network + certification before a MCSA. I'm currently registered for an MCSA program starting May with a local community college. Or would I be better off to get a foot-in-the-door job with a company that will pay to train me. I have a B.S. in computer science from 1992 and have been a grocery cashier before and since then except from '95-'98 in IT (mainly in support but also programming.) Also, I'm learning to support the Windows 2000 network at my church's office.

I want to support a computer network. Would I be wise to get a Network + certification before a MCSA. I'm currently registered for an MCSA program starting May with a local community college. I have a B.S. in computer science from 1992 and have been a grocery cashier before and since then except from '95-'98 in IT (mainly in support but also programming.) Also, I'm learning to support the Windows 2000 network for my church's office.