Is networking support a good IT career path?

[onoski]

Hi Guys and Gals,

Just wondering considering the current state of IT if IT networking and administration is a viable and worthwhile career path. I am currently in a IT position of supporting MS products and a bit of networking troubleshooting assisting our network support staff.

I do find IT networks fascinating and to somewhat interesting especially from having been out with out network support staff doing telnet into routers etc on a DOS prompt.

Please, I would like feedback from people possibly in a network administration and support role. I am considering doing the CCNA and using out support staff as a mentor. Any useful information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[helpdeskdan]

Go out and get a CCNA book and read it. If you enjoy it, sure, go for the CCNA. If you do not enjoy the subject, then this is the wrong field for you. I don't claim to know much about the subject, but I would say if you are going into it only because you heard it's a great way to make money, you'd be making a mistake.

 

[onoski]

Hi Helpdeskdan,

Thanks for your feedback and yes I have read a ccna book and am currently reading another one. I do find IT in general interesting.

However, I wanted to know if I need more than just interest to go into IT networking as a career path. The reason being at the moment am doing IT support and being a jack of all trade.

I am not complaining as am greatful and just want to specialise in an area of IT in this case network administration and support. It would be nice to hear if networking is a viable career in terms of challenge.

With regards to the money I know for a fact that there's not much attraction in this respect. I have also been a self starter and and hussler in IT because I love everything about computers and IT in general. Thanks again.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

onoski,

No you do not need much more then an interest in networking - some might say you need a screw loose

As Dan said - get and read the CCNA book ! And if you like it - and it seems you said you do - read more and keep reading and set up a home lab and try things!

Then take the CCNA exam.

I would suggest you get a Cisco Press book and I always have liked the Sybex CCNA Study Guide.

You should also get a good network sim and a practice rack of routers and switches - 3 routers and a switch will get you enough hands on practice for the CCNA.

If you still like what you are reading and doing - go for it!

You also might take a vaction day and see if you can shawdow the network guys where you work!

Hope this helps!




E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[helpdeskdan]

Viable career in terms of challenge? Oh, it's challenging! If you want a challenge, there is no end to challenge in this field.

 

[onoski]

Hi Helpdeskdan and CiscoGuy,

Thanks for the valuable feedbacks its much appreciated. I would definately take on board your advise. Thanks again and best wishes in your IT network career.

 

[castlesmadeofsand]

onoski, I really wondered the same thing once, and still kind of do, as I am in a different IT role (server hardware support, systems engineer on Dell, DEC, HP, like HP9000, etc servers). You wanna talk about challenging, well the position I have is NOT. It's a very slow business, because it seems most of what we do (besides sit in the office all day), like when we actually have a service call, is replace bad scsi hdd's or tape drives, or fix a tapeloader because the picker arm broke off.
I am a CCNA as of January this year, and hope to be a CCNP by March of '07 or so. I have zero actuall on-the-job experience with routers or switches, so I come to these forums for real world problems and solutions. I started on the path when I was fixing copiers, and fell in love with it right away. The company for which I work is talking about supporting Cisco devices for customers also, but if it's only hardware support, then I don't even have to be a CCNA.
I hope to soon start a small business of my own, setting up networks for homes and businesses, including WAN's, LAN's, VPN and VoIP, and also conceentrating on network security, as I have been studying along the CCSP path also.
Anyway, I'm glad YOU asked the question and not me, because I sure as hell don't like the answers you got in this post. That's my two cents.
Hope you find what you are looking for.

Tim