The rapid advancement of technology and the digital landscape has increased the need for skilled networking professionals. Every organization now requires networking specialists who can manage networks, secure data, and provide cybersecurity simultaneously.
According to reports* the network engineering services market in India is expected to nearly double by 2030, growing from about USD 1.84 billion in 2023 to USD 3.71 billion. (CAGR ~10.6%)
But before stepping into a networking career, it is crucial to thoroughly research this sector. What exactly the job roles offer and how the job hierarchy works, you need to know everything in detail for an individual’s better approach. This will help unfold realistic insights to move forward in this career path smoothly.
However, to make your journey even smoother, Network Bulls provides comprehensive resources to help you establish yourself as a networking professional. In this article, we will discuss what your career in networking will look like and how Network Bulls can add value to it.
The Beginner Stage (Initial)
A good networking career begins with a strong foundation. Professionals who wish to make a career in networking must learn the essential skills, some of which are as below –
- Network models and protocol stacks (OSI and TCP/IP)
- Fundamentals of IP addressing and routing.
- Ethernet, VLANs, switching, ARP, and MAC tables.
- DHCP, DNS, NAT, and basic firewall/ACL concepts.
- Understanding of the Diagnostic Tools such as ping, traceroute, and packet captures.
- Knowing about the packet flow: how data moves through the network.
These are the basic prerequisites for entering networking; and advanced qualifications are added on top of them.
Entry-level roles for beginners
- Network Support Technician
- Helpline Desk/ L1/ L2 Support
- Junior Network Administrator
- Infrastructure and Operations Assistant
Your work may include troubleshooting connectivity, replacing hardware, checking performance, managing configurations, and responding to minor network or data interruptions.
Certifications to Assist
Unlike software, which needs projects and experience to move forward, networking requires certifications to validate your skills.
The best certification to get into a good networking job as a fresher is CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). Having this credential from Network Bulls, one of the foremost networking institutes, gives you an edge over others. The CCNA certification tests your foundational knowledge and gives you credibility in the eyes of the recruiters.
Intermediate Level
After getting a hold on the basics, aspirants should move forward with understanding the depth and complex network infrastructures. Here’s a list of the requirements to get into an intermediate-level job profile –
- Advanced routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP).
- WAN technologies (MPLs, VPNs, SD-WAN).
- Switching enhancements: spanning tree, link aggregation, and VLAN design.
- Security fundamentals: ACLs, firewalls, intrusion detection.
- Wireless networking, QoS, multicast, IPv6.
- Automation and programmability, which includes scripting, templates, and infrastructure as code.
- Tools and monitoring: SNMP, NetFlow, telemetry.
This stage takes you a step further, and your role is not just to solve problems but to actually design solutions, optimize configurations and lead small projects.
Intermediate Level Job Roles
- Network Engineer
- Systems and Network Engineer
- Infrastructure Engineer
- Network Analyst
Your work would typically consist of network redesigning, deployments, scale improvements and performance tuning.
Certification to Assist
Transitioning from a beginner to an intermediate level role requires the right upgradation of skills along with the appropriate certification, which is CCNP.
CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) is not just about mere theories and factual data. Instead, it’s having hands-on experience in modifying and redesigning networks to prevent any failures. It provides you with the proficiency to scale for growth and cybersecurity. Network Bulls can be one of the best choices to get your CCNP certification, as it provides lab training and enhances your practical skills to tackle problems with ease.
Advanced Level
Achieving proficiency at the mid-level lays the foundation for advanced networking opportunities. The professionals must have an understanding of the following for advanced level networking jobs-
- Multi-site and global connectivity.
- Overlay/underlay networks (e.g, VXLAN, EVPN)
- SDN, intent-based networking, and controller paradigms.
- Taking into account the network and its proper segmentation.
- Performance engineering, capacity planning and good analysis.
- Integration with cloud, storage, compute and cross-domain teams.
This is the most expert-level position for a networking professional. Achieving this requires experience, polished skills and good certifications.
Advanced Level Job Roles
- Network Architect
- Principal Network Engineer
- Infrastructure Lead or Head of Networking
- Solutions Architect or Consulting Expert.
Advanced networking professionals need to inculcate leadership and strategic planning qualities to master the networking infrastructure.
The work mainly revolves around building budgets, project cycles and managing the team. The experts are needed to curate decisions for scale-up, architectural blueprints and analytical evaluations.
Certification to Assist
A legitimate networking expert has to go through rigorous training, experience and the right certification to reach that level.
The CCIE certification showcases your mastery of network troubleshooting, problem-solving, and large-scale system design. It enables you to solve the most challenging network and data infrastructures
In India, Network Bulls offers one of the best CCIE certification course training, which offers access to the best lab, expert mentoring, and intensive training to boost your skills and abilities.
Now, after all the discussion of the job pathway, let’s discuss a few mistakes that professionals should avoid in their journey to expertise.
Mistakes to Avoid on the Path to Becoming a Networking Expert
On the journey to become an advanced IT networking engineer, there are a few common mistakes that aspirants commit. Let’s have a look at them so that you avoid them.
- Skipping the Fundamentals
The excitement of starting a career often leads to overlooking the importance of the basics. Jumping straight up into advanced routing and networking can lead to nothing but time wastage. Hence, the aspirants are advised to master the basics, such as IP addressing, OSI/TCP-IP models, getting the right CCNA training etc.
- Neglecting Troubleshooting and Monitoring Skills
Learners usually focus more on setting up routers, switches, VPNS, etc, rather than monitoring. This leads to issues in the network. To ensure smooth operation, use network monitoring tools from the start and monitor system performance carefully.
- Ignoring Training and Mentorship
Some aspirants ignore course certifications or lab exposure. This makes them struggle a lot to land a good job. Hence, they are advised to prepare for demanding certifications like CCNP and CCIE from a trusted institution like Network Bulls, as quality training makes a huge impact.
Conclusion
The journey from beginner to networking expert takes time and gradual learning. It requires both knowledge and experience. It needs aspirants to build hands-on experience and solve real-world problems. The lucrative job roles in networking are making young aspirants inclined towards choosing it as their career.
Establishing a career in networking is a smart choice for stability and security in the long run. To make your journey even smoother, the certifications and training of Network Bulls are there to support and enhance your skills to the next level.
