Maybe you heard about the fantastic salary package ($45, 270 to $117, 150 according to the BLS) that this line of work has to offer, or you saw it ranked in U.S. News’ 10 best technology jobs. Whatever be your source or motivation, it goes without saying that this job profile has become quite lucrative in the last few years. The onset of technology with its profusion of smart gadgets, apps, and wireless networking has been a definite contributor in this regard. You know you love the computer and technology. So looking for jobs as a network administrator is the perfect movie to make right now. They are behind every computer network in the world and strive to keep things running smoothly.
You like being on the top of things when it comes to technology, but at the same time, you’re probably wondering, “What does a network administrator do?” Let’s proceed and systematically answer this question.
Who is a network administrator?
He is responsible for handling the computer networks of an organization. He keeps them up-to-date and running smoothly. Job opportunities for him are plenty, as every company has thousands of computers or software platforms that need constant configuration and coordination to work in tandem.
According to the BLS, the demand for this job profile will augment by 35% in the coming decade. Network administrators will be in high demand in industries like healthcare and cloud computing. So you can see that it’s interesting work, with excellent job security, for continued success in the future!
What is the job profile of a network administrator?
He needs to know how to install networks and computer systems. He needs to repair, maintain, and upgrade the computer and network systems. He must be well-versed in fixing and diagnosing potential problems with the network and its software, hardware, and allied systems. He needs to monitor the systems and network to improve general performance. He must examine website functions to make sure they perform without interruption. Performing disaster recovery operations and data backups are also part of the package. Apart from computers and their networks, he is responsible for the teams, technicians, and the end-users as well.
What Skills does a network administrator have?
A network administrator should have a unique combination of analytical, problem-solving, and people skills. In addition to the mandatory technical knowledge, he must have certain soft skills as well, which are in high demand today. A network administrator skills list:
Soft Skills
Analytical and critical thinking He needs to be inquisitive and approach problems logically and consistently. Project management He should be capable of juggling multiple projects, problems, and people simultaneously. The organization is the keyword. He must be prepared for the unknown. Communication and interpersonal skills As an active member of the team, he will be required to interact and communicate with a wide range of people like network engineers, desk employees, and even end-users. He will have to be patient with an acute sense of understanding to bridge the gap between diverse groups. Learning as you go Technology evolves, and so he needs to learn new things. Being complacent can never win him any laurels in this department. As a network admin, he will be required to adapt to new technologies and techniques throughout his career. Some other soft skills include problem-solving, essential technical assistance, and business environment skills. These skills are utterly useless if not supplemented by the required hard skills.
Technical Skills
As a network admin, start priming these technical skills if you want to succeed in this field:
Operating Systems (OS) Domain Name System (DNS) System administration System and network configuration Firewalls Software installation and upgrade
If these skills sound too foreign to your ears, don’t despair. All you need to do is get a degree in network administration!
Where does a network administrator work?
A network admin is in high demand in many business sectors. A large number of network administrator jobs are posted every year. Based on the hiring trends that we have seen so far, here is a list of organizations that employ network admins at the drop of a hat:
Education Industry Insurance companies Hospitals Companies that manufacture transportation equipment Scientific, professional, and technical services
It is pretty evident that if you get bored in one company, you can always dabble in another.
What does a network administrator do?
After all this discussion, Getting back to the million-dollar question, it’s imperative to understand what does the work of a network administrator entails. To put it mildly, he has a lot to do! What with the constant analyzing, monitoring, and thinking outside the box to improve an always-evolving field, network administrators have their work cut out for them. They need to manage communication systems while ensuring that the information is flowing properly within the company. In conclusion, pondering over the nitty-gritty of a job profile can be a complete waste of time. Now that you have had a sneak-peek into the elusive world of a network administrator, do you think it’s a good fit for you? If yes, let us know by leaving your expert comments!
