Soldato
Unless your getting into managed switches i.e throttling certain ports at certain times and data centers it's pretty much the same as setting up a wireless router just with more ports and cables.
BTEC National 3 ICT to what?
- Thread starter SkidMarkKing
- Start date
Only problem is when a networking job comes up I cant honestly say I can do all on the list :/
Suppose I could explain what I can do and say im willing to settle for a smaller wage and learn on the job for a year
Yep, 2 year then a placement then final year (uni)
What is a networking job? AD, GP, Exchange, DNS, DHCP, SCCM, SCOM, Citrix etc. (that's without going into data centre work like SAN setup and design or communications like setting up proxy and firewalls, or telecoms, or Application (developer) design)
There are jobs that pay 70k for setup/maintenance of SCCM
Like a network admin I would like to be
It's definitely not as simple as that in business/corporate level.
First of all I need to do some research on companies within a 20 mile radius I think that might use big networks then apply with those or something?
Im also on a few job sites as well and I get email when related jobs come up
It depends how big the company is. A network admin in a small company is very different to one in a large company - It starts to break down into smaller areas the larger the company gets and the more systems / tech is used
Small company network admin may only need to maintain a few servers - Domain controller, AD a bit of GP, small mail system (or maybe managed by someone else) and a print server
Tbh they won't hire a network admin without at least a few years of business experience in the field or with a degree of some kind. Even just a degree will be difficult as networking is something that isn't covered in as much detail as other sectors in university (mainly programming is covered now).
You will need to know AD, DNS, DHCP, GP and Exchange inside out at a minimum if you want to go directly into network admin roles. On top of that, custom firewalls, security, SANs etc will need looking into.
I'm doing placement and have had hands on experience with this and was shocked about how little I really knew about networks coming out of 2 years of Uni. In my course at least it isn't covered extensively.
You will need to know AD, DNS, DHCP, GP and Exchange inside out at a minimum if you want to go directly into network admin roles. On top of that, custom firewalls, security, SANs etc will need looking into.
I'm doing placement and have had hands on experience with this and was shocked about how little I really knew about networks coming out of 2 years of Uni. In my course at least it isn't covered extensively.
Ive been out with my boss on a job. I just set the desk tops up. Pretty basic stuff really. I also set the printer up too work with 6 computers. Nothing big. I didn't do any of the cabling. Just changed the IP of the printer to static and linked the desktops too it. He did the wiring the day before
If you have no/little work experience there is no chance you will go straight into 'big networks' You may get a chance in a small company or a service desk/local support type roll in a large company then move up.
I have done both, starting with a small company (me and my boss in IT) I'm now in a large company (~200 IT) in 2nd line support. This involves assisting service desk staff and 3rd line support (using SCCM, SCOM, Exchange, Powershell, Citrix, AD, GP etc. but generally not making changes)
Ive seen some first line support jobs which seems the sort of stuff I could do now. Second line is better pay isn't it but slightly more technical stuff?
With the support jobs do you need to know it all of the top of your head or is there some kind of help on the computer when people phone up etc?
" (using SCCM, SCOM, Exchange, Powershell, Citrix, AD, GP" Ive not covered any of that??? :/
This is true for a small company however its impossible to know all that inside out. More likely its managed by someone else, especially the Firewall(s) SAN, Netscaler etc. We have a team of 6 who only looks after Exchange/archiving system. Its complicated to say the least
Yea sorry should have made that clear. Obviously in large companies it's split amongst more specialist roles. Smaller companies will look for someone with broader knowledge (inside out was perhaps too strong of a term).
Yes, some 1st line is very technical (I say very I mean doing stuff like digging into AD, GP and ADSI for certain things)
You would generally have training on the core apps / products used by the company you are at. There may also me a knowledge centre or database of possible issues and fixes. The rest is just troubleshooting, knowing it and some Googling - and of course asking people who you work with. One of the fantastic things about a large company where there are specific teams
A big company would be good then I guess for me. Stick to one area and get trained in that.
I do some support where I work. People having problems with slow computers, emails not coming through etc etc. Like I say this is basic and half the terms being used in this thread I don't understand
I feel like I wasted 2 years of my life doing a btec national.I got DMM too so I obviously learnt what they taught me as well :/
Last edited:
Don't worry about the abbreviations/acronyms I didn't know a lot of the more technical ones before I started work placement. You pick it up quickly as you go.
I'm by no means an expert, and tbh after having a few months experience of networking so far, I don't really want to focus on that for a career. Just don't like it or find it interesting personally. I can maintain it and use the software fairly well now, but don't have as much interest in it as out dedicated network officer does.
I'm by no means an expert, and tbh after having a few months experience of networking so far, I don't really want to focus on that for a career. Just don't like it or find it interesting personally. I can maintain it and use the software fairly well now, but don't have as much interest in it as out dedicated network officer does.
Soldato
For me it was GCSE > A level > crappy job > CompTIA A+ (loooool) > MCSE/MCSA. > crappy job > crappy job > 1st line support (crappy job) > 2nd line support (crappy job) > ... > responsible for everything with a plug (has it's moments)
Getting an "in" to the industry is the hard part, then it's all about your ability AND personality. Network with everyone higher up than you, be a LinkedIn whore too
Really want to go down the Cisco route now but I'm lazy these days. I've used the equipment thoroughly too. Maybe next week
Getting an "in" to the industry is the hard part, then it's all about your ability AND personality. Network with everyone higher up than you, be a LinkedIn whore too
Really want to go down the Cisco route now but I'm lazy these days. I've used the equipment thoroughly too. Maybe next week
For me it was GCSE > A level > crappy job > CompTIA A+ (loooool) > MCSE/MCSA. > crappy job > crappy job > 1st line support (crappy job) > 2nd line support (crappy job) > ... > responsible for everything with a plug (has it's moments)
Getting an "in" to the industry is the hard part, then it's all about your ability AND personality. Network with everyone higher up than you, be a LinkedIn whore too
Really want to go down the Cisco route now but I'm lazy these days. I've used the equipment thoroughly too. Maybe next week
Yeah, at least I'm in the IT area now so it's all good experience for now. I feel I should be on a little more than minimum wage when I'm practically the face of the business. Most months I get paid nearly a week late too
Soldato
Where abouts are you?