Associate
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Are there any Network engineers that can tell me a bit about the qualifications you took and how you got a job? What sort of money can you expect at the start of your career and at the top end?
Network engineers?
- Thread starter doublehelix2
- Start date
Started at the bottom of a Cisco MSSP and worked my way into the Solutions Design team.
Started with no qualifications, now have CCNA, CCDA, CCSP, Security+, SSSE, LCSAS (those 2 are partner specialisations) and an MCP. I started about 4 years ago with no experience of networking other than PC's and basic home broadband stuff.
You can expect to start on First line stuff at as low as 12k and a CCIE with bags of experience can see anything from £60k to £100k+.
Started with no qualifications, now have CCNA, CCDA, CCSP, Security+, SSSE, LCSAS (those 2 are partner specialisations) and an MCP. I started about 4 years ago with no experience of networking other than PC's and basic home broadband stuff.
You can expect to start on First line stuff at as low as 12k and a CCIE with bags of experience can see anything from £60k to £100k+.
Man of Honour
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I started with Microsoft stuff...finished up with an MCSE (Messaging) there then moved on to Cisco stuff, have CCNP and CCDP there. I also have a JNCIS (Juniper M Series routers) and a second JNCIS (Netscreen firewalls) and a few other specialist things (Foundry qualifications etc..)
Given a CCNA you should expect to start at between 20-25k depending on location and industry (getting towards 25k in london for a service provider). CCNP and experience should move you into the 30-40k bracket (again in london, less elsewhere), add some more experience and a few other qualifications (firewall and security related stuff is helpful money wise) and you could expect to get towards 55-60k maximum. CCIE is worth anywhere between 60k (starting point) and 100k+ (10 years experience working for a bank).
Thats all assuming network engineer roles, if you add in Microsoft stuff then you could expect a bit more. Most people never make it to CCIE level because a) it's very very hard and b) after 5 years it's so easy to pack it in for consulting roles and make 50-60k for 9 months work every year.
In the end it depends where you are and what industry to be honest, in terms of industry, service providers and large companies pay best (with banks being a special kind of large company who pay stupid money). Service providers are a good start as they're usually more prepared to invest in training for staff whereas big companies are often looking for the finished artical as it were.
Location wise, there still seems to be a premium for IT staff in london, particularly in the city, whether the stress and horrible hours are worth the extra x% is an individual decision I guess...
Given a CCNA you should expect to start at between 20-25k depending on location and industry (getting towards 25k in london for a service provider). CCNP and experience should move you into the 30-40k bracket (again in london, less elsewhere), add some more experience and a few other qualifications (firewall and security related stuff is helpful money wise) and you could expect to get towards 55-60k maximum. CCIE is worth anywhere between 60k (starting point) and 100k+ (10 years experience working for a bank).
Thats all assuming network engineer roles, if you add in Microsoft stuff then you could expect a bit more. Most people never make it to CCIE level because a) it's very very hard and b) after 5 years it's so easy to pack it in for consulting roles and make 50-60k for 9 months work every year.
In the end it depends where you are and what industry to be honest, in terms of industry, service providers and large companies pay best (with banks being a special kind of large company who pay stupid money). Service providers are a good start as they're usually more prepared to invest in training for staff whereas big companies are often looking for the finished artical as it were.
Location wise, there still seems to be a premium for IT staff in london, particularly in the city, whether the stress and horrible hours are worth the extra x% is an individual decision I guess...
I'm a network engineer for one of the bigger UK ISP's and can pretty much echo what most people have said - Cisco certifications are the way to go. Getting started in networking is pretty slow going I'm afraid, with no experience, you'll probably start off on the phone in some kind of helpdesk or netowrk monitoring role.
Next is usually NOC stuff which tends to pay OK (£25-£35K ish) but the shifts are horrible. After that, there's all sorts and you can earn pretty serious money if you're good.
Next is usually NOC stuff which tends to pay OK (£25-£35K ish) but the shifts are horrible. After that, there's all sorts and you can earn pretty serious money if you're good.
I work for a business ISP in London primarily implementing customer solutions. I get involved in everything from assisting tech sales right through to configuring routers and switches and handing over to the customer. I also help out with network deployment aswell. I currently earn in the £35-45K bracket depending on OT and bonuses.
Prior to my current employer I worked for a global Tier1 IP carrier in Field Operations and later Network Deployent roles.
I have no Cisco certs, Uni degree, A Levels or even good GCSE's. I found that once you get a door into the industry a lot of it from there is about real world experience and to an extent who you know. I can think of numerous times at my previous employer that it when a position was available someone would recommend a someone and most times this was how people were recruited. The telecoms business is actually quite enclosed and I know people in a lot of the various companies.
After saying that, I will get around to doing some certs at some point, purely out of choice though at the moment.
Prior to my current employer I worked for a global Tier1 IP carrier in Field Operations and later Network Deployent roles.
I have no Cisco certs, Uni degree, A Levels or even good GCSE's. I found that once you get a door into the industry a lot of it from there is about real world experience and to an extent who you know. I can think of numerous times at my previous employer that it when a position was available someone would recommend a someone and most times this was how people were recruited. The telecoms business is actually quite enclosed and I know people in a lot of the various companies.
After saying that, I will get around to doing some certs at some point, purely out of choice though at the moment.
Associate
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If your totally new to the feild as well the Comptia A+ and N+ are good starting certs to ready your self before talking the cisco and microsoft certs
Man of Honour
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pdw8 said:
that last point is very good advice actually, I know we pay serious recruitment bonuses internally (ie. if you recommend someone for a role and they're hired and stay at least 6 months then you get £3k) as going through recruitment consultants is just a drag. the industry can be quite enclosed and knowing people can be the way to get in the door.
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oddjob62 said:Well giimmie a shout if you want a chance for 3kAs of tomorrow i will be actively looking for a new job.
The only technical role I think we have open right now is a NOC position (complete with the usual no social life hours), if you're seriously interested then drop me an email, we're looking for the usual stuff really, CCNA and some experience...