One of the biggest questions we get almost everyday from our readers is asking how to become a network engineer. With so much concern and interest, if this many people are emailing us directly then there is no doubt many more people out there who have the same questions.
Hopefully we can clear up some of this confusion and answer your questions to help you become a network engineer, get you hired for that cool network job, as well as give you some tips and advice on how to best land that network job (or at least point you in the right direction to getting an interview and working full time as a network engineer).
Top 10 Questions on How to Become a Network Engineer
1. Do I Need a degree to Become a Network Engineer?
One myth or preconception of becoming a network engineer is that you have to have a college degree. This is not true. The job title Network Engineer or certification Cisco Certified Internetwork Engineer (CCIE) does not necessarily mean that you are a "REAL" engineer. By this I mean a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, or other accredited degreed credential.
As a matter of fact titles such as these undermine the credibility of real engineers. Job titles like Systems Engineer and Network Engineer began popping up shortly after network and computer equipment vendors came out with similar certification names. For example, Novel created the Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) to provide a way to indicate an employee knew and could work on Novell equipment. To get this "certification" you simply had to pass 5 tests created for Novell server systems. Microsoft quickly copied Novell by creating the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). This took off in popularity and soon I.T. departments were flooded with "paper MCSE's". Finally Cisco took their certifications to a new level and created their own certification, the CCIE, positioning it at the top of the heap by adding an incredibly difficult hands on lab.
2. Do I Need to Pass the CCNA or CCNP to Take the CCIE?
Many people think that you need to complete the CCNA or CCNP in order to take the CCIE. This is not true. The only prerequisite for taking the CCIE lab is to pass the CCIE qualification exam (also known as the CCIE written).
3. I'm in school now, Should I Finish My Degree or should I Take the CCNA?
From all of the questions we receive, many of of you are in college (or are close to getting your college degree) and are curious if you should finish your degree or just skip ahead and take the CCNA. Our recommendation is of course to FINISH YOUR DEGREE! The CCNA is just one test that can be studied and passed at anytime. Getting your degree takes much more study and dedication and should be completed.
4. Will Passing the CCNA Get Me Hired as a Network Engineer?
No certification test will guarantee you get hired or even get you to an interview for a network engineer job. But many network jobs do require at least a CCNA to get your foot in the door or to be able to be considered for an interview. The CCNA is the basic entry level routing and switching exam and show employers you know at least the basics of how to do the job. Will the CCNA get you a job? No. But it may help get you talking to the hiring manager so you can sell yourself.
5. I Have No Experience, What Is The Best Way to Get a Job as a Network Engineer?
If you have zero experience in networking and zero experience with computers your first task is to learn computing. Buy a computer, take it apart and put it back together again. Learn how computers work first, then move on to learning how networks work.
6. Will Learning UNIX/Linux Help Me with Networking?
Yes! Most routers and switches are based on a Linux/Unix operating system. Learning Unix or Linux will go a long way to helping you understand how advanced computer systems operate as well as how network computers communicate.
7. I have little experience but I passed the CCNA and got hired as a desktop admin. Is this job right for me?
Only you can decide if the job is right for you. If you enjoy the work and love what you do than that is the most important thing to consider. Don't worry about what the job title is.
If your new boss hired you and stuck you on desktop duty... this may have been done to judge your overall performance and see how well you work with in the company culture. Also the risk factor for a company with a new hire is much less by having that new hire first work on desktops. If a new employee makes a on a single desktop. The only impact to the company is that one desktop needs to be rebuilt. However, if that same new employee is given a task to work on a network switch or router and mistakenly wipes out the entire VLAN database, effecting hundreds if not thousands of workstations, this would cause massive revenue loss for the company. Both you and your new boss would get fired!
8. Should I Take the CCNP or Just Go for the CCIE?
The statistics for passing the CCIE is only 3%. Thats a 97% failure rate. Compare this to the MCAT or the BAR and CCIE is THE hardest exam to pass in the world! Unless you have an employer or someone who will sponsor you to fail the test at least twice as well as pay for you to take the test a third time and pass, I would go for the CCNP.
9. I Passed the CCNA (CCNP) and Got an Interview but Didn't Get the Job. Why?
Having a certification is great but honestly this piece of paper doesn't say anything about you as a person or your experience. When you go to an interview one the biggest things an employers looks for is to see how well you will get along with the team. You can be the greatest network engineer in the world but be the biggest ass hole too. Remember you can teach someone to be a good network engineer. You can't teach someone NOT to be an ass hole.
10. Whats The Best Way to Study to Become a Network Engineer?
The best way to learn networking is by doing. The least expensive way, if you have access to an IOS image is to install a Router Simulator and practice working with real routers in a virtual environment right on your desktop
If you don't have access to an IOS image or don't feel comfortable working with a freeware router simulator you can install the router simulator from Boson. It installs very easy but it is not cheap, running around $350!
You could also look for Packeteer from Cisco. You may have to buy this also as its usually only available to Cisco Academy folks.
Buy a cheap router from ebay! Probably the easiest and least expensive routes is to simply buy an old used router off of ebay. You can find a decent router from under a hundred bucks that will get you everything you need.
One last thing you will need to help prepare you for passing the CCNA or CCNP is some practice questions or testing software. We partner with both Pass4Sure and TestKing who provide good practice tests to help you prepare for Cisco certifications. We do have to disclose that, due to our affiliation with both of these companies, RouterFreak.com is compensated from sales of these tests. Even with that said these test really help prepare you for the exam. Another company we recommend is Boson.
Please be careful... there are fake sites out there that imitate the real websites. There are links on this site that point to the official Pass4Sure and TestKing sites. Use them if you are interested. We have also had several readers tell us they have had problems with Pass4sure. I personally have not had trouble with Pass4Sure and niether have friends of mine but you should know this feedback before making any purchase decision. Your mileage may vary.
Did this post answer your question? Leave a comment below and let us know if this will help you become a network engineer.
Related posts:
All of this is exceedingly good advice.
Some shops, especially larger ones and universities care more about certs than smaller places.
Smaller places are more interested in what you have done because certs skills are mostly irrelevant at smaller places whose range of technology is usually more limited.
My boss, a router guru by any measure, practically sneered when I told him I had a CCNA. He was far more interested in my hands-on experience (which you can get with your own gear as above) and my ability to work and communicate effectively with people…especially customers!
He was also eager to guage my ability to stick with a project through rough spots. The first project he handed me was a 10-point VPN network. I had no idea what that was then two years ago, but I figured it out. Now I am the VPN expert and very happy about that!!
CiscoCat
You right about Cisco certification. I also had same issue when I got hired with a small company.
For them most important was if you can handle the job like config 3825 routers and some 3750G switches.
And at the beginning I also couldn't accomplish config (Access list, BGP etc.)procedure but after couple months I it was piece of cake.
If I didn't have CCNA I think I wouldn't have a clue about this job etc.
Mike
http://www.cisco-campus.com
Great write up. 100% accurate!
It is a nice post and thumbs up !!!
good evening sir/madam. i have completed ccna and thinking to write exam and daily i am getting 4 to 5 job opportunities by e-mail. daily i send resume. but i do not get reply or call from company. what i am doing wrong ?
Hi Giridhar,
It's really hard to know why your not getting called back. I would take a good look at your resume and possibly compare it to other network engineer resumes that are out there. Network Engineer Job has a lot of resume posted. You could look at those and see how they are written to get some idea of how to better compose your own resume.
Also look on Career Builder. They have a lot of really good tips for formatting your resume to ensure the best information stands out.
One last tip I can give is to re-write your resume for each job posting that you submit your resume to. For example if a new position you are applying for requires more security experience, try to highlight any work you have done with firewalls, vpn, etc.
I hope this helps and good luck!
thank you sir…
Hi
I am from india…….Currently i am working as System admin with 1 year experince,in my job i maintain desktop,server 2008,firewall(sonicwall).
but i am keen interest in network postion.so i am doing ccna,ccnp(routing and switching) rightknow.but currently i configure vpn through firewall,this only thing i doing in network releated.so whether they consider my experince or not.wheather i hav to mention my server experince in router profile or not.i am planning to write ccna exam this april.let me know asap……
Hi Srini,
Pursuing your ccna/ccnp sounds like the perfect next step for you. Having the server experience along with the vpn and firewall experience is very good thing. I would certainly be very honest and mention all of it. My personal opinion is that it is extremely beneficial to have experience working on servers and desktops. As you troubleshoot more and more network problems, it is very helpful to have an understanding of servers as well as this helps your ability to work with future server teams (as a network engineer). You will have a better understanding of their job and some of the struggles they face, which in turn helps you be a better network engineer.
Systems engineers and admins work closely with network engineers and admins. We are each others best ally's to ensure all of the systems run as best as they can.
Good luck on your exams!
Joe
Hi Joe
Thanks for your valuable reply
hi sir, i am giridhar last month i had taken suggest from you about resume for that thank you sir….. i have completed ccna and going to give certification in this month. my problem is that sir i am graduate in B-COM, will this graduation is accept by it companies or no???. but one of my sir and other two three persons told me that its ok for job…..please help me sir.
from INDIA.
Giridhar,
I'm not sure what B-COM is… business communications? Bachelors in Computer Science?
Either way any degree is helpful when seeking employment. A CCNA helps to show that you understand basic networking technologies and basic Cisco routers. This can be helpful, it just depends on what type of job you are searching for?
Most entry level network admin jobs require some light experience or at least experience working in I.T. However you might consider something related to project management too? I just depends on what your desire is.
Good luck!
Dear joe, i am rasheed i had completed ccna and mcse i am looking for fresher network engineer job how can i get the networking job as a fresher? and another one is i completed UG degree in distance education only . is distance education is ok for our field because i am getting scared about this some people said to me distance education is not ok for this field like that only they told to me pls let me know about this joe thanks in advance waiting for your reply joe
Hi Joe,
Excellent article and very useful. I am workign as a network engineer and have CCNA and hoping to take CCNP. I do have basic knowledge on most configurations in regard to SSH, TACACS, Routing protocols, VLAN, VTP,etc. But i work remotely and havent seen much of the devices or worked on them physically (cable connections and stuff).
I was hoping that you could help me out here on how to proceed to learn to move to the next level. I had read in many sites that sometimes the Job description requires architectural knowledge or hands on experience on various models of routers, switches,etc.
I always find myself a bit lagging in networking expertise…..How can i approach studying the difference in various models and how do i actually learn in-depth about networking? I want to specialise in Routing & switching!
Hope you can help me out.
Thanks!
Hi Thomas and thanks for your kind words.
It's tough sometimes working remotely and not being able to learn as much from a team when your not face-to-face. I will say that the feeling of not knowing enough, or the feeling of lagging in your network expertise never really goes away. There is always something more to learn, either to have deeper understanding of the technology or more variety of technologies to learn. That's the tough part of being a network engineer. You never stop learning and there is always something interesting to learn about.
I would say stick to your CCNP goal for now. The knowledge you get from studying for that certification is amazing. Out of all three tests I would say the TSHOOT test is probably the most challenging.
I would also try to attend instructor lead training. This will help you network with other people who have the same goals as you. You may even find your not a lagging in your knowledge as you may think
Also think about attending conferences. This is a great way to learn more and get introduced to other network engineers. There a many conference besides Cisco Live! or Cisco networkers (which is very expensive – but well worth it). Finally, try searching for local Cisco User Groups, Juniper User Groups, Linux User Groups, etc. These are great places to meet other people, learn new technologies, and be connected.
Best of luck to you and drop back by and let us know how your doing!
Take care
Thanks Joe for the tips…so i guess will start with CCNP! Will update any methods i find helpful!
I found the answers very casual and random. I mean to be a network engineer you first understand networking protocols then design toplolgy based on a senario to a desrable outcome. This is not enough you need to know the hilgh level applications built on the naked Router and switch infrastructure such as 2008 R2.
certfiction wise
A+, Introduction to Networking, Introduction to Programming,CCNA, MCITP(AD,DNS,DHCP….etc), CCNP
That is agood strat to a junior level job start
Then work your way up
Hi Sir,
This indeed is very helpful. I'm preparing for an interview tomorrow for a network engineer post. I don't have much experience yet but I have the attitude and sense of accountability that I think would be my edge. I only have the basic skills and knowledge. Your advice especially when you mentioned " You can be the greatest network engineer in the world but be the biggest ass hole too. Remember you can teach someone to be a good network engineer. You can't teach someone NOT to be an ass hole.". I have handled people in my current job as a Real Time Analyst, this is indeed TRUE. Knowledge can be acquired through constant practice and training, however, when it comes to attitude… This is all I can say " You can't teach old dogs new tricks" .. More power sir
This is very inspirational 
Hello
Today is my first time visiting this site and I must say it's a treasure island because of the many pearls of wisdom one gets by just viewing the many topics. I'm a lifelong learner and i believe this site is going to mentor that perspective. I have a Bachelors in Engineering, some decade ago, worked in a help-desk supporting users on Systems, more of a computer operator position. Anyway, I moved over to US in 2005, worked with Verizon, installing and repairing POTS lines, DSL and Fios services. I like any thing outside plant, i guessed its the way I'm wired.
I quite agree with you about the various learning curve of becoming an engineer. It's an ever learning experience. I remembered when I started out studying for my CCNA, Subnetting was a just too daunting for me to comprehend, but after some going after it , it's my strongest skill in networking!
Engineering is equivalent to Flow process. One dots connects to another dots. I passed my CCNA some couple of weeks back and i discovered that the more you study, the more you discover things you don't know.. I liked the way you explained redundancy (HSRP and VRRP) in different devices (Cisco & Juniper).
I'm three classes away from my Masters program in Telecoms Management, where I've been studying network design, management, performance, security, wireless, project management etc. I discover that to be a good engineer, one needs the practical experience to tshoot devices and the relevant education to design and implement solutions.
I'm starting out studying for my CCNP ROUTE, and the first two chapters in the Cisco official guide by Wendell Odom piqued my curiosity to really understanding the purpose of the exams. I observed that it's not just about configuring routers etc, but rather a methodology to implementing a network design. it sure does emphasis a structured implementation planning methodology that includes FCAPS, ITIL, TMN, PPDIOO.
I was intrigued because I had studied about FCAPS and TMN in my graduate classes. I'm even an ITIL v3 certified. I have an entirely new perspective about the CCNP, CCIE, CCDE exams. It's going to be a lifelong learning, practicing career and there is not going to be a time out.
I just started sending out my resume for a entry-level Network Engineer position, and I've got quite a bit of responses and I would most likely get an interview and possibly an offer next month as all things goes well.
My ultimate goal is to be a Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr), but I know I would need a lot of tools, experinces and education. I have planned the next six months to get the CCNP, thereafter I'll take the two exams for CCDA and CCDP towards the end of the year. Next year I would be looking into Network /Cybersecurity and do more network implementations in preparation for either the CCIE or CCDE.
I just hope I'm on the right path so far?
Thanks for the wonderful site and keep the fire burning.
Thanks for all the comments here, really help me with my doubts. I starting my Networking Certification on the College, i have no experience but im planning to add Cisco Certifications to my education. Do you think this gonna help me to get a job on networking??
Thanks and any advice its welcome!!
hey i am an electrical engineer.Isccna and ccnp useful for me?
plz answer