Network Engineers, Referred To By Some Sources As Computer Network Architects (The Two Job Titles Are Different And Not The Same; However, Some Companies Expect The Same Job From Both Jobs), Design Network Hardware And Software Requirements And Set Up So That Users Can Use The Networks Without Any Problems.

Although the main job of network engineers is to implement, monitor, and manage networks, they may be given other job tasks, such as deciding to purchase backup hardware, selecting the architecture on which equipment is to be built, and ultimately network security.

As companies become more and more dependent on digital environments, in-house networks must be in ideal condition and service-free. Today, most of the corporate operations of companies depend on internal and external networks.

These networks can be LANs or Wireless LANs (WLANs) that eventually connect to WANs. When these networks run into problems, employees will not be able to perform their tasks properly, which will lead to reduced productivity.

For example, most businesses today rely on VoIP to connect their teams and customers. When packet loss increases, calls are constantly cut off, team members have difficulty communicating, and business activities eventually cease.

Therefore, network engineers must use the suitable topologies to communicate equipment and, in addition, closely monitor the performance of networked systems.

These people need to make sure that the networks meet the organization’s business goals, and even in the event of a problem, some alternatives can meet the needs of the business.

What skills do network engineers need?

Network engineers need analytical skills, organization, management, problem-solving and attention to detail, and the ability to work in a team. In addition, network engineers must be able to work with specialized software in management, network monitoring, network security, and network configuration and use network analysis tools to check the status of data packets. A report released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that computer network architects earned an average of $ 111,130 in 2019.

The BLS report notes that the job market for network engineers will grow by 5% between 2019 and 2028. The fact is that the network engineer, among other jobs in this field, has a more profitable job market and receives higher wages.

Network engineers must have complete information about local area networks (LAN and WAN) to manage these networks. Typically, these professionals are responsible for running a private computer network; Therefore, they need to have accurate information about the details of the network they are going to manage.

For example, they need to know how to manage the process of storing large files, how to implement a storage network separate from the local network, so that network performance is not reduced, and how to protect documents and files that are shared among network employees.

An ideal candidate should understand these issues well. Not all companies need a network engineer, but this job position is essential for information and telecommunications technology.

What should we pay attention to when hiring a network expert?

Usually, when hiring a network engineer, you should pay attention to these people’s education, skills, and experience.

• Network Engineer Education and Skills: Academic programs help students gain relatively complete knowledge of the underlying concepts of information technology. The above approach will help future computer network administrators to achieve a good basic understanding of the performance of critical network equipment. For more information, individuals should refer to schools that provide more in-depth information on network concepts; Therefore, the ideal option is to attend Network +, CCNA and CCNP courses.
• Network Engineer Experience: Network engineers who have worked as network administrators are better and more accurately able to perform their assigned tasks. Typically, most companies only select people for the job of network engineer who has spent several years of their career as network managers.

Aside from sitting in front of a screen for long hours, network engineers must be able to analyze the structure of a network before implementing it. To be more precise, they must have planning skills.

Before implementing their design, these network experts first test it to identify and address its shortcomings and then prepare the redundancy infrastructure as the network implements. Networks need maintenance when implemented, and they are not left to their own devices when they are implemented.

What questions should a network engineer be asked?

One of the most important but challenging things you can do to attract a network engineer is the interview. Unfortunately, some organizations focus only on the highly specialized aspects or think that if the interview time is long, it indicates that they are a professional organization. At the same time, you can assess the skills of a network engineer by asking a few short but profound questions. You are. In the following, we will examine some of these questions and the reasons for asking them.

What experience do you have with heterogeneous environments and networks?

• Reason for Asking Question: Interoperability plays an essential role in improving business processes; Therefore, it is necessary for networks with different structures to interact. It is possible to look for a network engineer who will manage a combination of several systems and hybrid environments without any problems. This question makes the hiring process strangely shorter and more purposeful because someone with experience working in such environments has many practical skills.

The answer you may receive: Typically, a person with the desired experience describes various systems and then gives examples of problems to which they have been able to find solutions.

If you were working with a DevOps team, what were the pros and cons? If not, would you like to work with such a team?

• Reason for Asking This Question: Companies have seen the benefits of integrating the Development and Sysadmin teams over the past few years. The above approach significantly improves the performance of an organization’s IT department. DevOps means teamwork, which refers to the interaction and improvement of team members’ productivity. If one has a history of participating in such teams, one has basic information about other skills or at least has heard of some concepts. To be more precise, he is familiar with the job descriptions of a security expert, network administrator, network technician, etc.

The answer you may receive: I have specific practical experience in this type of partnership.

Try to look for skills that show that your candidate can work smoothly in a team of different skills and know well that team members’ communication and collaboration are priorities.

Explain the most extensive network you have ever engineered (implemented) and what components and infrastructure made up the most comprehensive network you have been responsible for managing?

• Reason for asking this question: Normally, all networks, large or small, are subject to fundamental changes, some of which grow as businesses expand, how they are accessed, connected, and security solutions. New ones are added to them, or new employees and devices are added. The larger the networks, the more equipment is said to them, which increases their problems and vulnerabilities.

The answer you may receive: Answers should relate to the description of the infrastructure, how it has grown over time, and network management challenges. Ideally, the answers include the experience of working with networks as large as your organizational network or indicate that the applicant is knowledgeable in working with the network.

Tell me about what you did when you troubleshot a network error.

• Reason for asking this question: Network problems are mainly related to unstable connections or lack of access to resources that accompany employees’ complaints. It is one of the significant problems of the digital age. The critical point to asking such a question is that the volunteer has to provide technical explanations about the problem and how to solve it. Each system and network has its challenges. Therefore, the person should provide comprehensive information on the tools used to test the web, how to isolate the complex system or network, and finally, the solution used. This information indicates the level of technical skills of the volunteer.

The answer you may receive: Look for signs that the job seeker has used an innovative solution to the problem and has continued to work until they have found a suitable solution. The best answer is to mention how you communicate with other team members to solve the problem.

What solutions have you used to improve network performance?

• Reason for Asking This Question: Slow or unreliable IT systems can hold an organization back, so network engineers see it as their job to optimize network performance. You want to know how the applicant can solve this problem so that the network performance is in good condition and stable and business activities continue without any issues.

The answer you may receive: Look for signs that the volunteer is not just trying to solve problems but is trying to come up with solutions to improve the network to prevent potential problems in the future. An ideal answer shows how they pursue the idea from concept to operation and what mechanisms they use to identify opportunities and improve them.

Based on your past experiences, which components of the network do you think to play an essential role in securing it?

• Reason for asking this question: Cyber ​​security is more important than ever. It is essential to know how the volunteer protects the infrastructure against data breaches and how familiar they are with cyber attacks. Has the security risk been exacerbated by the proliferation of IoT equipment and mobile devices? You understand the applicant’s knowledge to keep a network secure by asking this question.

The answer you may receive: A good solution might be about strategies such as enforcing strong passwords and having strict policies on how mobile devices connect to the company’s Wi-Fi network.

Suppose you have to convince a senior manager at the C-suite level to move existing infrastructure to the cloud. How do you do that, and what story do you tell him?

• Reason for asking this question: Today, information technology has entered every aspect of a business. It would help if you had network engineers who could show the value of what they do to non-technical audiences, Especially when presenting ideas to an executive team. Here you are looking for people who can make complex engineering terms for ordinary people understandable and straightforward.

The answer you may receive: The candidate should be able to describe complex technologies easily and understandably. His answers should show that he can clearly explain the benefits of using new technologies that improve the organization.

How do you deal with an upset customer who has experienced severe technical problems?

• Reason to ask: Excellent customer service is the key to the success of any business, especially in this day and age when social networks play an essential role in the success or failure of an organization. One wrong move and its reflection on social media cause a brand to be discredited. You need to know how the network engineer reacts when confronted with an angry or dissatisfied customer and how they respond logically to the person to restore lost trust.

The answer you may receive is to look for signs that the volunteer has enough experience maintaining customer relationships and dealing with sudden changes and difficult situations. The answers should show that the volunteer is a patient person and can empathize with customers.

Briefly describe a project that consists of different processes and how to manage it until it is completed.

• Reason for asking this question: In the past, information technology was a different and independent part of the rest of the business process. Today, technology is the foundation of everything a company does, so you need to ensure volunteers have practical collaboration skills. Can they complete a project alongside other projects, are they able to make good use of team members’ strengths, and have they learned valuable lessons from previous experience?

The answer you may receive: Look for items that show how the volunteer coordinated the necessary resources, used a plan to coordinate the performance of other members, what failures they encountered during the project, and how they overcame them.

As you can see, the above questions give you an almost clear view of the soft and hard skills that the volunteer has. However, suppose you still want to ask him about technical issues. In that case, you can ask questions about concepts such as TCP / IP, the OSI reference model and its layers, routing protocols (BGP or OSPF), and how to implement virtual LANs. Introduce Linux commands, Cisco iOS commands and configuration, Layer 2 protocols (STP, VTP, VLAN), Router commands, and settings.

Do you have to ask for a degree from a network engineer?

• Some organizations refer to certification in job advertisements because it is a good indicator of the level of competence of a network engineer. Usually, we see this issue in most job advertisements, especially outside of Iran. Therefore, it is not a bad idea to get an international degree. Companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, and Red Hat offer industry-certified certifications. By attending these courses, people become acquainted with the essential topics of the network world in a theoretical and practical way. By participating in the exam and succeeding in it, they qualify to obtain the relevant degree. Not all companies apply for certification, and many talented network engineers work without accreditation. It depends on the company you intend to join.

When should we hire a network engineer?

• If your organization generates a large amount of information and the information must be securely stored and shared with employees in different departments, having a network engineer in the company is essential. They design wired or wireless LANs for you and help you give employees access to information based on a reliable mechanism. Hackers can prevent data leaks by identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. Finally, a network engineer helps to ensure that data is secure during transmission or inactivity by implementing the proper security mechanisms.