Taking courses in maths, electrical engineering, and physics will also help you build the quantitative skills needed to perform tasks on the job. To apply for a degree, students typically need 1 or 2 A levels for a foundational degree and 2 to 3 A levels for a degree. Working in larger companies often means specialising in one area of network engineering, such as architecture, security, or administration. Completing a Professional Certificate or other types of education can be worthwhile. For example, IBM offen IT Support Professional Certificate that you can use to gain vital IT skills and experience. Additionally, those who complete this certification course receive an IBM digital badge and access to exclusive job placement resources.

A candidate with this certification will be seen as more adept at diagnosing and resolving issues with mobile devices and operating systems. You could work in an office, at a client’s business or in a contact centre. A CCNA is the standard qualification help desk engineer to get your foot in the door, it also shows employers that you have studied for something and have some basic knowledge. I would always recommend starting with Cisco as that is the most common but closely followed by Juniper, HP, 3com the list goes on.

Step 14: Job Search and Apply

In a network engineering context, the most important cloud computing skills include the coding languages PHP and Java, as well as popular database management tools like SQL and Hadoop. Since cloud computing is becoming the norm among most companies, cloud computing skills are viral in network engineering. It won’t take long for you to realize that network engineering is an extremely diverse field. Below, you can see some of the most popular career paths for a network engineer. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for network engineers is $90,926 in the United States.

To become a network engineer, you’ll need a college degree, professional experience in networking, technical skills, and soft skills such as attention to detail. However, you need a lot of technical skills for a career in networking. If you’re just beginning, you can sign up for basic training courses or coding bootcamps to improve your networking knowledge. Follow along for a complete guide on how to become a network engineer. To gain relevant experience and build your technical skills, consider starting with an entry-level role in IT.

Step 1: Establish a Strong Educational Foundation

Network engineers design, administer, and optimise computer networks for businesses. When composing your resume, make sure that you show how your performance in each of your roles had a material benefit on the company network’s growth and evolution. Your resume is also a great opportunity to list your relevant skills and establish your brand.

• The best and quickest way to do that is by getting certifications in the field.
• According to the UK National Careers Service, Network Engineers can expect an average annual salary ranging from £21,000 to £52,000, depending on experience [1].
• One of the main responsibilities of a network engineer is maintaining the working efficiency and safety of company servers.

Following the activity of industry leaders on social media or YouTube can be an effective way to keep up-to-date. This practice can help you discover in-demand skills employers are currently interested in. You can also join relevant communities and forums to connect with other professionals in your industry. You may already have some qualifications to become a help desk technician today. For example, if you’ve worked in customer service before then you have a solid foundation, but you may need to build your technical skill set.

Get started with Coursera

A network engineer is a tech professional who builds, develops, and maintains enterprise networks and cloud computing services within a single organization or between several companies. The job requires you to provide support and troubleshoot problems for users, including employees, clients, customers, and suppliers. Some companies require that their network engineers and architects be certified in the products the company uses. Check job descriptions for the types of positions you’d like to apply for to get an idea of what’s required.