Modern technology development makes the Internet and network indispensable elements in any industry. This data source allows people to access information, connect, and be productive.
If your business wants to use and maintain smooth internal data and computer network connections, you need the support of network consultants.
They will help you answer every question about network related issues. Although it sounds simple, becoming an expert in this field requires a lot of knowledge.
To understand more about this job, you can refer to the article below about network consultants. Now let’s jump straight in!
Job Description
To get a clear direction in your work and quickly make decisions for your major, you need to look at the professional definition.
Through it, you will understand this career and outline the goals to achieve to succeed in the field you pursue. Below is a job description including the network consultant’s concept, tasks, and environment.
What is a network consultant?
Consulting related to answering and giving directions to solve user questions. To be a network consultant, you support customers with internet issues.
Information technology in the past decades has attracted many human resources. The network consultant is a job with extremely high potential.
Network consultants use their expertise to help individuals and organizations build and maintain networks that meet their needs. Professionals can work independently or join a company depending on the environment they want.
It has been quite a popular profession in recent years. Of course, this field will also look for more human resources with more expertise in the coming years.
Duties and Responsibilities
As shared above, network consultants use their knowledge to solve problems related to computer networks and internal corporate data.
The essential and core requirement for a professional consultant. But depending on each company’s position and job description, you will do different tasks.
Here are some basic and essential functions that you need to master to become a future network consultant.
- Information security
- Computer maintenance
- Solve all network-related problems
- Create a data entry and retrieval system
- Put in place measures to protect network security.
- Update new technologies applied to the network.
Where Do Network Consultants Work?
Network consultants work in office headquarters. The meetings that take place continuously are inevitable. Besides, you can also choose to work independently, working for many different customers with your schedule.
The network consultant’s working environment is highly diverse and lively, and you won’t feel bored even when working at the office. Network exchanges in the country or abroad create conditions for experts to absorb knowledge.
Each environment has its pros and cons. For the head office, you will be bound by time, hours, and relationships. Customers will often put their trust in the company’s staff rather than working independently.
When you do it yourself, you will be proactive in time and easily arrange work.
Everyone will have their favorite place. It would help if you prioritized choosing the right environment to bring high performance at work.
Education Requirements
Education is a mandatory requirement and prerequisite for network consultants. With enough knowledge and skills, you can answer all customer’s questions.
Here are the education requirements you need to know before entering the job.
Education & Training
Due to problems related to the Internet, the network always requires people to have specialized knowledge and an accurate understanding of it.
At a minimum, you should have a bachelor’s degree in information technology and computer science. The curriculum at the university level will be a source of knowledge that prepares students for work.
In addition, the network is constantly updateable and renewable. Therefore, to become a network consultant, besides education knowledge, you also need to change your working mindset. You should be flexible but always change and update the latest trends to meet market needs.
Work Experience
If knowledge and education help you become a network worker, then experience is a factor that enables you to become a network expert.
It means education or training is essential, but experience determines career success or failure. Experience includes not only time but also the knowledge you accumulate while working.
Employers always prefer and favor experienced candidates over those with only theoretical knowledge. Hence, if you want to work in the environment you love, you should prepare with full knowledge and experience.
For students, you can choose an intern role to apply for while studying. It is the most optimal way to save time and accumulate experience.
Certifications
In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, you can also take certification courses to upgrade yourself. Some necessary certifications that should be prioritized to study if you want to become a network consultant include:
- Microsoft certificate: It equips knowledge and skills related to informatics.
- CCNA Certification: The networking certification provides an advanced source of knowledge about the Internet and information technology.
Essential Skills
Knowledge and skills are two critical factors that significantly affect the career you are pursuing. Without technical and interpersonal skills, you will never become the network consultant you want to be.
Hard skills
Technical skills are those related to Networking, Computer Science, and Data. It is the core and most important for network consultants.
As such, you will gain this universal knowledge in university classes or external courses, including:
- Access point
- Network security
- Troubleshoot
- Set up
- PC
- Technical support
Soft skills
In addition to technical skills, interpersonal skills are essential to being a network consultant.
This field belongs to informatics and consulting services. Therefore, you need to equip some soft skills related to consulting to get a higher position at work:
- Listening skills
- Management skills
- Connect with sincerity
- Solving problems
- Selling yourself
- Teamwork skill
Essential Tools
We rely on networking tools to complete our work tasks efficiently. Although it is just a few small operations such as creating and retrieving, your working time will be shortened and more optimized with these tools.
The essential tools below are the latest ones to support network consultants.
- Node-RED
- Notepad++
- TeemIP
- AccessChk
- Process Hacker
- Clonezilla
- System Monitor
- SolarWinds TFTP Server
- Remote Server Administration Tools
- WireShark and Microsoft Message Analyzer
Job Outlook
Any company or organization using the Internet needs at least one network consultant. These companies are usually banks, insurance, colleges, universities, medical institutions, and financial institutions.
Every system task changes with the central server link. Therefore, a network consultant will only become employed if you have enough skills and knowledge.
In the job description, we have outlined a network consultant’s education requirements and primary duties.
With the above requirements, if you do not want to continue in your original profession, you can move into new positions such as multimedia specialist, software engineer, programmer, and data systems analyst.
There are countless opportunities for network consultants. Hence, for career prospects, it could be a trending industry in the coming years.
If you have a dream and passion, you should focus on the requirements we introduced and conquer them step by step.
Salary
The average salary for network consultants usually hovers around $87,550 per year. A web consultant can receive a higher salary based on qualifications, experience, skills, and education.
Salary is always a controversial issue and creates the most difficulties for candidates. Many people have decided to quit a job because the salary is low compared to their performance.
Each company has a different salary support policy. Hence, you should determine if the salary is worth you. First, you need to check the median income of co-workers since the US Census Bureau reports.
Next, you will consider the job description you undertake. You should only change to another place if the two are similar.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The pros and cons below are drawn from the top and experienced network consultants. Sure, it will help you better understand networking.
Many people love and are passionate about becoming a network consultant because it has advantages such as:
- Learn a variety of knowledge and skills
- Work in groups often and interact with many people
- Quick problem-solving mindset
- Advice for you to find many new things
- Continuous training
- High income
- Good growth opportunity
- Support team
- Regularly travel for work or travel
With a network consultant, the difficulties and challenges to face are many. They are part of the job, and you can’t give up. Yet, you will certainly improve if you overcome the limitations and continue to work.
- Strict time
- Pressure
- Plans are constantly changing
- Lack of work-life balance
- Teamwork greatly affects work
- Often away from home for business trips
FAQs
What is the highest position in networking?
In general terms, networking has been the job with the top salary in the industry today. In this field, positions that can receive the highest salaries include:
- Network and Computer Systems
- Network Architect
- Network Service Technician
- Database Administrator
- Network Security Manager
- System Engineer
- Wireless Network Engineer
- Network Programmer
- Administrators
The salary depends on the industry and is primarily influenced by the position, duties, qualifications, experience, and skills.
How to become a network consultant?
The steps below will help you become a network consultant
- Earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, network consulting, or related fields.
- Possess CCNA, Microsoft certificate, etc.
- Always keep a receptive and progressive attitude at work
- Join professional organizations
- Accumulated experience
- Learn sensitive problem-solving thinking
Is networking a promising career?
A promising career fully meets the salary and recruitment needs. The information below will help you find the best answer.
- The average salary of a network consultant is $79,400/per year
- Over 6,000 related jobs in the Southern California area alone
- The network administration field will grow by 5% by 2030.
Is networking a difficult job?
Network jobs offer a high salary and recruit many candidates because this job is difficult. It requires you to meet all aspects, education requirements, and skills.
Is networking better than programming?
Both jobs are in the field of information technology. With networking, you will do tasks such as designing and maintaining the network structure.
Programming allows you to code computer systems, develop new strategies, manage databases, test systems’ functionality, and support and update systems.
You couldn’t make a better choice between these two professions. Each requires different tasks and skills suitable for each person’s personality and interests.
To compare the two industries above, you need to see the detailed job description to consider the suitable one.
Is networking still in demand?
The answer is yes. Not only in the present but in the future, networking still requires specific human resources.
Can you do a networking job from home?
Some jobs can be more effective if done from home, including networking. However, you need to work in-house for a few years to gain knowledge and experience. After being fully equipped with skills and machines, you start working from home.
How do I get hired through networking?
The steps to get hired through networking are as follows:
- Start with the relationship
- Need time
- Get contact information
- Write your CV and post it on LinkedIn
- Follow up on your interview
How do introverts network jobs?
Here are tips for the introvert who loves networking and wants to pursue this career.
- Online network connection
- Direct connection
- Contact old relationships
- Always be yourself
How many hours a week does a network engineer work?
A typical network engineer works 40 hours/per week. If the workload is high, they can work extra nights and weekends.
Career Advice
A network consultant is a career with high prospects. So, you don’t need to worry about job problems if you firmly have the skills and knowledge.
Hopefully, with the above article, you can realize your suitability for the profession. Therefore, it will help you quickly decide on the work to study.