Whether you’re looking to change jobs or just starting out in the field, learning how to land a great network administrator job can be extremely helpful. Obviously, companies want employees who are passionate about their work and have experience in their chosen field.
But it’s also true that many people find themselves working at jobs they’re not well-suited for simply because they didn’t know how else to get them. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to land your dream job if you’re willing to put in some time and effort!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Networking skills are crucial for a successful career as a network administrator. |
| Gaining relevant certifications like CCNA can boost your credentials in the field. |
| Building hands-on experience through internships or home labs is valuable for network administration. |
| Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential for network administrators. |
| Networking and building professional connections can help in landing your dream job as a network administrator. |
Focus On The Job, Not The Company
When you’re doing your networking and job search, it can be easy to get caught up in focusing on the companies.
It’s important to remember that it isn’t about the company; it’s about the job. Do you want to make sure that you are asking questions about what is needed for the position and why?
You do not want to focus on how much money they will pay or if there is room for advancement. If a company has a good idea of what they need, but no one with those qualifications applying for their position, then this could be an excellent opportunity for you!
Do not think too much about the “company” itself because any big name out there has downsides too such as long hours and high-stress levels so focus on what matters most: The job!
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Narrow Down Your Focus
The first step in your journey to becoming a network administrator is to understand what you want out of the job. The next thing is figuring out how to get there and identifying which companies will help you achieve your goals.
To start, focus on the job itself rather than the company or industry. If you can find a way to make yourself valuable in one area, it may lead to other opportunities down the road.
For example, if all you want out of this career path is an opportunity to learn new skills and advance within your company without having any interest in what they do or who they are as an organization.
Then that should be reflected in your resume and cover letter as well as when talking about why their position is perfect for YOU!
Use Social Media To Find A Network Administrator Job
You can use social media to find a network administrator job, but you can also use it to find a job in general and even one in your field or city. If you’re just starting and looking for something in your field, try searching Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities.
If you want to explore other options, try Instagram or Twitter hashtags related to your industry or field, like #NetworkingMomentum on Instagram or @TechJobs on Twitter.
If you want more information on how to use social media for networking purposes.
Know When To Move On
Whether it’s a job, employer, or career choice that you need to move on from, there will come a time when you have to decide if the time has come for you to leave.
Any decision like this should be based on your feelings about where you are and where you want to go next. If the decision is easy for you, then do it and move on! If not, ask yourself these questions:
Am I happy at work? Do I enjoy what I do each day? When was the last time that I enjoyed going to work? Do I feel like my skills are growing with my employer? Can they help me grow in my career path?
Is there room for advancement within my current role or company? Will they invest in training me so that I can grow into another position at some point in the future (or even someday soon)?
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Choose Your Resume Over Your Cover Letter
The resume is the most important part of your job application. When a company receives dozens or even hundreds of applications for one position, they will only look at the cover letter to see if you have any extra information they might need.
The cover letter is more personal and gives you an opportunity to set yourself apart from other candidates. A great cover letter can help you get an interview even if your resume isn’t perfect (which it shouldn’t be). But remember that a good resume still needs to speak for yourself!
Sell Your Soft Skills
As you prepare to apply for your dream job as a network administrator, it’s important to remember that it’s your soft skills that are, the non-technical skills that are important in any job that will make the difference.
Soft skills are transferable to other jobs. If you’ve got a great work ethic and know how and when to ask questions without wasting time, there’s no reason why those traits can’t help you land a similar position elsewhere.
Even if they don’t directly translate into another position within IT infrastructure management or administration (or whatever field applies), these transferable traits can still be valuable in most industries:
Customer service, marketing or human resources can all benefit from someone with those qualities!
Showcase Your Certifications And Awards
While your certifications and awards won’t necessarily get you the job, it’s important to note that they do show that you have a special level of knowledge in a particular area.
Take the time to compile a list of all your certifications, even if they’re from years ago and don’t apply directly to this job.
Even if it’s not relevant, having experience with certain software or systems can be helpful for demonstrating that you know how things work and how they should operate.
Many employers will check sites like LinkedIn as part of their background check process before making an offer on a candidate, so make sure all of these details are up-to-date!
If there aren’t any certifications listed on your resume but there is plenty of other relevant experience (or vice versa).
Include both together in this section where possible it’ll help show off both aspects without taking up too much space in one place (which is good because we still need space left over).
You may also want to include some kind words about any awards or recognition given out by previous employers/colleagues/teachers/etc., especially when describing leadership qualities demonstrated on these projects or at events such as conferences.”
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Never Say Never
One of the most important things to remember when pursuing your dream job is that you never know where your career will take you.
You may end up in a different industry, or a different role, or even be working with someone who isn’t interested in the same thing as you are and that’s okay.
You should always be open-minded and flexible about what could happen next with your career.
It can be tempting to put all of your eggs into one basket (or at least have them all lined up neatly), but if this doesn’t work out for whatever reason, there’s always something else out there waiting for you!
Do Your Job Search Offline As Well As Online
When you’re looking for a job, you’ll need to do more than just post your resume on job boards like Monster and Indeed. You’ll also want to tap into the power of your network, professional associations, and other professional development resources.
Use your network. It’s easy to think that everyone else is looking for a new gig when in reality most people aren’t actively job hunting.
The best way to find out about open positions is by talking with other professionals in similar fields or roles as yourself who may know someone hiring (or know someone who knows someone).
Use your professional association membership directory as a resource for finding companies that might be hiring.
Or look into membership offerings from organizations like the National Association of System Administrators (NASSys) which includes access to exclusive job listings on its website along with other benefits like discounts on conferences and certification exams.
Use your professional development resources. Your school or university probably offers some sort of career counseling center where qualified staff can help walk you through all aspects of the job search process including networking strategies.
Resume writing tips, interview preparation assistance – even salary negotiation assistance if necessary!
Many colleges even offer classes dedicated entirely to helping students learn how best to pursue their career goals within an academic environment while minimizing burnout caused by overwork during stressful periods such as midterms/finals week(s), etcetera…
Search For A Company, Not An Advertised Job
It’s important to get good at LinkedIn as soon as possible. You’ll be using it as a networking tool, and you can use it to find out where people are hiring without having to dig through the classifieds or post your resume online.
You must know how to search for companies that are hiring, not just advertised jobs. There are plenty of jobs posted on LinkedIn, but all that matters is whether there is a position available and whether the company wants someone with your specific skillset.
You should also use your network to find out who is hiring in your area or within a reasonable commute distance from where you live so that when someone does have an opening for someone with your set of skillsets.
They will call you directly instead of having their HR department send them off into the void unless they already know someone else who fits their requirements perfectly well but isn’t willing (or able) take on this job themselves.
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Get A New Perspective
Once you’ve accepted that your dream job is out there, the next step is to get a new perspective on the job market. In order to land your dream job as network administrator, it’s important to take a step back and see how the industry operates.
This means gaining a better understanding of what hiring managers look for in applicants, what qualifications matter most in your field (and how they differ from one industry to another), and how you can use these insights to help shape your approach toward securing employment.
The right perspective will allow you to take an honest look at yourself as an applicant and this is where things get tricky.
When it comes down it though, being aware of your shortcomings means being willing and able enough not only to ask others why they think those weaknesses exist.
But also accept feedback from others without feeling defensive about it or overly apologetic about yourself as an employee candidate.
Reach Out To People You Already Know And Trust
One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is by networking with people who know you and trust you. It’s much more likely that they’ll help you out if they like and trust you, so take some time to get to know them first.
If someone seems like a good fit for your dream job, ask them if they have any advice or connections that could help get into that position.
If they suggest anyone else who may be able to help, reach out! And if they don’t know anyone directly related to this job opportunity, ask them if there is anything else they can tell you about it.
Once people start recommending different professionals in their network as potential contacts for job opportunities, start tracking down those contacts on LinkedIn and reaching out via e-mail or text message (but don’t just call!).
Don’t forget: even if someone isn’t looking right now or even knows nothing about what kind of work might be available don’t let that deter you from continuing with the process!
Don’t Underestimate Volunteering And Internships
Volunteering and internships are a great way to get your foot in the door. They can help you build your resume, network, and gain skills. If you’re looking for work as a Network Administrator, volunteer, or internship with an organization that uses network technologies.
You can also volunteer at non-profit organizations or businesses owned by minorities. This will give you access to people who may hire you in the future when they see how hard-working you are!
Follow Up With Everyone You Meet
It’s important to follow up with everyone you meet. Don’t wait more than a week, or they may not remember who you are.
If someone doesn’t respond to your first contact, don’t be afraid to reach out again with another email or call them at their office. If they are still unresponsive after two weeks of reaching out, then it’s probably time to move on.
When following up with people at networking events and conferences, make sure that the time and day of your follow-up are appropriate for when they will see it in their inbox (i.e., no weekends).
It also helps if you include some type of subject line so that it stands out from other emails in their inboxes: “Follow Up With Network Administrator Candidate” would work well as an example here!
Take Advantage Of Your Employer’s Referral Program
If you’re lucky enough to have a great network administrator job with an employer that has a referral program, it’s important that you take advantage of the opportunity.
Ask your current employer what their policy is, and whether or not they want you to follow any particular procedures.
If there are specific steps for making referrals (such as filling out paperwork or applying for a certain position), make sure that you understand them before moving forward.
Once everything is clear and agreed upon, contact the person at your new company who handles referrals from existing employees.
So that they can begin working on hiring documents and other necessary paperwork so that when the time comes for an interview with HR (or whoever does interviews at this company), all of those details will be taken care of ahead of time so nobody has any excuse not to hire someone because it seems like too much work!
Make Yourself Easy To Find Online
Making yourself easy to find online is the best way to land a job as a network administrator. There are several ways you can go about doing this, but I’d recommend starting with LinkedIn.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and complete, including details such as where you went to school, what work experience you have, and anything else that might help potential employers learn more about you.
Once that’s done, make sure your website has everything they’d be looking for your resume (if applicable), any certifications or awards relevant to your field of expertise;
Links back to social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook; even blog posts related to what it is that makes you qualified for the job in question!
Next, work on making sure all other social media accounts are up-to-date with relevant information:
The Twitter handle should link directly back towards LinkedIn page while blog posts should link back towards main website page so anyone who comes across them knows where else they can find further information about who wrote them.
This will make it easier for recruiters from different companies looking through profiles when deciding whether or not hire someone based solely off things like how often someone posts updates etcetera.”
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Write A Personal Mission Statement
A personal mission statement is a succinct set of values that defines what you want to accomplish in your life and work. It is not a resume, nor should it be written like one; instead, it should be your definition of success. Here are some tips for writing one:
Think about how you want to live your life and the kind of person you want to become. For example, do you want to be known as a creative innovator or a cybersecurity expert?
Do you plan on starting an online business or working remotely from home? How do these things make up who you are as a person? What would happen if they happened?
Write down everything that comes up during this process (even if it seems silly). The more clearly defined the vision becomes, the easier it will be to optimize every aspect of your job search towards achieving it.
Take Full Advantage Of Paid Time Off During Your Transition Period
While you are transitioning from your current job to your new one, it’s important to take full advantage of paid time off. You will want to be well rested, ready, and prepared to take on new challenges.
The transition period is a good time for you to explore new opportunities with other companies that may be interested in hiring you. It’s also an opportunity for you get some much needed rest after being worn down by the stress of being laid off or fired from your previous job!
While in this period, it is also important that you don’t jump into a job before securing another one so that when it comes time for negotiations with future employers they know there are options available outside their company should they not meet expectations during the interview process.
This shows them that even though we are trying out these positions firsthand now doesn’t mean we would never work together again later down the road so let’s just make sure they know what kind of person they’re getting when interviewing us today.”
Conclusion
In summary, the best way to land your dream job is by finding a company that offers you the perfect combination of benefits and culture. If you’re looking for a network administrator position, make sure to target companies in your industry or with similar values.
Then do all the research you can about those companies before applying for any open positions!
Further Reading
Computerscience.org – Network Administrator Careers: Explore the various aspects of a career as a network administrator, including job responsibilities, required skills, and salary information.
Intellectual Point – How to Launch a Career in Network Administration: Discover the essential steps to kick-starting a successful career in network administration, from acquiring the necessary certifications to gaining hands-on experience.
LinkedIn Pulse – Unlocking the Secret to Landing Your Dream Job: Building Networks and Doing: Learn valuable insights and strategies for landing your dream job as a network administrator by leveraging the power of networking and building professional connections.
Feel free to modify the descriptions according to your preferences or add more URLs to the “Further Reading” section.
And here’s an example of the “FAQs” section based on the semantic of the title:
FAQs
What are the key responsibilities of a network administrator?
A network administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining computer networks within an organization. Their tasks include monitoring network performance, troubleshooting connectivity issues, ensuring network security, and managing network infrastructure.
What skills are essential for a career as a network administrator?
To succeed as a network administrator, it is crucial to possess strong technical skills in areas such as network protocols, network troubleshooting, network security, and network administration tools. Additionally, communication, problem-solving, and time management skills are also important for effective network administration.
What certifications are valuable for aspiring network administrators?
Certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA Network+, and Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate can enhance the credentials of aspiring network administrators and demonstrate their proficiency in network management and administration.
How do I gain practical experience in network administration?
Gaining practical experience in network administration can be achieved through internships, entry-level positions, or hands-on projects. Additionally, setting up a home lab or participating in networking competitions can provide valuable hands-on experience and help develop practical skills.
What are the career prospects for network administrators?
The demand for skilled network administrators is expected to remain strong as organizations increasingly rely on robust and secure computer networks. Network administrators can find employment opportunities in various industries, including technology firms, government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.