Top 7 Networking Job Profiles you can get after CCNA

CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate is an associate level certification that tests the ability of a candidate to create, manage and troubleshoot a small scale network. There are a lot of tracks in CCNA like CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security, CCNA Data Center, CCNA Wireless and much more.

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Designation and job role of a CCNA certified candidate varies according to his track and knowledge of a candidate. Let’s discuss a few job roles that you can get after CCNA certifications.

1. System Engineers (Computer Networking/ IT): The Prime responsibility of a system engineer is to install and manage different devices (systems) in an organization. That may include different hardware of PCs, routers, switches or other devices being used. For this, you will have to get a good knowledge of different hardware aspects of Router/ Switches.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor all installed systems and infrastructure.
• Install, configure, test and maintain operating systems, application software and system management tools.
• Proactively ensure the highest levels of systems and infrastructure availability.
• Monitor and test application performance for potential bottlenecks, identify possible solutions and work with developers to implement those fixes.
• Maintain security, backup, and redundancy strategies.
• Provide 2nd and 3rd level support.
• Liaise with vendors and other IT personnel for problem resolution.

Key Skills:

2. Technical Support Engineer: Key responsibility of TSE is to resolve customer issues over the phone or via remote access. IT Tech support monitors, maintains and troubleshoot computer system and network in an organization.

Responsibilities:

• To provide support and general configuration of software.
• To provide network support and general configuration.
• To perform low-level administrative tasks.
• Assist with the testing of internal applications and projects.
• To deal with customers in technically effective manner.
• To provide external client support via telephone and email.

Key Skills:

3. Desktop / Network Support Engineer: It is more efficiently described as L1 and L2 support engineers. You will not get direct access to routers or switches but you will have to give proper support to engineers who have the access.

Responsibilities:

• Work on tickets that are logged into ticketing system via phone or Email or The Web.
• Monitor and manage system alerts and notifications, and respond accordingly through service tickets.
• Support technical issues involving core business applications and operating systems.
• Basic technical support at the network level: WAN and LAN connectivity, routers, firewalls, and security.
• Remote access solution implementation and support: VPN.
• Support print Issues and printer networking issues.
• System documentation maintenance and review.
• Work with vendors for the issues observed / reported.

Key Skills:

4. Network Administrator: System Admins and Network Admins are two different job profiles but in some small scale companies, it could be same.

Responsibilities:

• Install and support LANs, WANs, network segments, Internet, and intranet systems.
• Install and maintain network hardware and software.
• Ensure network connectivity throughout a company’s LAN/WAN infrastructure is on par with technical considerations.
• Design and deploy networks, perform network address assignment.
• Assign routing protocols and routing table configuration.
• Assign configuration of authentication and authorization of directory services.
• Troubleshooting Network Related Issues.

Key Skills:

5. Network Engineers: This is one of the most popular job roles in the networking field. They can work as a part of IT support team in an organization. Designing, Implementing, Maintaining and support of a company’s network are their core responsibilities. Cisco networking skills play a huge part in this job role.

Responsibilities:

• Configure and install various network devices and services (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, VPN, QoS).
• Perform network maintenance and system upgrades including service packs, patches and security configurations.
• Monitor performance and ensure system availability and reliability.
• Monitor system resources utilization, trending, and capacity planning.
• Provide Level-2/3 support and troubleshooting to resolve issues.
• Work within established configuration and change management policies to ensure awareness, approval and success of changes made to the network infrastructure.

Key Skills:

6. Network Security Associate: Perfect for candidates who want to make their career in Network Security. Job roles of a security associate include performing basic security vulnerability assessment to identify security threats. Please note that if you want to go for a job in security, you will have to do both CCNA Routing and Switching and CCNA Security.

Responsibilities:

• Checking Security parameters in an organization,
• Creating policies for different processes in order to secure the network,
• Identify, Evaluate and Migrate Security risks, threats and vulnerabilities,
• System firewall, IDS and IPS management,
• Monitoring Security audits and different log messages,
• Investigate and escalate security breaches or unauthorized access and take proper action.

Key Skills:

7. Other Job roles: Many other job roles are also available depending on the CCNA Track. For example, if someone has good knowledge of wireless fundamentals, he can easily get the job on that basis. Other job titles are like Network Support Technician, Data center Associate, Video and Voice Engineers etc.

Key Skills and Responsibilities: 

Job responsibilities can vary according to the job role. This could be a mixture of two or more skills but Cisco Networking will be one of the essential skills. Even with the basic understanding of networks or we can say after doing CCNA Training / Certification but the candidate should have good practical knowledge about Routers, Switches and must have performed same practicals on real time devices , then one can easily get a job.

Note that CISCO recommends of having 1-3 years of experience before going for CCNP. It’s only because without experience, going for higher certification is of no use. We have seen a lot of inexperienced CCIE certified people who are unable to get the job because they can’t fit anywhere. They can’t or will not apply for entry/ intermediate level jobs and no one hires experts without experience. It is just like “You can read about driving a race car, even practice on a simulator. Will you be a good race driver?