Getting a Networking Job For Dummies

Chapter 2

Understanding Networking Roles

In This Chapter

• Understanding the responsibilities of networking in a company
• Exploring the array or networking jobs
• Stepping from a non-networking job to a networking one

Modern organizations depend on their computer systems to serve customers and reduce costs. The most susceptible part of any IT system is its computer network. Whatever your official title may be in the networking realm, your goal is to create and maintain a service that keeps the organization up and functioning.

This goal involves a number of responsibilities, each with its own job titles. This chapter describes the generally accepted usage for job titles. However, don't be surprised if your employer takes some poetic license and uses a slightly different title or job description.

Reviewing First Principles

The most basic reason for an organization to have a computer network is so that employees can collaborate; access relevant information stored on other computers, both local and remote; and engage with customers. The ideal network is so reliable that users can ignore it. Networking professionals get a lot of unwelcome attention the minute things do not function. The following are some reasons why networking professionals are needed:

• Companies grow. A company should have resources in place for new employees so that they can be productive fast. These resources may include a physical network connection, wireless network access and appropriate access to the IT system ...