Be a Network Field Technician Follow Career Guide

Should I become a network technician?

Network technicians, also known as IT support specialists, monitor the day-to-day operations of a company's computer network. These technicians can also help you install the hardware and software. They must communicate with customers and other network technicians to develop and implement new security measures to ensure the security of all systems and data. Technicians in this field help solve IT problems and determine the best course of action to meet the technology needs of the organization.

The requirements to embark on this career vary, but many employers require a bachelor's degree. some positions are available only with an associate's degree or post-secondary courses. Related fields of study include information science, computer science, engineering or a similar program. This is a beginner position that does not generally require experience and on-the-job training is common.

Network technicians must have the following key skills: writing, speaking, listening, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, ability to use desktop communications, operating systems, backup and recovery management software configuration and experience of computer equipment such as hard drive bays and networks. analyzers.

In 2015, the median annual salary for a computer support specialist was $ 51,470, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Career steps
So, what are the steps to becoming a network technician? We will take a look.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's degree
Students can prepare a Network Technician position in several ways. However, the BLS notes that a bachelor's degree is a common requirement. Bachelor programs in Computer Science or Information Science provide students with essential computer and network skills to work as a network technician. After building a solid foundation in general education subjects, such as English, literature, mathematics, and science, students begin computer-based courses. These courses cover a variety of topics, including programming languages, data structures, computer architecture, discrete mathematics, computer networks, statistics, and computing.

To improve your chances of success in this step, you can think about:
Go on an internship. Graduation may require students to complete an approved internship. Under the supervision of experienced professionals, students gain hands-on experience in computer network maintenance, repairs, network performance monitoring, and other computer skills. In some cases, trainees may be able to establish contacts with future full-time employers.
It is also important to:

Stay informed with computer technology. As IT trends and technologies evolve and evolve, it is important for students to focus on the latest developments. This can include researching trends and reading industry publications. Students can also interact with their peers and teachers to become familiar with the latest trends.

Step 2: Complete training
Network technicians typically undergo on-the-job training, which can take three months or more, depending on the position. During this training, technicians can work alongside information technology (IT) professionals, such as network systems administrators. Technicians can learn about equipment used by the organization and the system to interact with customers. Some technicians continue their training throughout their career to keep abreast of technological advances.

To help you succeed at this stage, you can also:
Continue voluntary certification. Technicians who wish to obtain voluntary certification from various organizations can demonstrate to employers that they have skills in network systems and computer hardware. Certification is generally available from software and computer product vendors. Obtaining certification in many of the most common software or products can help make a candidate more valuable to a potential employer.
Step 3: Consider a graduate degree
Pursuing a graduate degree can help career advancement in the IT field. Master's programs in computer science are available. These programs are generally more focused on research and subject-independent exploration than licensing programs.

Higher level courses include algorithm study, artificial intelligence, software engineering and computer theory. Students in master's programs may also have the opportunity to choose a specialization stream, so that they can concentrate on the field of computer science that interests them the most.

To recap, with advanced training in computer or computer and on-the-job training, you can become a network technician, who earns about $ 51,000 a year to install or modify computer hardware and software, as well as to monitor the company's computer network.