#Unemployed #NetworkEngineer #CCNA #NetworkAdministration #JobSearch #Python #CareerAdvice
🚀 What to do when unemployed as a Network Engineer
Are you feeling stuck in your job search after being unemployed for 2 months as a network engineer? It can be frustrating and disheartening, especially if you’re not sure what your next move should be. However, with the right approach and some strategic steps, you can improve your skills and make yourself more competitive in the job market. Here are some suggestions and tips to help guide you towards your next career move.
## Assess Your Skills and Knowledge Gaps
One of the first things to do when you’re unemployed and looking for a new job is to assess your skills and knowledge gaps. It’s important to identify where you may be lacking and what areas you need to improve on to make yourself more marketable as a network engineer. Consider the following:
– Evaluate your technical skills, such as your knowledge of layer 3 protocols and firewalls.
– Identify any certifications or courses that could enhance your skill set, such as Cisco CCNA (2019) or a Network Administration program.
## Develop Your Skills
Given your limited exposure to layer 3 protocols and firewalls, now is the perfect time to devote some of your energy to developing these skills. You mentioned that you are learning Python, which is a great step in the right direction, as it can be beneficial for network automation and scripting.
Consider enrolling in a certification program or online course that focuses on layer 3 protocols and firewalls. There are plenty of resources available both for free and for a fee, such as CCNA training programs or tutorials on network security. Additionally, seek out opportunities to practice these skills through hands-on projects and real-world scenarios.
## Network and Seek Mentorship
Networking is crucial when it comes to finding job opportunities and advancing your career. Attend industry events, join professional networking groups, and engage with other professionals in the field. You may come across valuable connections or potential job leads that could help you land your next role as a network engineer.
Moreover, seeking mentorship from experienced professionals can provide you with guidance and support as you navigate through your career. Reach out to individuals who have expertise in layer 3 protocols and firewalls, and ask for their advice on how to advance your skills and make yourself more appealing to employers.
## Consider Entry-Level Positions
If you find that your current skill set is not competitive enough for the roles you are pursuing, consider applying for entry-level positions that align with your career goals. While this may require some flexibility and patience, it can provide you with valuable experience and the opportunity to develop the skills you need to advance in your career as a network engineer.
## Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
When applying for jobs, make sure to tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the positions you’re interested in. Emphasize any recent training, certifications, or projects that demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and skill development, particularly in areas like layer 3 protocols and firewalls.
## Stay Positive and Persistent
Lastly, it’s important to stay positive and persistent throughout your job search. Finding a new job can be a challenging and time-consuming process, but with dedication and the right approach, you can secure an opportunity that aligns with your career aspirations. Keep learning, networking, and applying for positions, and remember that perseverance often pays off in the end.
In conclusion, being unemployed for 2 months as a network engineer presents an opportunity for you to assess your skills, improve your knowledge, and position yourself for success in your job search. By focusing on developing your technical skills, networking with industry professionals, and maintaining a positive attitude, you can increase your competitiveness and secure the job you desire. Good luck!
Remember to leverage your years of experience as a network engineer and your Associates in Network Administration as valuable assets in your job search. With dedication and the right strategy, you can overcome your current challenges and advance your career in the field of network engineering.
As someone in the job and interviewed multiple times from the interviewer perspective, I can tell you that I personally look for layer 3 knowledge. I want to know what you know about OSPF and BGP more than anything and I ask candidates general questions on if they know either of those protocols first. If they say yes, I ask them follow ups about the protocols they say they know.
For example, if someone says they know OSPF but not a lot of BGP I’ll ask specific questions on OSPF as a follow-up to see how much they know. If they know neither protocols, I’m done asking questions and allow the other network engineers to ask theirs. I’m the router guy where I work so it’s what I ask. Always has been this way ever since I started learning layer 3 as best I could. I’ve been the routing guy ever since because everyone seems to need and crave an engineer with that knowledge.
Now the good news is that you can legitimately learn these protocols from udemy courses or YouTube even. And YouTube is free. There are TONS of videos walking you through these protocols and hitting all the high points. One week of watching them and you can talk about them in an interview. Even if you don’t lab them and admit not having a whole lot of experience with them, I give you credit. I care about what you want to learn and your drive to get there. If you watch videos and say that you are watching them and practicing wherever possible via labs, I am excited and give you major points in the interview.
Good luck and keep pressing forward brother. You’ll get there. Python is great but protocol knowledge is everything. You can’t automate what you don’t understand. Just my 2 cents on that. I’d stop looking at automation super hard and learn your way up the OSI layers. If you know layer 2 like you say, practice the routing and then move up.
Also, feel free to DM me if you have any questions. You got this!
how can you be a network engineer and not be expose to these? wow… 5 years…. L3 is network protocols right?
You were looking in Q4. Traditionally, that is the freeze in many corporate fields.
First week of February is when it starts again. I’m already getting calls.
Take a weekend break and recharge. Monday, start by refreshing your resumes on your websites. (they have a freshness timer on them, this is important to get on the top of the list)
Technical Project Management? I have seen these gigs fully remote and pay decent. You can work on your skills in the meantime…
Start upskilling in the cloud. Choose one cloud (AWS/Azure/Google) and complete the ‘fundamentals’ certifications. Skill stack from there.
Hey there,
I recommend dedicating more time to your studies. Additionally, I’ve started a YouTube channel where I regularly upload videos. Feel free to check it out and subscribe: NetPrepare on YouTube.
https://youtube.com/@netprepare
The time-frame could be part of the issue. December is a pretty tough month to be looking, for both fiscal reasons and because most admin types are probably checked out due to the holidays.
Your CCNA says 2019. Did you do your CEs or did you let it expire?
Are you getting interviews?
If not, then probably start looking at your resume
Interviews with no callbacks?
If not maybe freshen up on your knowledge and labing to feel more confident.
If you havent touched much layer 3 start with the book knowledge then move to labing. Lab layer 3 until you feel more confident, then lab layer 3 some more. Keeping labing layer 3 until you either get in a shop with layer 3 exposure or you can carry it over to labing for the NP
You’ve identified your deficiency, don’t let it discourage you.
there is too much competition in you skill sets / market. There are gazillion ccna and network engineer. You need to stand out from the crowd. HOW?
learn new skills. Learn Cloud. Get the certification or at least study to understand what does a cloud network engineer do? not so much difference but easy to sell . Write in your resume Cloud Engineer or Cloud Network Engineer. Brush up your skills in one cloud , Azure, AWS or GCP. this is what market is looking.
Every failed interview is an opportunity to learn what you’re missing. After a while, all the questions sounds the same and you’re better because you learned from your wrong answers
I’d probably start with getting a job.
I’d say double down and get your CCNP. Even just studying for it can give you some cover for not knowing some things as in an interview it looks much better to say “in my previous role I exclusively dealt with layer 2 (or whatever) but I’m currently studying for CCNP so I know xyz about this”
Make sure you can give detail on what you worked on before as well. If someone tells me they are the switching person or wireless or whatnot I expect them to be really sharp on that area and know theory behind it as well. I’ve interviewed folks who deflect questions by saying I’m the expert on x so I ask them a question on that and all I get is we configured it this way at my last job (no theory, no high level design why they did thing, etc) which makes me think they don’t actually know things and were basically just mostly blindly implementing things
I’m very big on python and networking but to me layer 3 is basically core modern networking so it’s probably the best use of your time to sharpen up on. Firewalls aren’t as core since it can be seen as a different skill and can be on separate teams but it’s also fairly valuable to know.
You should go back and learn L3 and L2 and VXLAN and EVPN etc… When I get interview my network skills are challenged first, and then PYTHON. Python is good to automate, yet that is not the main reason you’d be hired.
With experience degree and CCNA I’m thinking resume issue. Are you getting any bites on applications?
Go get with a headhunter or recruiting firm.
CCNP or Azure Networking will round you out. Two highly sought after skills many companies need. And if it is your poor interviewing, the more niche your skillset, the less your people skills matter.
What other niche of network engineering are you in?
Are you a layer 2 person? Optical? 5 years without touching routing and firewalls seems really odd.
Maybe target a cert. Its pretty easy to get all the resources to study and lab without spending money. In the meantime work with some recruiters to try to get you in somewhere, even if its temporary.
Post your resume, dog. It’s good that you’re learning Python. Get some cloud certs too if you can.
What part of the country are you in?
Go to India and get hired by US-based company.
Learn how to code get some cloud certs and get good with bash scripting and the different OS CLIs I find it weird how you have no experience with protocols and firewalls as a network engineer with 5 years of experience.
How the heck do you have 5 years and little exposure to L3 and firewalls?!
Also are you only looking for remote?