Getting a Networking Job For Dummies

Introduction 1 About This Book1 Foolish Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part I: So You Want to Be a Networking Professional 5 Chapter 1: Working with Networks 7 Why Are Networks Important? 7 Skills and Activities in Networking Jobs 8 Managing network devices 9 Setting up remote access 9 Maintaining user accounts 9 Helping end users 9 Configuring firewalls 10 Monitoring antimalware consoles 10 Issuing authentication tokens 10 Setting up wireless networks 10 Configuring communications with business partners 11 Connecting storage devices 11 Managing telecommunications services 11 Setting up VoIP phones and voicemail 12 Pulling network cabling 12 Installing network devices in data centers and closets 12 Designing networks 12 Completing paperwork 13 Fixing things 13 Working with People 13 How Networking Fits in a High?]Tech Career Path 14 The Future Is Bright for Networking Jobs 16 Chapter 2: Understanding Networking Roles 17 Reviewing First Principles 17 Performing Essential Tasks in Networking 19 Navigating Networking Job Titles 20 Service desk analyst 20 Network administrator 21 Network engineer 21 Network architect 22 Network manager 22 Wireless network engineer 23 Telecommunications manager or specialist 24 Pre?]sales engineer 24 Getting Networking Experience Where You Are Now 25 Computer repair specialist 25 Webmaster 26 Software developer 26 Database administrator 26 Business analyst 27 Information security analyst 28 Project manager 28 IT auditor 29 Chapter 3: Knowing Your Networking 31 Appreciating First Principles 31 Recognizing design goals for the network 31 Appreciating the business objectives of the network 32 Reviewing the OSI Model 33 Exalting TCP/IP 34 Staying Local with LANs 35 Using wired LANs 36 Moving around with wireless LANs 38 Going Out with WANs 39 Buying service from LECs and CLECs 40 Considering the cloud and managed service 41 Accessing Wireless WANs 41 Going beyond texting on a cellphone 41 Cooking with a microwave connection 42 Circling around satellite communications 43 Chapter 4: Networking Concepts and Trends 45 Access Control 45 Basic concepts in access control 45 Emerging issues in access control 49 Telecommunications and Network Security 50 Basic concepts in telecommunications and network security 50 Network technologies 50 TCP/IP 54 Network security 55 Attacks and countermeasures 57 Emerging issues in telecommunications and network security 58 Cryptography 58 Basic concepts in cryptography 59 Emerging issues in cryptography 62 Computing Architecture and Design 62 Basic concepts in computing architecture and design 63 Cloud services 65 Emerging issues in computing architecture and design 66 IT Operations 66 Basic concepts in IT operations 66 Emerging issues in IT operations 70 Physical and Environmental Security 71 Basic concepts in physical and environmental security 72 Emerging issues in physical and environmental security 75 Regulations, Investigations, and Compliance 75 Basic concepts in regulations, investigations, and compliance 76 Emerging issues in regulations, investigations, and compliance 78 Factoring Nontechnical IT Issues 78 Outsourcing IT 78 Employees un?]telecommuting 79 Part II: Having the Right Stuff 81 Chapter 5: Getting the Necessary Education and Training 83 Off?]the?]Record Training 84 Studying with self?]direction 84 On?]the?]job training 85 Viewing prerecorded college courses 86 Learning through Higher Education 89 Undergraduate programs 90 Graduate degrees 92 Formal study at an online university 92 Adult education 96 Pursuing a Nontraditional Education 97 Military education 98 For?]profit training companies 98 Maintaining Your Networking Knowledge 99 Chapter 6: Becoming Certifiable 101 Planning for a Certification 101 Deciding Which Certifications Are Right for You 102 Choosing a Vendor?]Specific Networking Certification 104 Cisco certifications 104 Microsoft 107 Juniper Networks 109 Palo Alto Networks 111 Check Point 112 Red Hat 113 Other vendor?]specific certifications 113 Winning with a Third?]Party Networking Certification 114 CompTIA 114 Network Professional Association 117 Planet3 Wireless 117 Earning a Vendor?]Neutral Security Certification 118 International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2 118 ISACA 121 SANS Institute 122 Earning Other Relevant Certifications 124 Chapter 7: Making Your Own Way 125 Informal Education in Networking 126 Setting Up Your Own Lab 126 Equipment 127 Operating systems 128 Virtualization 129 Volunteering 129 Working on the Side 130 On?]the?]Job Training 131 Part III: Finding a Job with the Right Organization 133 Chapter 8: Working for a Networking Solutions Provider 135 Working in Sales as a Pre?]Sales Engineer 135 Rolling Up Your Sleeves as an Implementation Engineer 137 Helping Customers in Technical Support 138 Watching the Fort for a Managed Service Provider 139 Chapter 9: Working as an In?]House Networking Professional 141 Living Your Destiny 141 Working in the Private Sector 142 Industry regulations 142 Comparing private versus public companies 143 Supporting company goals and objectives 144 One Size Doesn't Fit All: Small and Large Businesses 144 Chaos versus Calm: Growth, Mergers, and Acquisitions 145 Working in Global Enterprises 146 Working for a Nonprofit Organization 147 Chapter 10: Serving in the Public Sector or Academia 149 Working for a Federal, State, or Local Agency 149 Public service 150 Transparency 150 The glacial pace of change 151 Leadership 151 Tenure 152 Regulations 152 Working for a Military or Defense Contractor 153 Going Back to School 154 Chapter 11: Living on the Edge with a Startup 155 Doing More With Less 156 Building Virtual Infrastructure in the Cloud 157 Experiencing the Razor?]Sharp Edge 158 Finding Startup Jobs 159 Is A Startup Right For You? 160 Chapter 12: Life as a Consultant 163 Is Consulting Right for You? 163 Consulting workload 164 Appearance and approach 165 Working for a Consulting Firm 166 Consulting firm processes 166 Subject matter variety 167 Working in pre?]sales 168 Going It Alone as an Independent Consultant 168 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Consulting 170 Part IV: Getting Hired! 171 Chapter 13: Branding Yourself for Your Dream Career 173 Meeting People 174 Business Networking with LinkedIn 176 Photo 177 Headline 178 Background 178 Connections 179 Recommendations 179 Updates 180 Groups 180 Jobs 181 Using LinkedIn successfully 181 Networking through Facebook 182 Facebook profile and timeline 182 Facebook groups 183 Facebook company pages 183 Tweeting with Twitter 183 Setting up your Twitter profile 184 Tweeting 184 Using Twitter successfully 184 Starting a Blog 185 Setting up a blog 185 Blog services 186 Networking blogs 186 Using and maintaining your blog 187 Writing Articles and E?]Books 188 Writing for the reader 188 Finding an outlet 189 Segregating Your Personal and Professional Lives 190 Working with Recruiters 193 Chapter 14: Creating a Winning Resume 195 The Basics of a Great Resume 195 Heading 196 Summary 196 Employment history 196 Education 197 Training and certifications 198 Skills 198 Other sections 199 Formatting Your Resume 201 Soft copy 201 Hard copy 202 Cleaning up metadata 202 Tailoring Your Resume 203 Organizing your resumes 203 Customizing resume content 204 Plagiarizing 204 Types of Resumes 205 Chronological 205 Functional 206 Combination 207 What Not to Put in Your Resume 207 Examples of Winning Resumes 208 Chapter 15: Getting Attention with Your Cover Letter 213 Cover Letter Scenarios 214 Essential Elements of the Cover Letter 215 The traditional cover letter 215 Cover letters with applicant?]tracking systems 217 Cover letters for referrals and recruiters 220 Generic replies to cover letters 221 Chapter 16: Bringing Your Resume to Life: The Interview 223 Knowing Why Interviews Are Important 223 Preparing for the Interview 224 Preparing yourself psychologically 224 Investigating the corporate culture 225 Preparing for the first impression 226 Preparing to say what interviewers want to hear 227 Preparing to hear what you want to hear 229 Types of Interviews and Tips for Each 229 Open?]ended interview 230 Technical interview 230 Behavioral interview 232 Panel interview 233 Confrontational interview 233 Your Turn to Ask Questions 234 Focusing on the Goal235 Writing a Thank?]You Letter 235 Chapter 17: Becoming a Star Employee 239 Onboarding and Orientation 240 Understanding the IT department 240 Understanding the rest of your organization 241 Looking and becoming competent 241 Moving Forward after the Honeymoon 242 Developing professional skills 242 Enhancing your technical skills 243 Acquiring positive personal attributes 244 Part V: The Part of Tens 247 Chapter 18: Ten Great Answers for Your Interviewer 249 Preparing for the Unprepared 249 Whacking Softball Question Number 2 250 Responding to the Tried?]and?]True Standard 251 Outlining Soft Skills 252 Explaining Your Motivation 252 Determining Whether You Are Trouble 252 Predicting Your Future 253 Not Looking like a Job Jumper 254 Describing Team Leadership Skills 254 Defusing the Financial Land Mine 255 Chapter 19: Ten Great Questions to Ask Your Interviewer 257 How Has Your Department Contributed to the Success of the Company? 258 What Are Some of the Biggest Challenges Your Department Is Facing? 259 How Would You Describe the Company's Culture ? 260 What Do You Like About Working Here? 260 Can You Describe How We Would Be Working Together? 261 What Is the Makeup of the Team or Organization? 261 What Are the Key Traits of Your Most Successful Employees? 262 How Would You Define Success During the First 90 Days? 262 Do You Have Any Concerns About Me That I Can Address Now? 263 What Is Your Next Step in the Selection Process? 263 Chapter 20: Ten Alternatives to a Regular Job 265 Homing In on Your Home 265 Becoming a Good Neighbor 266 Consulting in Your Community 266 Engaging in Politics 267 Closing the Digital Divide 267 Bartering Your Services 267 Inspiring Others 268 Enabling Users Groups 268 Contributing to Open Source 269 Mentoring Up?]and?]Coming Networkers 270 Chapter 21: Ten Networking Books for Your Professional Library 271 Knowing Your Way around a PC 271 Building Your Network 272 Visualizing the TCP/IP Protocol 273 Getting Serious with Cisco Routing 273 Remembering Juniper Networks 274 Opening Up to Linux 274 Closing Up Network Access with Security 274 Beating a Dead Horse 274 Going Mobile 275 Floating in the Cloud 275 Glossary 277 Index 305