Getting a networking job for dummies

Introduction 1
About This Book 1
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