Network Administrator Interview

Pex

Banned
Aug 21, 2003
1,161
0
0
For one of my writing classes, I am doing a paper on everything network administrators.
Recently, I wrote a summary letter to my instructor telling her about the stuff I will do for this report. Here is the main part of that letter:



The topic of my report will be describing the job of a network administrator.

The purpose of this report will be to outline the life and duties of a network administrator. Detailed descriptions of day-to-day routines and problems the administrator encounters will be logged and analyzed.

In order to get the most realistic picture of this profession, I will interview 2 people currently in this field. I will ask these people questions pertaining to the job. Some of these questions will include the subjects of education, experience, certifications, and the status of the industry.

This report will be written for whoever is interested in pursuing such a profession as this one. Will this not only apply to potential future administrators, but also can be used as a template for most current entry-level positions.

My research will primarily come from the first-hand experience of people working in the field. Other research will be collected from the Internet, magazines, and newspaper articles.

I look forward to completing this report because I hope to become an administrator one day. This will give me a taste of what to expect.




I've already gathered first-hand knowledge from people already in the field. See the part in the letter, which says where I'd be getting my research? That's where you Internet guys and gals come in. So please, answer these few questions so I can collect more information for this field.

Network Administrator Questions

  • What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.
  • What is your education?
  • What certifications did you earn?
  • What is your salary?
  • What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?
  • What is your experience?
  • Do you enjoy your job?
  • What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?
  • What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?
  • Any advice for a college graduate?

You don?t have to answer any questions you don?t want to, but the more information I collect, the better. Anything else you?d like to add, please do. Thanks to anyone who answers this.
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
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  • What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.
Implementor
  • What is your education?
BS in Psychology (easiest degree)
  • What certifications did you earn?
CCNA, MCSE, MCSA
  • What is your salary?
70k
  • What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?
If you have a job, hold on to it.
  • What is your experience?
Experience with what?
  • Do you enjoy your job?
I Love my job.
  • What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?
Fixing printer issues. Surf the internet.
  • What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?
Surf the internet.
  • Any advice for a college graduate?
It's not the education, it's who you know when you're trying to get a job. (most of the time)
 

SaigonK

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
7,482
3
0
www.robertrivas.com
Network Administrator Questions


What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.

Intermediate Network Engineer


What is your education?

Two years of tech shoo, two years of college.

What certifications did you earn?

MCP, CNA, NCA

What is your salary?
$50,000

What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?

It's changing more each day..


What is your experience?

Manage over 180 Windows Servers, 80 Novell servers, 11,000 node LAN, WAN, VPN, Wireless, Citrix Metafram farm (30 servers). You name it. :)

Do you enjoy your job?

Very much so...

What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?

Too long to state...

What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?

Everything I do now, and if not then a clear drive to learn how...

Any advice for a college graduate?

Real world experience is a must, if you dont have a job in IT, and you want to be a Sys admin or Network admin, setup a lab at home..hands on is a great way to learn.
 

Pex

Banned
Aug 21, 2003
1,161
0
0
thanks guys...what i mean from experience is how long have you been doing it for.
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
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Originally posted by: Pex
thanks guys...what i mean from experience is how long have you been doing it for.

Six years. I started out building servers for WAN deployment.
 

Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
14
81
What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.


System Administrator

What is your education?


College Dropout

What certifications did you earn?


CCNA, MCSE, MCSA

What is your salary?

80K
What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?


I have it made at my Job.

What is your experience?


20 years
Do you enjoy your job?


I Love my job.

What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?


Trying to stay awake,Assigning jobs to tech peeons, surfing the net.

What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?


Surf the internet.

Any advice for a college graduate?


It's not the education,. I was smarter then most of the people coming out of college so natually I excelled.


Sysadmin
 

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.
Systems Administrator

What is your education?
Associates in business

What certifications did you earn?
MCP, MVP and a half-way completed CCNA

What is your salary?
Rather not discuss online, but not as much as Pepsei (lookout I'm hot on your heels)

What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?
Unless you are genuinly serious about doing this stuff and you enjoy it stay out

What is your experience?
7+ years in IT (specilization varies from web development to support, etc.)

Do you enjoy your job?
Yes

What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?
building/managing/monitoring servers & desktops, administering the network infrastructure

What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?
Have the ability to learn constantly, the only important think you learn in college is how to learn (okay and maybe a few of the basics like TCP/IP are good too)

Any advice for a college graduate?
regardless of how well you did in college you arent going to be taken very seriously until you have "real world" experience. If you havent done internships, etc. than be prepared to start with an entry-level job (i.e. Helpdesk, PC tech., etc.)
 

scauffiel

Senior member
Aug 11, 2000
455
0
0
What is your current job title?(May vary...Sys admin/sys op/network admin/etc.

Director of Information Technology

What is your education?

Education? Grew up with computers, some admin work in the Navy, Associates Degree in Network Admin and Programming, various 'add-on' courses, lots and lots of 'playing'. I've got seven (IIRC) courses to test for to get my BS in CS; just don't have the time for it.

What certifications did you earn?

A+, N+, MCP, MCSA, and one test shy of MCSE

What is your salary?

70K

What is your opinion on the status of the computer industry?

Flat out too much to learn! I spend half my day doing and the other half learning - it never stops, there is always something new just over the horizon. Half of the people IN the IT industry want to be here, the other half just want coin.

What is your experience?

Grew up building and programming my own from the Timex Sinclair through the Commodore 64 up through Windows Server 2003. Ten years in the Navy; four years at my current company where I AM the IT department and either have to know it or be able to 'get it' quickly.

Do you enjoy your job?

Most of the time I love it. However, not being a people person, I finally hired someone to deal with the users. :) I get to set the pace, I get to set the direction, I get to buy and try new gear... Yeah, I can make a career here. :)

What are some of your day-to-day job duties and tasks?

System backup and restore, network and server performance, software install, Exchange/email config, maintenance and backup; hardware removal and install, upgrades both in hardware and software, graphics manipulation of pictures of products, video of products, internet/website developement, ERP software implementation for our manufacturing side of the house, advertising, internet logging, implementation of group policies, admin of our phone and voice mail system, security cameras... I could go on and on...

What would you expect a college graduate to know how to do?

I expect you to know how to get to work on time consistently. I expect you to know that you are required to work a full day. I expect you to know that partying until 0300 and dragging your barely awake ass into work is not acceptable. I expect you to know that nothing worth having is easy or free. I expect you to know about deadlines and I expect you to know that if you need help, you can, and had better, ask. I expect you to know that you'd better be doing your job to the best of your ability... every... day.

Any advice for a college graduate?

Well, let's say that when I'm looking to hire someone to work for me, this is what I'm thinking: You'd better want it. I didn't get anything handed to me - you won't. I'm looking for talent. I'm not looking to babysit, I'm not looking for someone that wants to ask me a question every thirty seconds. Think for yourself; you may not know an answer - but come to me with intelligent, thought out questions. I don't care that you think you can express yourself by having your face pierced twenty times or by wearing baggy lame clothing - you can, don't get me wrong, just not here with me. You represent the boss, or the company, first and then you represent me. I want you to know where and how to find answers to your own questions. I don't know everything, where do you think I go to find answers? Sorry about the tangent, but in reality I'd like to think that college would teach you how to act as an adult.

Not to act bitter or angry, but I've recently gone through a bit of a hassle in that one of the VP's sons was hired and unceremoniously dumped on ME. Turns out, the kid DOES have some talent, too bad it's in painting. I don't need a painter. He's also in a band. I don't need a wanna-be rock star. He also likes to surf the net and talk to his girlfriend on his cellphone during the day; at least a dozen times during the day. I'm sure her supervisor is happy too. He staggers in at 0840 most days (work starts at 0800), he's late getting back from a long lunch every day, and he's out the door like a shot at 1630. The worst part? He thinks nobody sees any of this.

But that's probably just me. :D

Steve