Action research paper on how to get a Network Administrator Job

Iteration 2: Gaining Real Time Experience

Plan

Real time experience improves on the competency of the network administrator as the personnel gets equipped with the first-hand skills and knowledge of handling the actual tasks that relate to network administration. The iteration of gaining the real time experience came after a good time of understanding the networking concepts. To make sure that the iteration is well developed the job seeker organized the action in distinctive tiers.

Primarily the network administrator candidate began with addressing the experienced challenges in the earlier iteration, so that are not repeated. The actions relating the process included the misallocation of the time to the activities, poor planning for consultations. The process of gaining real-time experience will require the consultations, and this requires the addressing of the early mistakes. The second segment of the iteration involved the studying of the networking tools which was undertaken in the nearest networking firm where Mr. XXXX works as the assistant network engineer. The process was to have the first-hand understanding and working with the available and different networking tools. The process took me a period of 4 days.

The third section of the iteration was the implementing of some task as assigned by the internship supervisor within the TechBiz It Solutions Company. The process was undertaken within 5 days where the network administrator candidate performed a short internship. During the internship, the network administrator got the chance to attend one seminar which was conducted for two days.

The last fourth segment of the iteration was the consultations to the network administrator professionals. The experts and professionals provided guidance on how to approach technical tasks and challenging issues that result within the existing network.

Action

To make sure that the project of understanding how to get the network administrator job is well done, the network administrator candidate had to address the early challenges. The follow-up action of the real-time experience was done with reflection to avoiding the earlier challenges. The solution was that consultation gets done in parts by ensuring that single task is handled at ago, and task was allocated time stamps according to the weight of the required knowledge to gain from the same. The network administrator candidate had to kick off with a deep studying of the different networking tools. The study was undertaken in Naloki IT Company. The process was accomplished by downloading some documentations and tutorials about the tools to have their understanding. This marked the early steps of the process. I finalized the study by physically trying to use the tools on its own, however; the network administrator candidate was on the monitor of the friend MR. XXXXX.

The network administrator candidate moved to undertaking an internship within the TechBiz It solutions firm. At this point, there was the actual undertaking of real networking tasks under the supervision of Eng. XXXX. The network administrator candidate was assigned some task that ranged from simple to complex tasks towards the end of the internship program. The tasks were provided with the possible solutions which were implemented by the candidate. During the internship, the network administrator candidate attended a networking seminar whose objective was about the network security.

The seminar provided a good understanding and ideas on how to implement and enhance security within an organization. After then, the network administrator candidate went ahead to have the guidance of the professionals. Questions were asked basing on the internship tasks that were hard where the professionals responded by provided the appropriate solutions.

Observation

The process of acquiring the real-time experience was enthusing and educative as much was learned and gained. It was essential that the network administrator candidate began with rectifying and making sure that the earlier challenges and mistakes are not repeated. The mind provided a good preparation of the process as the operations were done accordingly and within the designated time. The network administrator candidate began with the studying of the different networking tools ad it was outlined that there are many networking tools that are specialized for monitoring and analysis of the network. The tools provided a good way of diagnosing problems and better methods of addressing the issues. Some of the studied tools and experienced included the Nagios, Microsoft network monitor, OpenNMS, Advanced IP Scanner, Capsa Free, and Fidler. Other tools included the networkMiner, Pandora FMS, Zenoss Core, PRTG Network Monitor Freeware, and the Dude, Slunk and Angry IP Scanner and many others (Tabona, 2015). The tools were well understood through the downloading of their use documentations and tutorials. The real use was with the assistance of the assistant network administrator of the TechBiz IT solutions company.

The experience was facilitated with the undertaking of internship within the TechBiz IT Solutions. The internship involved the undertaking of some assigned tasks. The tasks were done accordingly as the supervisor provided the network administrator candidate with the possible solutions to the identified issues. The procedures for implementing tasks were provided. The seminar provided the knowledge and a good understanding of the importance of security enhancement within an organization. From the seminar teaching, a network should be well protected with appropriate techniques of restricting accessibility, protecting the networking devices, using firewalls to filter the traffic and provide possible solutions against spoofing, snooping and other threats.

Reflection

Real time experience provided the first-hand experience of working with the most applied tools during the undertaking of the networking duties. The process was indeed necessary to get the network administrator candidate equipped with the first-hand knowledge, skills and competency of providing network engineer duties. The iteration was developed in the way that every anticipated skill is gained. The studying of the tools provided a good way of understanding the different ways that a networking tool can get applied. The process was accomplished since the network administrator candidate was under the guidance of the MR. XXXX. The assistant network administrator who was dedicated to making sure that the candidate gets the required information. The internship program acted as the climax of the process as it got the network administrator candidate equipped with the most required information.

The iteration development was once challenged by the fact that consultation program was not well adapted to provide the required information. It was realized that some of the professionals did not provide the solutions according to the requirements as they approached the tasks in a more advanced level that got the network administrator candidate with no understanding. It was defined that the network administrator candidate did consult many times over a single task thus less skills gained. As the network administrator candidate prepares for the networking job it was appropriate that it gets to acquire the necessary certifications and skills of networking. Therefore, it moved to acquire the required certification and skills.

Iteration 3: Acquiring Certifications and Additional Skills

Plan

Once more job seekers win the opportunities by proving to have the required certifications and skills that will get the company to acquire the required personnel for the networking purposes. Certifications come after gathering the basic knowledge of the networking. The education aims at equipping the candidate with the most required skills and competency of fitting to many jobs within the market. The iteration of acquiring the certifications and additional skills was developed in different phases. The initial step of the iteration was the undertaking of the one to one meetings with the networking professionals to seek advice on the potential certifications that will suit the network administrator candidate. Subsequently, the network administrator candidate was also required to have guidance on the skills that are required to facilitate the undertaking of networking related tasks.

The second phase of the iteration was developed through undertaking a personal research to have the certification before enrolling for some other certifications in the nearby certified training institutions. The studying did involve the use of the downloaded tutorials, presentations, and slides. The process took some time, a period of 14 days. It required having the early qualifications of diploma education or the higher education qualifications. During the studying, the process focused on the understanding of the networking tools, and other relates aspects that any network.

Finally, the last iteration segment included the assessment and the seeking of the first-hand use of the studied skills. The purpose of the section is to get the network administrator candidate equipped with the required competency and first-hand power of working with the tools and deploying the skills. Therefore, every action was taken with its consideration.

Action

Certifications are critical such that it requires the undertaking a certification in the area or the field that the network administrator candidate has the passion. As much as the candidate is aiming and seeking the job as the network administrator, it must have some strength in one selected area. It required that the network administrator candidate has undertaken a keen and thorough consultation to make sure that appropriate certification and additional skills are acquired. The network administrator candidate began by conducting a one to one meeting with selected professions. At this point, it began with the identification of the potential professionals that stood to provide the required information. Mr. XXXXX and Mr. XXXX working in TechBiz IT Solutions Company and Naloki It firm respectively. The consultation began with the simple understanding of the critical requirements that a network administrator must have regarding certifications, qualifications, and skills to fully fit to work with large firms. The second section of the interview was the guidance to the network administrator candidate about the appropriate certification and skills to get equipped during the remaining session.

The network administrator candidate assessed the situation and decided on the certification to pursue. In acquiring the certifications, the network administrator candidate began with attending the seminars and workshops that had been advertised for the purpose of getting young networking interested personnel to attend. It focused on the government sponsored seminars and workshops. In facilitation to that the network administrator candidate enrolled for a certification within the Chicago University in Cisco certification of CCNA. Information was acquired, and the network administrator candidate moved to assessing the acquired knowledge and additional skills which were accomplished by having a real first-hand applying of knowledge and skills.

Observation

Acquiring of certification and additional skills required that the process gets defined with a good plan that will outline the appropriate activities. The activities were well implemented by the fact that the network administrator candidate had a good plan for the same. The requirement was that the network administrator candidates gets the certifications that will have them an added advantage over others regarding academic qualifications, skills, and competency as well. Other than the actions, the selection of the professional was influencing as the personnel provided the first-hand information required.

The network administrator candidate began with conducting a one to one meeting with the selected professionals so as that the best selection of certification is undertaken. During the interviews, the professions provided the advice that was building to my career in the networking field. It was outlined that the network administrator candidate must have a good understanding of network security as the most challenging tasks and problems of networks are related to security. While attending the seminars and the workshops, it was the observation of the network administrator candidate that there was an emphasis on securing the networks to ensure that availability efficiency, confidentiality, and integrity of the information being transmitted over the network.

The seminars were educative. The network administrator candidate had to have a personal assessment which was facilitated with the undertaking of networking tasks on its own. The aim was the assessment of the skills acquired during the entire process.

Reflection

As a network administrator job seeker, it was essential to have the network administrator candidates get equipped with the necessary knowledge and additional skills. The certification and additional skills focused on acquiring a good understanding of different networking tools, their applications, and techniques of approaching challenges and tasks. It got defined that the process was conducted on a basis of making sure that appropriate knowledge is acquired. The process was successfully conducted as the planning was done well and according to the requirements.

The initial task of consulting the two professionals provided a good understanding of the tools that I was to master basing on the fact that most network administrator candidates’ likes to go the way of switching and routing which is the basis of networking. In that case, the tools studied were focused on the network analysis, troubleshooting, and monitoring (Mobley, 2011). The professionals provided the necessary information that later got the network administrator candidate decided to pursue the Cisco certification of CCNA. The process of studying was also done properly as the network administrator candidate attended several seminars and workshops that upon finishing the sessions, candidates were assessed and awarded some certification papers. The idea of attending seminars and workshops was essential as it provides a good acquisition of the current trends in the network field.

The process was only challenged with the limitation of time. Otherwise, everything was accomplished according to the plan. By this time, the network administrator candidate would have acquired and equipped with the required knowledge, skills and experience and it stands to take up tasks without supervision. As a procedure of acquiring a job, the network administrator candidate should then prepare for the interviews that it has been invited.

Iteration 4: Preparing For the Interview

Plan

Interviews are the determining process that the network administrator candidate will get through before the network administration job is offered. Several activities must be undertaken in the preparation for the interview and overall preparing for the interview. The iteration reflects son the last stage of acquiring the job. Then the process was developed through several phases. The first tier of the iteration was the application of the network administration jobs. The process was outlined with some other activities of understanding the requirements of the job advertised as well as the potential employers. The stage acts as the opening phase of the preparation for the interview. The preparation comes only upon being invited for an interview after applying.

The second tier of the process defined the starting activities of preparing for the interview. According to the network administrator candidate, the primary action was the updating of the curriculum vitae to make sure that all required and possessing skills are included as well as the academic qualification. The follow-up action within the same tier will be researching on the Company that has invited the network administrator candidate for an interview. The research should be fully involving.

The third part of the iteration will be the reviewing of the networking basics as a matter of revising the skills and the experience in practical application. The phase begins with defining the networking practices. Within the same iteration tier, the network administrator candidate will rehearse on the possible and common questions that are regularly asked in the interviews. Therefore, research was also required to have the task accomplished. Lastly, the appearance was addressed by preparing the attire as well as the overall presentation before the panel.

Action

The preparation for the interview process was defining with relatively involving activities. The network administrator candidate began with searching for the advertised network administration related jobs. The process was to provide a good model of standing the chance to make applications to the several companies that advertised the post. The process was developed through the online research. Through the job advertising sites had less network administration jobs, the network administrator candidate decided to make visits to the nearby firms, organizations, and companies. In fact, it was where an invitation for an interview was made. I moved to the follow-up action of making sure that the curriculum vitae are updated to get attached to the application letter. After invitation, the CV was once more reviewed and updated with the current information regarding education, personal profile, skills, experience and competency.

I went ahead to research the company that had invited the network administrator candidate for the interview. The purpose was to have a good understanding of the company. This involved the online research that was not sufficient and resulted to visiting the company. The network administrator candidate acquired the information and went ahead to preview on the skills as it gets prepared for the choosing of the attire. The dressing code was advised by Mrs. XXXX, who was a costume expert. The recommended clothes/ dresses were acquired readily for the day. The network administrator candidate then finalized the preparation by having a review of the most common asked questions (Caan, 2013).

Observation

Activities undertaken within the step of preparing for interview were done chronologically with the consideration that the core objective gets accomplished. The process began with the searching for the jobs so that the network administrator candidate can apply. The search was done in all direction using the internet and manually visiting the available nearest companies, organizations, and firms. It was determined that the interview was invited from the company that the network administrator candidate had visited manually. Thanks to the network administrator candidate for such a good idea. The process was involving and tiresome, but the fruits were later revealed. Through the entire process of understanding the process of how to get a network administrator job, the preparation for the interview iteration required the application of inborn wisdom.

The curriculum vitae were updated severally while applying for the jobs and before going for the interview. The process was intended at making sure that the education qualifications, the skills, and experience possessed are all composed in the curriculum vitae. The other interesting part but important was the researching on the company. The process aims at providing good know-how about the organization. But it was seen that the network administrator candidate had to visit the main office of the company to get the information. Once more the idea still generated and enabled the meeting of the objective. The dressing attire selected was a black suit, white shirt, red tie and black official shoes. The hair should be short as observed.

Reflection

Interviews are determined with the preparations. The network administrator candidate was dedicated to having a good preparation such that it can present professionally with the release of tensions. The preparations begin from the time the network administrator candidate applies for the job. The applications get the person in deep study of the jobs that have been advertised to have the selection of the matching job with the qualifications and possessed skills as well as experience. The entire process of interview preparation was conducted systematically, and the possible necessary steps and activities were done well. The network administrator candidate began with a research of the network administration related jobs online and by visiting the available companies as the only tactic that got the appropriate companies. The process was successful. The network administrator candidate followed with the examination of the curriculum vitae to make sure that it is updated according to the academic qualifications, skills, experience and competency. The CV updating was relatively done faster.

The most critical apart was studying of the company that had invited the network administrator candidate for the interview. The information was less provided on the internet, but the process was made successful with the making of pre-visiting the Company for the data collection (SJSU, 2015). The dressing code was defined by one of the neighbors who was a costume expert all defining the success of the iteration.

The process was faced with fewer challenges only that there was less preparation of reviewing the networking aspect. The section was critical, and this demanded that the network administrator candidate have a good concentration. Otherwise, the process was done well. It is just now for the network administrator candidate to get ready for the day and maintain the status of experts with being composed to face the interviewing panel. The network administrator candidate was advised to get early to the venue to reduce anxiety and panic.

References

Caan, J. (2013). Seven Steps to Prepare for an Interview.  

https://www.pongoresume.com/articles/49/job-interview-preparation.cfm

Mobley, H. (2011). Top 10 free open source tools for network admins.  Retrieved from http://www.infoworld.com/article/2625321/network-monitoring/top-10-free-open-source-tools-for-network-admins.html

SJSU, (2015). 5 Steps of Interview Preparation. 

Tabona, A. (2015). The Top 20 Free Network Monitoring and Analysis Tools for Sys Admins. 

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in research paper company if you need a similar paper you can place your order for pre written essays.