Network and Systems Administrators: Top Skills Employers Want

Even if automation threatens the work of various IT infrastructures, network and system administrators continue to enjoy good job prospects for the next decade.

According to Burning Glass, which collects and analyzes millions of job openings across the country, the work of network and systems administrators will increase by 6.1% over the next decade. The median salary for a position is $ 75,999, but anyone with the right combination of experience and skills can expect even more income. (At the largest technology centers in the United States, including Virginia and New York, the network administrator salary can exceed six digits.)

Automation can perform any number of tasks necessary to keep the network and IT infrastructure running, but companies make delicate decisions that ultimately require humans to get a complete picture of the system.

In the eyes of many employers, certification is necessary to determine if a candidate really has those skills and experience. According to Burning Glass, this is a certification that has been cited in quite a few job postings. As you can see, security is a big issue. This is not surprising given the security breaches that have been the focus of attention for the past few years. Executives want to know that system and network administrators can detect and prevent unavoidable attacks on their systems.

System and Database Administrator Skills

In a job interview, expect to answer many questions not only about qualifications and training, but also about the time to work on real problems (the interviewer will ask how the candidate has overcome particularly difficult problems). I love talking about). You can also test suitability using specific technologies.

Also, don't forget the "soft skills." Network and system administrators must explain complex concepts and high-risk decisions to a variety of stakeholders, including executives and workers who may not have technical backgrounds. As a result, it is important to emphasize communication and teamwork skills in the interview and to use those skills on the job itself.

 

What's important here is that network and system administrators continue to be evaluated, even as aspects of their work become increasingly automated. As a result, anyone interested in the profession will learn everything that software cannot do, such as communication, advanced problem solving, and design. When that point is reached, the financial reward continues.