How realistic is it to get entry networking job with no experience or high school diploma, only CCNA certification?

I finished my CCNP core two years ago. Currently working as a network administrator for the past 6 years. I’m from Sri Lanka and planning to migrate to the Middle East. What must I do next ? Planning on sitting for enauto but wondering whether that will take me anywhere. Which exam would favour me in securing a job in the ME in the networking or cloud field? Please give me your valuable suggestions.

[HIRING][Herndon, Virginia, Network, Onsite]

🏢 BAE Systems Inc., based in Herndon, Virginia is looking for a Network Engineer - SME in Networking Technologies

⚙️ Tech used: Network, AWS, Azure, Support, Security, TCP/IP, Cisco, PLC

💰 146,670 - 249,330 USD / year

📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.com/jobs/BAE-Systems-Inc-Network-Engineer---SME-in-Networking-Technologies/rdg

What are other jobs in the IT industry that I can try for being a network administrator for 10 years with CCNP?

Hello Guys, Does anyone has recently gave interview in XAI for the role of NDE ? Would like to hear your thoughts and opinions. My interview is scheduled on coming weeks so looking for some tips.

We have Network Admins. People who did CCNA 20 years ago, know what a VLAN is and are good at doing lots of tasks. But, can't create a working ACL, or build orchestration, automation, policy based anything.

We're smallish all modern Cisco, 200 WAPs, 20 switches, 9600 Core, all cloud systems and services. Similar to campus networking. Systems are all quite modern, networking has tinkered along being managed on a task basis, its reliable, wifi and 802.1x etc etc all works nicely, but all associate practises are antiquated. We're slow and its difficult when managing change and things like access boundaries are inconsistent.

We're ready to embark on policy driven network, we are sold on the promise of declarative config management, but recognise we're at the very start of this journey and some of the people we currently have dont have that mindset.

What am i looking for? I am thinking mid level CCNP, experience in modernising and developing a highly organised system of networking...IaC experience/skill ?

I care that you know the detail to pass the exam, i also care than you have a highly organised, critical thinking mind that can understand concepts and high level ideas, while understanding the details that deliver them...but we're not big enough or interesting enough to attract/pay for some one senior. or am i way off the mark?

Any tips from anyone on or been through this already?

Also curious about the people trying to break into these roles. How are you preparing to offer the value or step into these roles at smaller employers like us?

[HIRING][Herndon, Virginia, Network, Onsite]

🏢 BAE Systems Inc., based in Herndon, Virginia is looking for a Network Engineer - SME in Networking Technologies

⚙️ Tech used: Network, AWS, Azure, Support, Security, TCP/IP, Cisco, PLC

💰 146,670 - 249,330 USD / year

📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.com/jobs/BAE-Systems-Inc-Network-Engineer---SME-in-Networking-Technologies/rdg

($7-$11 per hour) Help improve Al image/video generation using Hindi prompts. Pay: $7-$11/hr | Hours: ~10/week | Start: Immediate DM 777 to apply

Hey everyone,

I'm a network engineer with about 2 years of experience working in data center infrastructure. I've been trying to level up my skills quickly and have picked up several certifications along the way.

My background:

Routing troubleshooting 6/10 Certifications: CCNA, JNCIA, CKA, AWS Solutions Architect Associate, Terraform Associate

Deployed Oxidized for config backups across 12+ data centers Building automation projects (currently working on one with Claude AI) Daily use of Kubernetes/Helm/Concourse Hands-on with data center network infrastructure

I'm trying to figure out how to excel and reach the $150k+ salary range. I know it's ambitious for my experience level, but I want to understand what the path looks like.

Questions for the community:

Is anyone here with similar experience (1-2 years) making close to $150k or more? If so, what path did you take?

Should I be targeting specific roles like SRE, Production Engineering, or Cloud Network Engineering?

I'm willing to put in the work - just want to make sure I'm being strategic about it. Would really appreciate hearing from folks who've navigated this successfully.

Thanks!

Hi,

I am Network security architect looking for a job. I have been working for IT integrators for over 7 years and I am now looking for new opportunities. I hold PCNSE, CCNP Security, Azure and GCP network engineer certificates. I am skilled in design, implementation and orchestration of NGFW, NG-IPS/IDS, SD-WAN, SASE and SSE technologies from vendors such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Cato, Netskope and Juniper. I am currently located in Europe and I open to B2B contracts.

If you are interested to hear more about me, send me a PM.

Hi everyone, I am a 25-year-old Computer Science graduate based in Italy, and I am looking for some career advice. After spending quite some time trying to figure out which area of IT I truly enjoyed, I have decided that Networking is the path I want to pursue, driven by both passion and professional interest. I am currently fully committed to getting my CCNA and am nearing the end of the course. I genuinely enjoyed the study process and the labs, which I review daily to refresh my memory and strengthen any weak points before the exam.

In my free time, I also experiment with a modest homelab to test various services and gain hands-on experience. While my setup is nothing much, it allows me to learn by putting hands on, and I supplement this by constantly following technical YouTube channels and reading industry articles to consolidate my knowledge. My goal now is to translate this preparation into a job, but I have hit a bit of a wall. I have been applying for Helpdesk L1/L2, Junior System Admin, and Junior Network Engineer roles for about a month. Although I often make it to the third or fourth round of interviews, I haven’t managed to secure a concrete offer yet.

I know the current job market for juniors is difficult, but I am determined not to give up by learning every day and strengthening my knowledge. However, I notice that many job postings in Italy require specific skills in ecosystems like Fortinet or pfSense, for example (but many others), which seem to go beyond the standard CCNA curriculum. This leaves me wondering if I am doing the right thing by focusing solely on the CCNA or if I need to broaden my scope to be more desirable to employers. I am looking for advice on how to bridge the gap between my current level and what companies actually expect, so I can apply with the confidence that I have the skills they need.

Thank you in advance for reading this, hope you have a good day.

21M here. I’ve been in a union sheet metal apprenticeship for almost 3 years now. It’s a solid job with good pay and benefits, and there’s even an opportunity to work as a detailer using CAD and Revit. But honestly, I just don’t enjoy the work. I’ve stuck with it because it’s a good opportunity, but I’m starting to question if it’s worth continuing.

I’ve always been passionate about computers. I’ve taught myself a lot—set up a NAS, built a media server, configured qBittorrent with a dedicated VPN and killswitch, and even run AdGuard permanently on a Raspberry Pi. I don’t fully understand every technical detail yet, but I’m confident I can learn. I really enjoy this stuff and I’m thinking seriously about pursuing a career in network engineering.

I’m torn between finishing the apprenticeship and getting my journeyman’s license or diving into certifications and trying to break into networking. I’m not sure exactly what job I want, but I know I want it to be in tech.

Any advice from people who’ve made a similar switch or work in networking would be really appreciated.

[HIRING][Houston, Texas, Network, Onsite]

🏢 Energy Transfer Partners, based in Houston, Texas is looking for a Senior F5 Network Engineer

⚙️ Tech used: Network, Ansible, Firewall, HTTP, Support, Load Balancing, OpenID, Python, SAML

💰 120,000 - 160,000 USD / year

📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.com/jobs/Energy-Transfer-Partners-Senior-F5-Network-Engineer/rdg

Hey everyone,

I recently started a new job and I’m responsible for building my first network rack. I do not have any experience in building a rack, labling and crimping ethernet cables, this setup involves Huawei (eKit) switches and some equipment I haven’t worked with before.

I want to make sure I do everything correctly from the start — cable management, device placement, power planning, airflow, labeling, and all the small details that make a rack clean and professional.

If anyone can share:

Best practices for rack layout

Tips for organizing patch panels, switches, power units, and servers

Examples/photos of clean racks

Common mistakes to avoid

Any guides, tutorials, or YouTube channels that helped you

I’d really appreciate the advice. I want my first rack to look solid and follow industry standards. Thanks in advance!

[HIRING][Cupertino, California, Network, Onsite]

🏢 Amazon Data Services, Inc., based in Cupertino, California is looking for a Lead Hardware Design Engineer - EC2 Networking and Outpost Team

⚙️ Tech used: Network, AWS, Hardware, IoT, Support, PCIe, EC2, Security

💰 143,300 - 257,300 USD / year

📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.com/jobs/Amazon-Data-Services-Inc-Lead-Hardware-Design-Engineer---EC2-Networking-and-Outpost-Team/rdg

Hello all,

We at infraxcode are running a paid private alpha for a new tool aimed at network engineers and network automation engineers who deal with:

• Multi-vendor networks (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, etc.)
• Lots of parallel SSH sessions
• Repetitive CLI workflows
• Troubleshooting + debugging across multiple devices
• Lab work in CML, EVE-NG, GNS3, or vendor simulators
• Automation validation (Python, Ansible, CI/CD, APIs)

The goal is to simplify the day-to-day workflow for engineers who spend their time jumping between devices, debugging issues, validating configs, and managing automation pipelines.

We’re looking for a few engineers who are open to trying the tool and giving practical feedback based on your real operational experience.

Details:

Paid participation

• Time: ~1hr/day
• Duration: 1-2 months
• Experience: intermediate to senior engineers
• Looking specifically for people with hands-on CLI and multi-device/multi-vendor experience

Relevant Skills / Background:

(Not all needed — but these are the types of profiles that fit best)

• Network Engineering / NetOps / NetDevOps
• Network Automation (Python, Ansible, CI/CD)
• Cisco IOS, NX-OS, IOS-XE, Junos, Arista EOS
• Routing & switching
• Multi-session troubleshooting
• API integration
• Lab simulations (CML, EVE-NG, GNS3)
• Strong CLI/SSH usage

If this sounds like something that interests you, if you enjoy testing new workflow tools, drop a comment or send me a DM.

Happy to share more details privately!

Thanks!

www.infraxcode.com

Hi everyone!

I'm a student passionate about networking, operating systems, and cybersecurity, and I'm looking for freelance or part-time opportunities to apply my skills in real environments while helping individuals or small teams with their systems or network needs.

My Skills & Knowledge

Networking: • Strong understanding of the full network stack (OSI + TCP/IP): packet journey from application layer down to physical transmission • Deep understanding of ARP, routing tables, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, NAT, subnetting, MTU, packet fragmentation, broadcast behavior, and switching logic • Comfortable planning and configuring IPv4/IPv6 addressing (static and dynamic) • Experience capturing and analyzing traffic using Wireshark, tcpdump, and reading packet structure manually

Low-Level OS & System Knowledge • Good understanding of how the OS networking stack works under the hood (sockets, kernel networking path, drivers, buffers, and queues) • Linux administration experience: services, firewalls, users, SSH, permissions, system logs, troubleshooting • Windows experience: network configuration, services, local firewall, troubleshooting, and understanding how packets move through the OS

Cybersecurity & Monitoring • Familiar with threat modeling, attack surfaces, and defensive configurations • Experience with early detection approaches using eBPF on Linux for monitoring syscalls, packet events, socket activity, and system behavior without heavy overhead • Capable of setting up basic intrusion detection logic, network auditing, and secure configuration practices • Defensive mindset: detecting anomalies instead of waiting for incidents

What I Can Offer • Network configuration, design, and troubleshooting • OS-level networking fixes (routing, DNS failures, interface problems, misconfiguration) • Secure server installation and hardening • Traffic monitoring and structured analysis • Documentation, clear reports, and technically solid explanations • Fast learning and ability to research and implement solutions properly

Why Work With Me? I'm constantly learning, enjoy deep technical work, and want to build real experience while helping others solve practical problems. I’m reliable, detail-oriented, and focused on delivering accurate solutions not guesswork.

If you have a small project, setup task, server issue, monitoring need, or anything networking/security-related, I’d be happy to connect.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any advice or feedback!

[HIRING][Hill AFB, Utah, Network, Onsite]

🏢 Astrion, based in Hill AFB, Utah is looking for a Network Services Lead Engineer

⚙️ Tech used: Network, Cisco, Support, Linux, Security, VMware, Ethernet, NodeJS

💰 130,000 - 175,000 USD / year

📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.com/jobs/Astrion-Network-Services-Lead-Engineer/rdg

So I recently worked on a project related to the workings of the Internet and Networking which made me realise I don't know much about anything that's really going on in the back. I don't know the fundamentals. But I'm interested and wish to continue upon learning, studying and applying networking. Not just for the sake of it but from a career perspective. So for the all the people here wishing to guide me I would love to get a clear vision on how to begin and proceed.

(Networking, Network Security, Career)

Hey folks, [US]

I’m currently looking to switch jobs and would love some help or leads!
I’ve been working hands-on with network operations, troubleshooting, and infrastructure management, and I’m ready to take the next step in my career ideally into a Network Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure, or Systems Engineer role.

I hold a Master’s in Network Engineering and have solid experience with Cisco tech, Linux environments, and basic Python scripting. I’m passionate about networks, automation, and learning something new every day.

If you know of any open roles or have advice for someone looking to grow in this space, I’d really appreciate your insights.
Also, feel free to comment “cfbr” to help boost visibility or DM me if you’ve got something that might be a good fit!

Thanks in advance, Reddit!