Net Profit

8220;The current requirement is not just for engineers, but complete engineers8217;, who, apart from possessing specialised knowledge of the various software, can also function like all rounders and contribute to the daily operations of an organisation,8221; says Ravindar Goyal, Director, Institute of Advance Computing and Management IACM, a specialised networking training division of Computer Technology Pvt. Ltd. 8220;Versatile and resourceful professionals who can oversee all the aspects, from operating the computer to its network application, are the professionals of tomorrow,8221; he adds.

No wonder then, that the companies that run on large networks are looking for professionals who can perform multiple functions like installing hardware, surfing the net for downloading data and developing programmes in tune with the changing requirements of the organisation.

The application of software, networking, intra-networking, among others, have increased manifold in the past few years and will continue to do so. And with computer institutes churning out professionals by the droves, the competition for that one great job too has become stiffer. The cutting edge is what counts, to be a 8220;complete IT professional who can not only handle software well but also have a thorough understanding of networking,8221; says Goyal.

Any competent networking professional will be required to know how to take apart and reassemble the components, use specific techniques for identifying the source of hardware and software problems, and even understand the intricacies of cabling, which is a major capital investment in today8217;s highly volatile technological environment.

Not only this, wide-area networks used by most organisations today have the capability of transporting voice, data and images to any location in the world. Organisations can use this capability to form networks of any size to interconnect their resources. So, a networking professional will also be required to have the ability to evaluate an organisation8217;s wide-area data and telecom needs and develop a strategy that achieves the optimum balance between cost, security and performance. It has also become important to master the internet and be familiar with all the concepts and the most up-to-date tools available to search for data and exchange information about their particular interests.

Besides, every company needs to build their initial web-site presence with a view to expand and maintain it over a time. Learning to design a site from scratch using commercially available tools with graphical design elements and knowledge of the elements that make a site good or poor is imperative, as is knowing how to install and configure a web-server.

Organisations are also deploying routers to permit network communications, both internally and with remote sites. Installing and configuring today8217;s complex routers requires a thorough understanding of how the internet works and network layer protocols are incorporated. Knowing the key operational concepts behind ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network which constitutes the most important advancement in communications since the advent of digital transmission and digital switching is essential. Possessing these multiple skills, naturally, gives candidates an edge over all others. Thus, a true-blue IT professional today is an Office-Support professional, Maintenance Support Provider, Networking Solution Provider, System Administrator, Internet/Intranet Application Developer, Customer Support Engineer, System Programmer and more, all rolled into one.

Goyal, who inaugurated the South Campus Centre of IACM on Sunday, could not be more correct when he said, 8220;You are useless in the job market unless you have a complete understanding of the software as well as the hardware.8221; In view of the companies laying an increased emphasis on networking, Goyal predicts that there will be a demand for at least 70,000 networking professionals in the next five years alone.8221; Third Party Maintanence companies, Networks Installation companies and Electronic Data ProcessingEDPdepartments of large companies are just the right places to look for a job. To be the most desirable candidate yet, one has to start training right after Class XII, when you could earn anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000. For graduates, the entry level pay package ranges from Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000.Which is good, given the fact that a regular 18 month course would cost you Rs. 35,000 or less !

It has indeed become important to be trained on all the networking environments. It is the candidates8217; total command over all the aspects, whether it is handling complex networks or managing a team of professionals, that will offer them the break they have always wanted.

Try to attend as many seminars, lectures and presentations on software technology to get as much knowledge as possible, which will help you understand and broaden your mind. Remember, networking is one area where a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But if you can keep pace with the growth in this field, then the sky is the limit. Goyal sums it up, saying, 8220;Networking is the essence of IT!8221;