LANs, MANs, WANs and GANs – this is the language of network engineers, the individuals who keep communication networks operating smoothly and the subject of this week’s career memes.
Network engineers work on different types of networks, such as local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs) and global area networks (GANs). They install, maintain and support these networks either within or between organisations.
A network engineer’s specific role may vary, depending on the size of the organisation that employs them. For example, in a large company, he or she may be responsible for a specific area of the network, whereas in a smaller company, they may be responsible for any issue pertaining to IT.
An educational background in maths, computer science or information technology is usual for a network engineer, along with good analytical, communication and problem solving skills.
In Ireland, a network engineer can expect to earn €27,044 – €63,109 annually, or an average salary of €40,283, according to PayScale.com.
