Developer Recruiting Guide: “Network Administrator”

Network administrators, like their systems counterparts, are on the operations and support side of the organization. Network specialists usually do not have direct contact with customers or users, but work in depth with system administrators and other technicians.

The main focus of the role is on network components of the technology and software infrastructure.

Network administrators are unlikely to be found in an organization with a cloud platform setup. Their primary responsibilities are to ensure that hardware is set up correctly and that critical systems, everywhere, have enough bandwidth and redundancy to serve requests quickly.

In other words, this role involves a solid understanding of how hardware needs to be set up and the topology built. In the cloud, all hardware is hidden, which is why this role is rarely seen in cloud-based enterprises.

There are many certifications for the network administrator role, such as configuring routers and switches. However, these certifications are not essential, as most network administrators do not specialize in a particular type of network technology.

In smaller organizations, this role may also include system administrator responsibilities, such as setting up and managing printers, firewalls, WANs, IP phones and mobile networks.

To recruit for the role of "Network Administrator," we have prepared five appropriate interview questions:

What is a network?

It never hurts to start with the basics. If the answer is satisfactory, follow with "What is a router?". A router is like air traffic control at the airport; it directs planes to the correct terminal.

What types of networks do you have the most experience with?

Network architecture can change drastically depending on the type of network. Know how to handle a LAN network does not automatically transfer to a VPN network. The answer to this question can tell you if the candidate has experience with your network type and is a good network administrator for your systems.

What is a firewall and how should it be used?

Firewalls are one of the basic tools, in a network administrators box.

They prevent traffic from one device to another based on set criteria. A firewall can prohibit contact with a website based on its security certifications or isolate a device that only needs access to a limited list of web addresses.

What should you look for when setting up an office network?

A good candidate will make sure each employee has the resources they need to do their job. Also ask about past experiences and mistakes and what the candidate has learned from them.

How does the DNS work?

DNS is the core way the Internet works. The acronym stands for Domain Name System and is the primary mechanism that ensures a web address, like www.devjobs.de, ends up in the right place so that the website shows up in the web browser.

Open network administrator jobs can be found here