While there are many jobs available in the IT industry, not all of them have a generous annual salary. Becoming a network engineer can be the right choice for someone who wants to challenge himself/herself and follow a dynamic career. 

The network engineer needs in-depth knowledge of network designs. Apart from having a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in computer science,such specialists will increase the chances to be selected for the job by adding the Cisco CCNP Routing & Switching badge to the resume. So, keep reading this article and discover more about the Cisco 300-101 exam and how it can help you in pursuing a career as a network engineer.

Cisco 300-101 Exam Overview

Any successful candidate who passes the Cisco Visit URL Here exam proves that he/she has up-to-date routing skills. Gaining the passing score in this test validates that the candidate can use advanced IP addressing and routing as well as implementing and securing Cisco routers and connecting them to LANs, IPv6, and WANs.

To sit for this exam, you should have at least one year of experience in networking. Cisco 300-101 allows fresh professionals to develop advanced skills and work with minimum supervision on complex network solutions. Therefore, once the specialists manage to pass exam 300-101 successfully, they will increase their chances to become network or support engineers or technicians. The knowledge obtained on routing and switching protocol after passing this test represents a solid foundation for any professional who wants to develop a successful career in managing the system’s networks.

It is to be noted that to obtain a mentioned CCNP Routing & Switching credential you should pass not only 300-101 ROUTE exam but also two more tests. They are 300-115 SWITCH and 300-135 TSHOOT. Notice, that this badge is going to be retired this year, and replaced by the CCNP Enterprise one. So, if you feel you can manage all the requirements to become certified, it’s time for you to know more about the network engineer job position which is the most popular option for such accredited professionals.

What Do Network Engineers Do?

A network engineer is dedicated to finding solutions to network problems and must make sure that the enterprise’s systems are secure and protected against any potential attacks. They are also responsible for managing firewall software, keeping it updated, and preventing any crisis from occurring. Also, a network engineer is an expert in dealing with network technologies and has a strong knowledge of routing, firewalls, or cryptographic tunneling.

Apart from the knowledge of switching and routing, network engineers have to stay updated with the latest technology changes. In a continuously changing market, these specialists should stay up-to-date with network innovations and be ready to implement them according to the industry’s profile. They are constantly invited to conferences and workshops to learn more about technological advancements. Thus, they should be able to develop a business continuity policy and be ready for action in case of network failure.

Average Annual Salary Prospects

The average annual salary that a network engineer can get is $73k according to the Payscale.com website. The payment can grow if the applicant can prove strong knowledge of the sphere or show the proper CCNP certification. In this case, there is a chance to reach an annual salary of $105k. 

The top employers looking for network engineers are Cisco Systems Inc, AT&T Inc., and Charter Communications. The biggest annual salary is offered by Booz, Allen, and Hamilton. A network engineer working for this corporation can receive an annual salary of $82k. Both Cisco Systems Inc and Charter Communications, Inc. also offer generous salaries of $75k per year. The lowest annual salary for network engineers is offered by Leidos and is $69k. 

What Skills Do Network Engineers Have?

The most important skills that recruiters consider when selecting a network engineer are knowledge of network architecture and design, Cisco networking, and switching and routing. Candidates can become professionals in switching and networking when they successfully pass the Cisco 300-101 exam. Also, the preferred applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field. Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office programs is another skill that is on the recruiters’ checklist.

Apart from the hard skills that candidates to a network engineer position must possess, recruiters are also looking for a set of soft skills. As these specialists work in a national or regional office, they should demonstrate high adaptability to an international environment. Also, they usually work in teams and therefore should be communicative and have collaborative behaviour. A network engineer is expected to be able to speak clearly and set achievable targets to his/her team members.

Training Resources to Pass Cisco 300-101 Exam

The candidates who attempt to take the Cisco 300-101 exam should be prepared to answer to 45 to 65 questions within 120 minutes. The exam will test your ability to use advanced IP addressing and routing, using Cisco routers and connecting them to WANs, LANs, and IPv6. When it comes to training resources, the applicants should start by taking a look at the Cisco’s website where they can find various study materials. They can try the classroom training and learn from authorized instructors everything they need for the Cisco IP Routing implementation. The students interested in a hands-on experience can try the Cisco modelling labs or the virtual internet routing lab. 

Apart from these training resources, the candidates should take a look at the Prepaway.com website which offers plenty of free exam dumps that contain actual questions and answers provided by recent test-takers. Also, after paying a fee of $39.97, students will get access to a Premium Bundle of on the Cisco 300-101 exam that includes a study guide and a training course alongside the expert-verified vce file. Using these study materials with the VCE Exam Simulator you can get valuable insights into the exam’s structure and understand the concepts better. 

Conclusion

Becoming a network engineer should not be a dream anymore for young professionals. They can add Cisco certification to their resume and increase their chances to get this job. While the preparation for the Cisco 300-101 exam can be overwhelming, Prepaway with its exam dumps becomes a valuable partner in ensuring candidates’ success.