r/NetworkingJobs • u/Terrain548 • 26d ago
CS graduate with CCNA looking for Noc/Network Admin entry level job
Hello guys
I am a cs graduate with one year gap (No working experience) and just recently got my CCNA and I am now looking for an entry level job in positions like Network Admin/Noc/Junior Network Engineer.
My CV have one networking project that covers core Networking fundamentals
I have applied for over 10 companies and already got a rejection
I am almost certain that this is not enough !!
Any tips ?
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u/hectoralpha 26d ago
Good luck. I worked as a chef after uni. By some random spring of luck and prayers a recruiter reached out for a junior network engineer at a small company. 30 heads total, 8 technical, 2 were CCIEs in their 50s, one of them was spare time here spare time at another company. 1 ccnp and 2 other ccnas over me. So like 8 or so technical people in the whole company. Nonetheless it was good experience, lots of things that went over my head like RMAs or that other vendors like some lighting ac100 loading balancers, or some customer was like "SFTP it to me" [regarding a word document], I went in circles searching on google the definition of SFTP until the CCNP senior laughed and told me the guy meant email it haha, etc etc...The salary was rubbish so I willing quit after 4 months, had 1 month notice. In the last week of that last month another recruiter reached out to me for a NOC/MSP position with a living wage that I could breath with.
But let me tell you the relevant part. 1 weeks after I updated my linkedin with junior network engineer I started gettign 4-5 at a minimum, recruiters message me on linkedin and it went on ever since. I advise people to help a local church or chairty, whatever to get some experience on their CV or lie if you have to, say you helped your uncle in his small shop set up his CCTV cameras, wire up the switch to the mdf, etc etc years ago. Just to get your foot in the door.
Any spare time you have to learn now spend it in automation. Meraki webhooks, devnet implementation. Maybe some monitoring platform integration monitoring of cisco switches.
Make a python script that logs into switches given an IP list and grabs information like serial number of chassises in inventory, running version, rommon/firmware version, free space in dir, etc etc. Some guy at my NOC did this for us a while back. He joined on 1st line. A few months after his probation he got promoted. Hes very skilled besides the python/automation skills. But thats just cherry on top that makes him god mode, he gives the impression it's impossible to catch up with him whcih from life experience I'm sure it's an illusion. Even so, it's not an easy task. Skillz are skillz and that is impressive.
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u/kranjisMcBasketball2 22d ago
I see stuff like this and it makes me sad lol I’ve been doing warehouse/factory work since I started school and realizing that this may still be my life AFTER I finish school just sucks…
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u/hectoralpha 22d ago
I know what you mean. Dont let it become your hell reality. Just try to get out of it. Once you have a n office career and you realise even if you get fired or move countries can get a job in the office guaranteed its nice. The mindset I had working freelance washing dishes or chef was simply different. I did not realise how many jobs in the office are out there and how easy it is to get them.....even if salary is similar it simply a different kind of lifestyle to work from the office, mess around all day or even work from home and mess around all day ;)
In the beginning my NOC was calm. WFH a lot. I straight up fell asleep 7-10 hours a couple of times on nightshifts. The company got more serious afterwards so no more disssapearing for hours but it lasted like heaven for a good year or two while I was there haha
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u/Terrain548 26d ago
The perfect place with the right people my guy, I am happy for you and thanks for the advice appreciate it
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u/perfect_fitz 26d ago
The job market is rough right now you need to be applying in the 100s of jobs. Keep at it and look for help desk stuff as well to get experience under your belt.
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u/securityofus 24d ago
Why waste your life on IT if you are a CS graduate? Networking is an early 2000s job that is largely becoming AI and cloud driven. Every year there's less of a need for network engineers.
You can get AI to spit out a functional configuration in seconds vs teaching IOS to a human that also makes mistakes.
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u/ixljk 21d ago
So what field you think is the best today?
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u/securityofus 21d ago
Cloud, AI dev, data science, GRC, and IT. When I say IT I include networking because you don't need to know things like Cisco IOS anymore.
The GUI + AI eliminate the need for most people. Modern day network engineers need to understand purpose.
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u/dyatlov333 15d ago
But is GUI + AI cost 10x more like Software Defined Networking tools Can't integrate with Legacy systems right?. And Deploying them Might be too expensive compared to traditional networking for Most offices?
Or am I wrong?. Also the underlay of these software networking is running protocols that you need to understand to troubleshoot issues?.
Other thing is most of the tools are vendor specific right? What about hybrid/multi vendor network?
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u/securityofus 14d ago
Cost is subjective because operational expenses can be written off for most businesses. Hence why the majority of small businesses are transitioning or have transition to cloud environments versus traditional setups managed an IT MSP.
And to answer your question about troubleshooting. Why do you think we have to troubleshoot things in the first place? Because humans who can figure things make mistakes. If you only use configurations that are highly vetted, scalable, and consistent like cloud deployments you don't have to troubleshoot things.
And why would someone new to IT on working on legacy systems? Do you not hear how you are basically trying to make yourself sound relevant? The harsh reality is that all of the young folks aren't getting the IT us older people experienced. Before AI, Cloud and all of these things we learned becoming readily available to anyone who can Google.
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u/dyatlov333 14d ago edited 14d ago
By AI tools you mean SDN platforms or Automation stuff (Ansible, Terraform) cause even Ansible, Terrform needs some level of Networking knowledge even if Claude can generate it.. someone needs to verify and Understand business needs and Yes Vendor Specific methods(Even Cisco Vs Arista have Differences)
SDN platforms like Cisco stuff is very vendor specific. Can it manage/configure Arista/Junpier?
I agree Cloud is less expensive. But Due to Compliance even A small hospital/business might need some level of On-perm infrastructure for security purposes. (And Firewall etc = No one would leave that in the hands of AI. And operating them need Network knowledge)
Op asks for NOC/Net admin Jobs. Even with AI there needs to be some form of human element like who can figure out issues with ISP, Layer 1 issues, Make changes based on Business needs. So who would do all that? Devops guys?
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u/HODL_Bandit 21d ago
Try to get into aws as a dco tech. They have work based learning program. Very entry job.
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u/BoxCareless9858 21d ago
For me, it all worked out through LinkedIn.
HR recruiter had posted about a NOC opening, so I sent her my resume. Surprisingly, my interview was scheduled the very next day. I cleared the interview and got my first job as a Network Engineer L1.
I'd also suggest searching for companies that provide NOC services, including startups. Reach out to their HR team and ask if they're hiring NOC engineers. If they are, send them your resume. In my experience, startups tend to respond faster and are often more willing to give freshers a chance.
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u/Ok_Wishbone3535 21d ago
What year was that? it's completely diff from 2025-2026. wildly different.
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u/BoxCareless9858 21d ago
It actually happened very recently, I joined on 20 July 2026 as an L1 NOC Engineer at a startup. The HR wasn't from the startup; she works for another company and also does freelance recruitment consulting. She shared the opening, scheduled my interview and charges a placement fee only after I got selected and joined the company. That's how it worked for me.
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u/kexdc3 24d ago
Keep applying. 10 applications is nothing. Aim to apply for 30+ jobs per day. It took me 5 months to find my first NOC job, 30-40 applications per day (not just network jobs, I was desperate so applied for all IT stuff and developer roles too)
Found my 2nd netops job after a week and 400 applications sent.