What does a network consultant do?
Network consultants are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for designing, setting up, and maintaining computer networks for an organization or at a client location. These consultants are required to meet with the manager of an organization and network engineers to discuss their networking requirements. By supervising a team of IT professionals, these consultants must administer technical issues and fix infrastructure issues onsite. Network consultants must also maintain documentation for IT infrastructure as well as coordinate network documentation with account managers.
Network consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real network consultant resumes:
- Support and manage Linux base firewalls for client.
- Manage FTP servers, AD/DNS, wireless access points and load balancers.
- Manage and configure VoIP devices which include gateway and gatekeeper.
- Lead architecture and design sessions with customers; initiate technical meetings with customer engineers to further engage and identify additional opportunities.
- Create an optimize network to separate voice and data with QOS, MPLS BGP OSPF.
- Configure route redistribution to between OSPF and EIGRP.
- Install DHCP scopes mirroring these VLANS to ensure they get create on the servers at the sites.
- Navigate and utilize Cisco switches to troubleshoot residential networks.
- Help configure and troubleshoot client-to-server and server-to-server tunneling VPN connections.
- Implement a fiber optic infrastructure utilizing cluster routing switches to ensure a highly available network for VoIP implementation.
- Configure TCP/IP addressing scheme to assign IP blocks.
- Configure SE Linux and test with in-house applications.
- Used DHCP to automatically assign reusable IP addresses to DHCP clients.
- Work on commissioning and decommissioning of the MPLS circuits for various field offices.
- Update network to utilize more efficient routing protocols such as eigrp and rip.
Network consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Network Consultants are proficient in Appeals, Firewall, and Windows Server. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Multitasking skills.
We break down the percentage of Network Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Appeals, 10%
Submitted appeals to Internal Resolution Unit for claims that need to be adjusted.
- Firewall, 5%
Configure Cisco firewalls and detect security violations using Deadbolt and numerous other security detection packages.
- Windows Server, 5%
Co-managed 20+ Windows servers in a Microsoft Active Directory environment.
- Switches, 4%
Implemented a fiber optic infrastructure utilizing clustered routing switches to ensure a highly available network for VoIP implementation.
- Network Infrastructure, 4%
Consulted with management staffs to Architect Data and Network infrastructures allowing for ease of administration and security of data structures.
- Network Hardware, 4%
Consulted with several other businesses regarding needs analysis and requirements for network hardware and microcomputers.
"appeals," "firewall," and "windows server" are among the most common skills that network consultants use at work. You can find even more network consultant responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a network consultant to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what network consultants do because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Additionally, a network consultant resume shows how network consultants use analytical skills: "manage day-to-day backups, both of server and of sql databases, software updates, and hardware needs for each client. "
Communication skills. Many network consultant duties rely on communication skills. "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers.," so a network consultant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways network consultant responsibilities rely on communication skills: "planned the purchase and implementation of ios products for communication use in the organization. "
Multitasking skills. network consultants are also known for multitasking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to network consultant responsibilities, because "administrators may have to work on many problems and tasks at the same time." A network consultant resume example shows how multitasking skills is used in the workplace: "exhibit strong communication, critical thinking, multitasking, troubleshooting, and customer service skills"
Problem-solving skills. network consultant responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This resume example shows what network consultants do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "utilized remedy to record resolved and track network issues support cisco 2600 2700 3900 3700 4500 serials replacement and ios update. "
The three companies that hire the most network consultants are:
- Kion Group8 network consultants jobs
- ALLETE6 network consultants jobs
- UnitedHealth Group6 network consultants jobs
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Compare different network consultants
Network consultant vs. Technical systems engineer
Technical Systems Engineers are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the infrastructure or systems network. They build, maintain, and repair all the systems and network infrastructure of the organization. They troubleshoot problems and find the best possible solution to address such problems. They also ensure that those problems will be resolved and would never be encountered again. Technical Systems Engineers also help out in information technology or network infrastructure projects of other departments. They provide expertise on the systems-related aspects of the project. They help guide project teams on the feasibility and the success factors of the project.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a network consultant are more likely to require skills like "appeals," "firewall," "network hardware," and "client facing." On the other hand, a job as a technical systems engineer requires skills like "cloud," "powershell," "dod," and "azure." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Technical systems engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $116,420. On the other hand, network consultants are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $89,811.On average, technical systems engineers reach similar levels of education than network consultants. Technical systems engineers are 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Network consultant vs. Lan administrator
LAN administrators are responsible for maintaining the local area network of an organization. These administrators manage the server that connects an organization's network to computers and equipment that need them. They install, configure, and troubleshoot the local area network or LAN in a corporate office. It is part of their job to ensure that the internet is available for everyone who uses computers to perform their roles. They also evaluate and recommend the computers, hardware and software, and the equipment needed to create a hack-proof server.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that network consultant responsibilities requires skills like "appeals," "firewall," "client facing," and "pc." But a lan administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "lan wan," "emerging technologies," "network administration," and "network performance."
On average, lan administrators earn a lower salary than network consultants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, lan administrators earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $74,033. Whereas network consultants have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $89,811.In general, lan administrators achieve lower levels of education than network consultants. They're 5.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Network consultant vs. Systems support engineer
Systems support engineers are information technology professionals who are responsible for building and maintaining the IT infrastructure of an organization. They are required to provide network administration and technical support to identify complex problem issues and come up with solutions to solve them. They must assist the system support engineers in accomplishing any projects they are working with. They must troubleshoot servers, personal computers, and peripheral equipment while liaising with their customers. They must also create and maintain user accounts and implement group policy management through an active directory.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from network consultant resumes include skills like "appeals," "firewall," "network hardware," and "client facing," whereas a systems support engineer is more likely to list skills in "database," "java," "customer satisfaction," and "sql server. "
Systems support engineers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $92,061. On the other hand, network consultants are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $89,811.Most systems support engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to network consultants. For example, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Network consultant vs. Senior network administrator
Senior Network Administrators provide system and network solutions for their organizations. They supervise the functioning of networking equipment and follow strict maintenance standards.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between network consultants and senior network administrators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a network consultant might have more use for skills like "appeals," "client facing," "project management," and "series routers." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior network administrators require skills like "routers," "lan wan," "san," and "tcp ip. "
Senior network administrators enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $93,129. For comparison, network consultants earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.The average resume of senior network administrators showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to network consultants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.Types of network consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
