There’s something no one tells network engineers:
- Working harder doesn’t guarantee a promotion.
- Being technical doesn’t guarantee higher pay.
- And staying loyal doesn’t guarantee anything.
So, how do we grow our careers?
The answers were shared recently by industry veterans at US Networking User Association (PA)NUG career day, and we have the TL;DR below.
Shout-out to Jason Gintert and his team for allowing us to share this invaluable career information with our audience, captured at a local NUG.
1. Your Career Is a Business Transaction
Let’s start with the uncomfortable truth:
Your career is not loyalty-driven. It’s value-driven.
If your company won’t pay you what you’re worth, another one likely will.
That doesn’t mean you should job hop blindly, but it does mean:
- Raises are not automatic
- Promotions are not guaranteed
- And staying put too long can cap your growth
One speaker put it simply:
“People who ask get more than people who don’t.”
2. The Biggest Career Lever: Visibility
This one came up over and over:
Working hard is not enough.
If no one sees your work, it doesn’t count.
That’s harsh, but accurate.
What drives promotions:
- Being known by the right people
- Communicating your impact
- Showing how your work affects the business
Not:
- Closing tickets quietly
- Grinding in isolation
- Hoping someone notices
A better approach:
- Track your wins
- Share outcomes (not tasks)
- Tie everything to business impact
“Reduced downtime by 30%” lands a lot harder than “worked on SD-WAN project.”
3. Certifications Still Matter (But Not How You Think)
Certs aren’t magic, but they correlate strongly with higher pay
The real insight:
- It’s not the cert itself
- It’s what it signals: Experience Specialization Direction
And the biggest growth areas?
- Automation
- Cloud
- Security
If you’re wondering where to invest time: Follow where the industry is going, not where it’s been.
4. Promotions Aren’t About Being “Better”
This one stings a bit.
We’ve all thought:
“I’m better than that person. Why did they get promoted?”
The answer is rarely skill alone.
It’s:
- Visibility
- Relationships
- Communication
- Alignment with leadership
Being great at your job is the baseline, not the differentiator.
“Doing your job well is the floor, not the ceiling.”
5. Your Network > Your Resume
This might be the most important takeaway:
Most jobs don’t come from applications. They come from relationships.
In a room full of engineers, dozens of people raised their hands. They were actively hiring.
That’s the reality:
- Jobs come from conversations
- From communities
- From showing up
Not from clicking “Apply” with 700 other people.
6. The “Humble Brag Sheet” Is a Cheat Code
One of the most practical tips:
Keep a running list of:
- Projects
- Outcomes
- Metrics
- Business impact
Update it regularly.
Because when it’s time to:
- Ask for a raise
- Go for a promotion
- Interview elsewhere
You won’t remember everything.
And if you can’t articulate your value, you can’t negotiate it.
7. Follow Your Passion… But Be Strategic
“Follow your passion” can sound cliché, but there’s truth in it.
The nuance:
Passion doesn’t mean random exploration. It means directional curiosity.
Example paths:
- Network Engineer → Automation Engineer
- Engineer → Architect
- Engineer → Solutions Engineer
- Or even → Product / Sales Engineering
Same foundation. Different outcomes.
The key: You don’t need to change industries, just your angle within it.
8. Soft Skills Are the Multiplier
Technical skill gets you in the room.
Communication gets you promoted.
The engineers who advance fastest can:
- Explain complex ideas simply
- Connect work to business outcomes
- Build relationships across teams
And this is where many engineers fall behind.
9. If You’re Not Growing, You’re Choosing That
At some point, you have to ask:
- Am I learning?
- Am I visible?
- Am I being valued?
- Am I moving forward?
If the answer is no, and nothing is changing;
That’s a decision.
Final Thought
The biggest takeaway wasn’t technical.
It was mindset.
The engineers who move forward don’t wait:
- They ask
- They share
- They connect
- They position themselves
Because careers don’t just happen.
They’re engineered, just like networks.
Links: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/episodes/18944712
Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/TKsClsYQ8Sk?si=wpmaUWqB12kQdHXE
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