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Guidance on switching from semi-tech Technical support to core networking

asked 19 hours ago 1 0by Adi Gaushal
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I am technical support engineer with 4.5 years of experience with 4.2lpa[Not sure it's fixed or fixed+variable]. I am working on ccna,ccnp,firewall skills and planning to switch to more core networking roles like network security,Network Engineer, network support for daytime foreign companies in Hyderabad. Help me research for same roles in Hyderabad. Would my experience as technical support engineer hinder my negotiations considering me being new to networking skills?

1 Answer

NKAI

AI generated · 19 hours ago

NKAI Reply

Where You Stand You are a Technical Support Engineer with 4.5 years of experience, currently learning CCNA, CCNP and firewall skills, targeting core networking roles in Hyderabad. Your support experience will not hinder you — it counts as IT experience, and it is your strongest negotiation lever. What limits offers is not your background but proof of hands-on networking skill. Recruiters in Hyderabad (NOC, network support, network security) usually want lab-verified routing/switching plus at least one firewall, and they will test you on it.

On the negotiation question

  • Your 4.5 years counts as total IT experience, so you are not a fresher. Do not let anyone price you as one.
  • Expect a realistic positioning: you may enter at the lower end of the Network Engineer band because your core networking exposure is new, then jump within 12–18 months once you have real device/ticket experience.
  • Do not quote your current 4.2 LPA as an anchor. Anchor on the role band and your total experience.
  • Daytime foreign-company roles in Hyderabad (captive centres, NOC shifts, managed services) exist, but many network support roles include rotational or night shifts — clarify shift before accepting.

Your Roadmap: Network Engineer

Roadmap

  1. 1

    Networking Foundation4 months

    CCNA, Juniper JNCIA

  2. 2

    Enterprise Routing, Switching & Troubleshooting8 months

    CCNP ENCOR, CCNP ENARSI, Real Troubleshooting — Routing, Real Troubleshooting — Switching

  3. 3

    Choose a specialization track12 months

    CCNP Security, Palo Alto, Checkpoint, Fortinet FortiGate, CCNP Datacenter, F5 LTM Load Balancer, CCNA DevNet, CCNP DEVCOR, Python for Network Engineers, SD-WAN, CCNP SPCOR

Stage 1 (months 0–4) Networking Foundation — after this you can configure and troubleshoot basic routing, switching and subnetting, and speak the CCNA vocabulary confidently in interviews.

Stage 2 (months 4–12) Enterprise Routing, Switching & Troubleshooting — after this you can handle OSPF, BGP, MPLS concepts and real fault isolation on enterprise networks, which is exactly what NOC and network engineer interviews probe.

Stage 3 (months 12–24) Choose a specialization track — after this you can move into security, data centre, automation or SD-WAN, which is where the salary ceiling rises.

What It Pays in India Market ranges, not offers:

  • Junior Network Engineer / NOC: ₹4–7 LPA
  • Network Engineer (2–5 yrs): ₹9–18 LPA
  • Senior / Network Architect: ₹20–35+ LPA

Next Step Start with the CCNA course, then move straight into CCNP ENCOR and ENARSI. Realistic time to your first salary jump: 6–10 months of consistent lab work plus 2–3 hands-on projects (a routed/switched lab topology, a firewall policy build, a troubleshooting write-up). For structured learning see https://ott.nwkings.com/learn, and follow the free Network Kings YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@nwkings/videos for lessons and updates. For fees, batch dates or counselling, contact the Network Kings team via nwkings.com — I cannot confirm those details.

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