"Seek internships that will give you invaluable experience and insight into company culture, job options, exposure to related fields, and the opportunity to learn from practicing professionals." –Minna, Network Engineer
What do you do in your position?
I am part of the network management group. We use programming languages like HTML and PERL to create applications and tools that monitor and manage the network. For example, recently we designed an application that provides statistical information about how the network is used.
How or why did you decide to enter a technical career?
When I graduated from high school, it was important to me to choose a field that had a rapid growth demand for workers, a fast-paced environment, and a chance to learn new things all the time. Projections for computer science employees indicated that the demand would far exceed the supply, so it seemed like a wise choice. It also seemed like a field that I would enjoy. Once I made my decision, I began the trek toward getting a degree in computer information systems that focused primarily on programming.
In college, I signed on for an internship at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This gave me exposure to systems administration and raised my interest in the networking field. Incorporating networking into my studies and experience base opened up additional job opportunities for me and has provided greater variety in my job tasks.
What do you like about your job?
Give an example of an interesting project or opportunity.
I get the opportunity to work on a wide range of challenging projects in managing a very large network. The variety of duties in my job keeps things interesting. I never get bored. There are always new projects to take on and new technologies to learn about.
I also find it exciting to work with people in other countries. Our team frequently interfaces with team members from the Micron sites in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Italy. We help them solve their network problems, design tools for them, and train them on new network applications. Sometimes trying to figure out the time difference so neither of us has to get up in the middle of the night to work together can be a lot of fun, too.
What high school courses helped you prepare for your job or
college program?
Communications classes were very helpful. A big part of my job is communicating ideas and information to other team members. Math was also especially important. I would also recommend taking any available computer classes. Almost all job fields now require strong computer skills.
What post-high school education did you pursue?
I have a bachelor of business administration degree in computer information systems from Boise State University, but working in a technical field requires on-going training and education. Since graduation, I have participated in numerous Micron-hosted classes such as: Routing Technology, Switching Technology, Wide Area Networking, Intro to PERL Programming, Advanced CISCO Router Configuration CRS, and Fundamentals of SQL and Sybase to name just a few. We also regularly attend vendor workshops.
What advice would you give a student interested in pursuing a technical career?
Stay in high school and take advantage of all the free education you can obtain. Seek internships that will give you invaluable experience and insight into company culture, job options, exposure to related fields, and the opportunity to learn from practicing professionals. The environment you work in makes a difference, and the internship will give you an opportunity to test drive the employer and assess whether or not the company has the same values and beliefs you do. Find out if it has an environment that will allow you to perform to the best of your ability.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Travel, travel, and travel! I love to see new things and discover new cultures. A few of my favorite destinations are Hong Kong, Singapore, London, and China. Cooking, reading, working out at the gym, and spending time outdoors are other things that I enjoy.
Education: Network Engineer
Degrees typically sought for this position are Bachelor of Science in management information systems, computer science, or computer engineering.
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