Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Software developer to ICT network engineer

A software developer already meets 59% of what the ICT network engineer role asks for. The move turns on 14 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From software developer
59 % overlap
Partial match
To ICT network engineer
66 You already bring
14 Still to learn
98 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

57.2/ 100

1 How much of what an ICT network engineer is expected to do is already part of a software developer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the ICT network engineer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

An ICT network engineer role treats 9 of its required skills as things a software developer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • ICT debugging tools
  • analyse software specifications
  • collect customer feedback on applications
  • computer programming
  • debug software
  • develop automated migration methods

What stands in the way is 14 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 66 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An ICT network engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a software developer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held Xcode information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held adapt to changes in technological development plans communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held use concurrent programming working with computers
  • already held use functional programming working with computers
  • already held develop automated migration methods management skills
  • already held KDevelop information and communication technologies (icts)

All 66 carried skills, including the 9 the ICT network engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 32 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 information and communication technologies (icts) 6 required, 6 supplementary
  • still to learn ICT network routing required
  • still to learn ICT performance analysis methods required
  • still to learn cloud technologies required
  • still to learn information security strategy required
  • still to learn mobile operating systems required
  • still to learn network standards required
  • optional, not held Android (mobile operating systems) optional
  • optional, not held BlackBerry optional
  • optional, not held ICT problem management techniques optional
  • optional, not held Vagrant optional
  • optional, not held iOS optional
  • optional, not held network management system tools optional
02 working with computers 3 required, 7 supplementary
  • still to learn analyse network configuration and performance required
  • still to learn implement ICT network diagnostic tools required
  • still to learn implement a virtual private network required
  • optional, not held develop with cloud services optional
  • optional, not held implement ICT security policies optional
  • optional, not held implement a firewall optional
  • optional, not held implement anti-virus software optional
  • optional, not held implement spam protection optional
  • optional, not held remove computer virus or malware from a computer optional
  • optional, not held use back-up and recovery tools optional
03 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 4 supplementary
  • still to learn design computer network required
  • optional, not held automate cloud tasks optional
  • optional, not held design cloud networks optional
  • optional, not held design for organisational complexity optional
  • optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
04 assisting and caring 1 required
  • still to learn apply information security policies required
05 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required
  • still to learn network engineering required
06 information skills 1 required
  • still to learn forecast future ICT network needs required

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries an ICT network engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 66 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held ICT debugging tools knowledge
  • already held analyse software specifications skill
  • already held collect customer feedback on applications skill
  • already held computer programming knowledge
  • already held debug software skill
  • already held develop automated migration methods skill
  • already held migrate existing data skill
  • already held use an application-specific interface skill
  • already held use software design patterns skill
  • already held ABAP knowledge
  • already held AJAX knowledge
  • already held APL knowledge
  • already held ASP.NET knowledge
  • already held Ansible knowledge
  • already held Apache Maven knowledge
  • already held Assembly (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held C# knowledge
  • already held C++ knowledge
  • already held COBOL knowledge
  • already held CoffeeScript knowledge
  • already held Common Lisp knowledge
  • already held Eclipse (integrated development environment software) knowledge
  • already held Erlang knowledge
  • already held Groovy knowledge
  • already held Haskell knowledge
  • already held Internet of Things knowledge
  • already held Java (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held JavaScript knowledge
  • already held Jenkins (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • already held KDevelop knowledge
  • already held Lisp knowledge
  • already held MATLAB knowledge
  • already held ML (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Microsoft Visual C++ knowledge
  • already held Objective-C knowledge
  • already held OpenEdge Advanced Business Language knowledge
  • already held PHP knowledge
  • already held Pascal (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Prolog (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Puppet (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • already held Python (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held R knowledge
  • already held Ruby (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held SAP R3 knowledge
  • already held SAS language knowledge
  • already held STAF knowledge
  • already held Salt (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • already held Scala knowledge
  • already held Scratch (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Smalltalk (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Swift (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held TypeScript knowledge
  • already held VBScript knowledge
  • already held Visual Basic knowledge
  • already held Xcode knowledge
  • already held adapt to changes in technological development plans skill
  • already held create flowchart diagram skill
  • already held develop creative ideas skill
  • already held develop software prototype skill
  • already held integrated development environment software knowledge
  • already held tools for software configuration management knowledge
  • already held use automatic programming skill
  • already held use concurrent programming skill
  • already held use functional programming skill
  • already held use logic programming skill
  • already held use object-oriented programming skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 management skills 1 required
  • still to learn define technology strategy required
08 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held install electronic communication equipment optional
18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held Android (mobile operating systems) optional
  • optional, not held BlackBerry optional
  • optional, not held ICT problem management techniques optional
  • optional, not held Vagrant optional
  • optional, not held automate cloud tasks optional
  • optional, not held design cloud networks optional
  • optional, not held design for organisational complexity optional
  • optional, not held develop with cloud services optional
  • optional, not held iOS optional
  • optional, not held implement ICT security policies optional
  • optional, not held implement a firewall optional
  • optional, not held implement anti-virus software optional
  • optional, not held implement spam protection optional
  • optional, not held install electronic communication equipment optional
  • optional, not held network management system tools optional
  • optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
  • optional, not held remove computer virus or malware from a computer optional
  • optional, not held use back-up and recovery tools optional
42 held skills the ICT network engineer role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role Ajax Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Apache Tomcat knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Drupal knowledge
  • not needed by the target role IBM WebSphere knowledge
  • not needed by the target role ICT security legislation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role JavaScript Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role NoSQL knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Oracle Application Development Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Perl knowledge
  • not needed by the target role SPARK knowledge
  • not needed by the target role SQL knowledge
  • not needed by the target role WordPress knowledge
  • not needed by the target role World Wide Web Consortium standards knowledge
  • not needed by the target role blockchain openness knowledge
  • not needed by the target role blockchain platforms knowledge
  • not needed by the target role cyber attack counter-measures knowledge
  • not needed by the target role data visualisation software knowledge
  • not needed by the target role defence standard procedures knowledge
  • not needed by the target role define technical requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role design user interface skill
  • not needed by the target role do cloud refactoring skill
  • not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
  • not needed by the target role engineering processes knowledge
  • not needed by the target role identify customer requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role integrate system components skill
  • not needed by the target role interpret technical requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role manage engineering project skill
  • not needed by the target role object-oriented modelling knowledge
  • not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
  • not needed by the target role project management knowledge
  • not needed by the target role screen reader knowledge
  • not needed by the target role smart contract knowledge
  • not needed by the target role software anomalies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role software frameworks knowledge
  • not needed by the target role technical drawings knowledge
  • not needed by the target role trading software knowledge
  • not needed by the target role use query languages skill
  • not needed by the target role use software libraries skill
  • not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill
  • not needed by the target role utilise computer-aided software engineering tools skill

2 further entries not listed here

13 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn ICT network routing required
  • still to learn ICT performance analysis methods required
  • still to learn cloud technologies required
  • still to learn information security strategy required
  • still to learn mobile operating systems required
  • still to learn network engineering required
  • still to learn network standards required
  • optional, not held Android (mobile operating systems) optional
  • optional, not held BlackBerry optional
  • optional, not held ICT problem management techniques optional
  • optional, not held Vagrant optional
  • optional, not held iOS optional
  • optional, not held network management system tools optional
Index

Other moves recorded from software developer

Full index of moves from software developer

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a software developer become an ICT network engineer?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A software developer already covers 59% of what an ICT network engineer is expected to do: 66 skills carry over, 9 of which the ICT network engineer role treats as required.

What skills does a software developer need to become an ICT network engineer?

14 required skills are missing, plus 18 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information and communication technologies (icts). The single most important is ICT network routing.

How hard is the move from software developer to ICT network engineer?

Its learning distance is 57.2 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.