How do you collaborate with network engineers with similar or complementary training?

1 Identify your goals and needs

Before you start looking for network engineers to collaborate with, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you need from them. Are you looking for a mentor, a peer, or a partner? Do you want to learn something new, solve a problem, or create something together? Do you need someone with a specific certification, skill, or domain knowledge? Having a clear vision of your goals and needs will help you narrow down your search and find the right people to collaborate with.

2 Use online platforms and communities

One of the easiest ways to find and connect with network engineers with similar or complementary training is to use online platforms and communities that cater to your field. For example, you can join professional networks like LinkedIn, where you can showcase your profile, certifications, and projects, and search for other network engineers with similar or complementary credentials. You can also join online forums, groups, and communities where you can ask questions, share insights, and exchange ideas with other network engineers. Some examples of these are Reddit, Stack Overflow, Cisco Learning Network, and Network Engineering Stack Exchange.

3 Share your work and feedback

Another way to collaborate with network engineers with similar or complementary training is to share your work and feedback with them. You can use online tools like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket to store, manage, and share your code and configuration files with other network engineers. You can also use online tools like Google Docs, Slack, or Zoom to collaborate on documents, chat, and video call with other network engineers. By sharing your work and feedback, you can learn from each other, improve your skills, and create better solutions.

4 Respect and appreciate diversity

Finally, when you collaborate with network engineers with similar or complementary training, you need to respect and appreciate the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and opinions that they bring to the table. You may not always agree with them, but you can always learn from them. You may have different certifications, skills, or domains, but you can always complement each other. You may have different styles, preferences, or methods, but you can always adapt and compromise. By respecting and appreciating diversity, you can build trust, rapport, and synergy with other network engineers.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?