Misha Hanin has worked as a network administrator and IT consultant for more than 15 years. He has a number of certifications and awards including a 2008 Microsoft MVP Award in Windows Server-Admin Frameworks. Hanin specializes in Microsoft (Group Policy, Domain, RIS and Exchange), security, terminal servers and virtualization solutions. He also has a strong background in management experience in design and the installation, implementation and support of LANs (local area networks) and WANs (wide area networks), and shares articles with advice, tips and news of the industry on his blog, CuruIT.

Why did you decide to pursue this career field?

To me, it's always looked like this career field has had some great challenges, and I like that. And I was right. In last 15 years, I can't remember even two projects that were absolutely identical, so if you don't want to be bored at work, this is probably for you.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field?
At age 11, I started to use electronics and I really enjoyed everything related to technology and electronics, and at age 16, I decided to build my own PC. I really loved doing that and very quickly PCs became my main hobby. I went to college and it was there that I learned the networking essentials. After college, I worked as a technician, a system administrator and as a network consultant. But I never stopped learning new things; almost every day I read or learn something new. I also try to do new stuff and work on new projects.

What types of classes and projects did you have to do?
In 1997, I took a series of courses at one of the technical colleges in Israel. Those courses prepared me for my Microsoft MCSE [Microsoft certified systems engineer] certification. In 1999, I did my Novell CNE [certified Novell engineer], and in 2004, I learned Checkpoint Firewall. I've also passed a lot of additional Microsoft exams, including Citrix CCA and VMWARE  VCP, which have helped me with some of the technology-related projects I have worked on.

How did your education help you in your career?
I would say that without an education you can't do anything. Maybe that seems a bit strong, but at least I feel that without my education I wouldn't have a good career.

What was your career path like in this field? 
At my first position, I worked with very simple and beginner tasks. After about four months, I started to do some real work, then I moved to another company and started to deal with networking and other interesting projects.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position?
I think there are two skills that are very important to work in this industry and through this field. You should be able to learn and teach yourself new things and you need to have good communication skills, because it's likely that in every single project you work on or deal with you will always need to deal and work with other people.

What do you do on a typical workday?
My day starts with checking and responding to my emails and I'm always scanning news. The rest of the day is normally spent on concentrating and working on specific projects. I always also try to allocate about 15-20 percent of my time on testing labs and reading up on new things so that I'm always learning new material.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? 
Yes, I do, but for right now I'm happy where I am. I'm interested in what I do, if it ever gets boring, that's when I'll consider a move to another area.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
Someone who wishes to work in this field should be a person who always wants to deal with new technology and someone who wants to learn more about the industry. A person who likes new adventures every day is a good fit for working in this field.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
Be prepared to learn new things every day. You also need to really enjoy what you do.