You have a knack for computers. You’re proactive, analytical and detail-oriented. You have a rare combination of strong technical skills and great people management abilities.
These are all essential qualities for those looking to build a career as a network administrator.
But as you put together your application, it’s important to differentiate this role from a similar one — a systems administrator. While some overlap exists (especially at a smaller organization), these two roles require distinctly different skills and certifications, and thus a different approach as you craft your resume.
So what’s the difference?
A systems administrator is responsible for computer systems, such as the hardware and software within a computer that work with each other to make a computer function.
On the other hand, a network administrator focuses on a network of computers. This includes things like the organization’s local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and other internet systems.
In the digital age, these computer networks are absolutely essential to ensuring that a company is running smoothly and that employees can communicate effectively. Indeed, network administrators are in high demand.
Want to be a network administrator in 2023? Continue reading below to view examples of effectively written network administrator resume templates to help land your dream role.
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As a Network Administrator, you're tasked with managing an organization's computer network infrastructure, ensuring smooth operations and data availability. With a rapidly evolving IT landscape, companies seek professionals who can stay ahead of trends and adapt to changes quickly. Thus, crafting a resume that effectively highlights your skills and expertise in network administration is crucial for securing a position in this competitive field.
In this industry, hiring managers look for candidates with up-to-date technical knowledge and a strong ability to troubleshoot, maintain, and optimize complex network systems. A well-written resume can showcase your proficiency in these areas and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
Your resume should emphasize your technical skills specific to network administration, such as network protocols, hardware, software, and troubleshooting techniques. Be sure to mention any certifications you hold, like Cisco CCNA or CompTIA Network+, as these can give you an edge over other candidates.
Rather than merely listing your job duties, showcase your achievements in previous roles by describing your involvement in specific projects. For example, mention when you've successfully designed, implemented, or upgraded network infrastructure components, and share the positive outcomes, like improved efficiency or decreased downtime.
If you have several years of network administrator experience under your belt, use this resume as a template to craft your application. Network administrators face an array of unpredictable challenges. They are lifelong learners, evolving with the rapidly changing world of technology. Highlight such relevant skills, like when you learned a new skill and quickly applied it in a project setting.
A network administrator is often the highest level of technical staff at an organization, so you must be an expert at keeping your organization’s computer system functional and running smoothly. Employers want to ensure that you have the requisite experience to take on such important responsibilities, so include instances where you’ve proactively prevented problems or quickly solved challenging network issues. In addition, since you’ll be overseeing other employees, it can be helpful to include leadership skills, like a time you trained other subordinates on operational procedures.
As you pick examples of work experience to include in your resume, choose ones that highlight your technical skills and certifications. Since network administrators may work at a wide array of different companies, make sure to read the job description carefully to see what kind of techniques, software or servers that the company uses. Include these in your skills section and expand on times where you used them in your work experience section. For example, if the listing mentions that the company utilizes a Windows server environment, note a time where you implemented network administration in Windows, or even include your MCNA certification.
As an IT Network Administrator, you play a crucial role in managing and maintaining an organization's computer networks. In recent years, the demand for skilled network administrators has risen due to the growing importance of secure and reliable networks. Companies are keen on hiring candidates with both technical expertise and the ability to adapt to evolving technologies. A well-crafted resume is vital to showcase your skills and experience, making it easier for potential employers to identify you as a strong candidate for the position.
In the IT industry, recruiters place a high value on resumes, as they help identify candidates who possess the right blend of technical and soft skills. A meticulously tailored resume for an IT Network Administrator should highlight your qualifications, certifications, and relevant work experience, helping you stand out from the competition and land interviews.
As an IT Network Administrator, it's crucial to include relevant certifications on your resume, such as CCNA, CCNP, or CompTIA Network+. These certifications demonstrate your commitment to enhancing your skills and show employers that you possess the knowledge needed to successfully manage networks.
Network administrators deal with complex network issues daily, so it's essential to highlight your troubleshooting and problem-solving skills on your resume. Use quantifiable accomplishments in previous roles to showcase your ability to identify, investigate, and resolve network issues effectively and efficiently.
An IT network administrator is a network administrator who works specifically with a company’s information tech. This includes designing, managing and maintaining the retrieval and storage of data in an organization’s computer networks. As you put together your IT network administrator resume, you’ll want to emphasize your expertise in IT and relevant technical skills.
In your professional experience section, include concrete examples of where you worked on IT projects and achieved quantitative goals for your company. For example, if you facilitated problem-solving a tricky scripting error, or added a new feature to the network that catalyzed productivity for the organization, use metrics to describe them. How did fixing the scripting error help employees? By what percentage did you reduce friction with your project? Use strong action verbs to emphasize your contributions.
IT network administration is a highly specific role that requires deep expertise in different software, knowledge of various operating systems, and familiarity with an array of servers. If you have experience with a specific infrastructure monitoring software, like Nagios, make sure to include that in your skills section. If the job you’re applying to specifically lists out certain software in the description, you can also expand on these skills in your professional experience section.
As a Junior Network Administrator, your role is to support the IT infrastructure by maintaining, troubleshooting, and monitoring network systems. This field is constantly evolving, and companies are looking for candidates who can adapt to new technologies and industry trends. In the IT industry, resumes play a crucial part in showcasing your technical skills and experience to potential employers.
In your resume, you need to demonstrate your understanding of networking concepts and showcase your ability to work with various network technologies. Remember, a well-crafted resume is the key to standing out among other applicants and securing that interview.
Since you're applying for a Junior Network Administrator role, it's essential to emphasize any certifications you have earned, such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA. These certifications show employers that you have the knowledge and skills to perform the job effectively.
Practical experience is highly valued in the networking field, so make sure to include any internships, labwork, or relevant projects you have completed. Detail your experience with configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting network devices, and share instances where you've successfully resolved complex network issues.
If you’re applying to be a junior network administrator, use this template to help you start your application. Include past roles you’ve had in relevant positions, such as in other technical junior roles or as a trainee. Recruiters want to see that you can take on increasing levels of responsibility, so include instances where you have been promoted, or went above and beyond your job scope.
At lower levels of the IT industry, recruiters must often sift through hundreds of resumes of junior applications. They usually don’t have time to carefully read the details of every single line, so to help your resume stand out from the crowd, include a resume summary that tells the reader exactly what you bring to the table. Include the years of experience you have spent working in your industry, the scope and high-level details of your projects, and your technical strengths. Make sure to focus your summary on specific accomplishments relevant to network administration or IT accomplishments.
Use strong action verbs and quantifiable metrics to emphasize your contributions as a junior network administrator. When you choose examples of projects or accomplishments in your past roles, emphasize how your contribution helped the company by using numbers to describe the impact of your work, before and after. For example, if you were troubleshooting a network issue and came up with a creative solution, describe the percentage by which you improved efficiency. It’s okay if you don’t have exact numbers -- a ballpark estimate is helpful for employers to see what you’re capable of.
If you’re a recent college graduate or are looking to switch careers into IT, this is the resume template for you. The key when applying to an entry level position is to sell yourself with the skills and abilities you have developed so far. You can do this by showcasing your talents in university projects or volunteer experiences. Additionally, emphasize relevant skills that are expected from a network administrator, such as technical skills like network configuration, or qualities like collaborative teamwork or proactive problem-solving.
Don’t worry if you don’t have years of experience right out of college. Recruiters know that most entry level applicants haven’t had the chance to work full-time for a company yet. That’s why you should list relevant projects from activities at school or volunteer work. Perhaps you were involved in IT configuration for a club and helped organize training, or introduced a new system procedure as an intern that is still used in the company. Think outside the box -- you probably have more relevant experience than you realize!
Network administration is a highly technical occupation and requires expert knowledge of complex computer networks. Beyond this, however, the role also requires quick thinking, great problem-solving skills, and strong leadership skills. Students or career changers looking to land an entry level network administrator role should include experience that emphasizes qualities that align with the position. For example, display your leadership skills by including instances where you successfully managed or trained younger students.
We spoke with hiring managers at top companies like Cisco, Juniper Networks, and Oracle to gather their best tips for creating a standout Network Administrator resume. With years of experience reviewing resumes and conducting interviews, they know exactly what it takes to land the job. Here are their top recommendations:
As a Network Administrator, your technical skills and certifications are crucial. Make sure to prominently feature them on your resume. Include specific examples of the technologies you've worked with, such as:
Also, list any relevant certifications you hold, such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA Network+, or Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA).
A resume summary for a Network Administrator position is optional, but it can be a great way to provide additional context about your experience and qualifications that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. It's especially useful if you're changing careers or have a lot of experience to summarize. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and doesn't provide value to the employer.
When writing your summary, focus on highlighting your most relevant skills, experience, and achievements that align with the Network Administrator role. Avoid repeating information that's already in other sections of your resume, and keep it concise - aim for no more than a short paragraph. Remember, your resume itself is already a summary of your qualifications, so use the summary section strategically to add value and context.
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you prove to employers that you have the skills and experience to excel in the role. In this section, we'll cover what to focus on in your work experience section, and what to avoid, with examples.
The education section of your resume is an opportunity to showcase your academic background and relevant training. As a network administrator, it's important to highlight your technical skills and certifications that are relevant to the job. Here are some tips to help you craft a strong education section:
Network administrators are responsible for a broad range of complex technical duties. They must manage an entire network of computers, preventing and fixing problems while providing strategic direction to subordinates. They often work cross-functionally with different teams, receiving feedback and implementing solutions. It’s important to stress these sorts of abilities in the action verbs you choose to use in your resume.
For example, use terms like “devised” or “resolved” to highlight your strength in figuring out solutions to tricky challenges.
Try not to use generic verbs in your resume -- they can do more harm than good. Instead, use powerful words that complement the network administration skills you have.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When you find the network administrator positions that you plan to apply for, read the job listing carefully from beginning to end. Network administrator skills often vary based on the company or industry that the role is in, so take time to research the required technology stack. You’ll want to have a clear idea of what type of software, techniques, or certifications you should include.
For example, if a job description mentions that they prefer candidates who have familiarity with Unix or Linux shell environments, make sure to list that in your skills section. You can even expand on your experience with these interfaces by including an example of a project where you worked with running commands in those shell environments.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Network Administrator job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
