Virtually all businesses rely on phone, internet, computers, and other systems in order to conduct their daily operations. Network engineers are the professionals who design, build, and manage integrated networks of these technologies, ensuring that they function as smoothly as possible.
As a network engineer, your job duties could include maintaining computer systems, backing up data, installing equipment (like switches or routers), and updating key software. You might also offer user support for systems, troubleshoot problems, and devise ways to enhance your network’s performance.
There are plenty of new and emerging job opportunities to be found within this growing field -- employment for network engineers is projected to grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you’re seeking a network engineering position, you need a strong grasp of network integration, infrastructure, and programming. In addition, you need to be a creative problem solver and a strong communicator. How can you showcase skills like these on your resume and make yourself extra competitive for jobs? Let’s look at some examples of network engineer resumes that can help you stand out in 2022.
Network engineers leverage their technical knowledge to design fast, efficient networks that can keep up with the pace of modern business. When problems arise, these engineers find solutions. When applying for a network engineering position, give examples of where you’ve successfully resolved network issues or managed systems in the past. Use numbers to quantify what you achieved, and make sure to emphasize your technical skills in your skills section.
Your overall success as a network engineer will be tied to the results you are able to achieve for clients. On your resume, instead of simply telling hiring managers that you made a positive impact at past jobs, offer data to back up your assertions and provide proof of your skills (e.g. “increased network efficiency by 11%”).
Network engineering roles are highly technical, and as such, they demand specific technical knowledge and expertise. The best way to showcase relevant technical skills (such as LAN/WAN, TCP/IP networking, and routing protocols) is to list them in a separate skills section on your resume. This helps you get past Applicant Tracking Systems who screen your resume for specific keywords.
Senior network engineers don’t only design and maintain network infrastructure for companies; they may also supervise junior engineers and handle client escalations. For this job, you’ll need plenty of experience as an engineer as well as proven leadership and management abilities -- so be sure to highlight your most noteworthy accomplishments at past jobs as well as promotions you’ve received.
Being promoted at a previous position speaks volumes about your talent and drive to succeed. People who strive to excel and rise to greater levels of responsibility are leaders within their profession -- an essential quality for any aspiring senior network engineer. So if you’ve been promoted before, don’t be afraid to showcase it prominently on your resume.
To become a senior network engineer, you should have a lengthy track record of engineering successes. Remember that you’re competing with other experienced professionals for the job, so your resume should clearly lay out your past accomplishments. Leading each one with a powerful action verb (such as “collaborated”, “built”, and “enhanced”) makes your achievements seem more impactful.
Wireless network engineers specialize in setting up and managing wireless networks. These engineers need a solid foundation of technical and problem-solving skills, but they must also continually “level up” their skills and stay abreast of new developments in wireless technologies. Your relevant certifications, continuing education, and hard technical skills should feature prominently on your resume, as should any prior experience you have in wireless networking.
Wireless technology is constantly changing and evolving in new ways. As a wireless network engineer, you’ll need to actively seek new knowledge and stay on top of industry changes as they’re happening. Show your dedication and commitment to the profession by listing certifications you’ve completed (such as 303 ASM or BIG-IP Administrator) as well as routing protocols and other technical skills you’ve amassed over the years.
It takes time and practice to become a great wireless network engineer, and many recruiters are looking for professionals who’ve worked in the field for some time. Listing prior network engineering experience on your resume can be helpful, but wireless networks require special equipment and knowledge -- so if you have wireless networking experience, it can help differentiate you from your competition.
An entry-level network engineer can help design and maintain networks for clients. They learn key job skills while receiving mentorship and guidance from senior engineers. Although you can get hired for this job without much work experience, you’ll usually need at least a Bachelor’s degree in information science or a related field -- and you’ll need some technical proficiency, as well. Focus your resume on your relevant educational background, internship history, and skills.
When your work history is short, it’s helpful to emphasize your education, internship experience, and extracurricular activities. If you majored in information science, held multiple network engineering internships, and have already received certifications such as Cisco (CCNA), you have plenty of applicable knowledge to jumpstart your career -- so don’t be shy about showing it on your resume.
For network engineering and other technical positions, it’s important for hiring managers to see that you have the hard skills they need. For example, you might need to use Javascript, Python, or routing protocols in your job -- so if you’re proficient in these areas, don’t forget to list these skills in your skills section.
IT network engineering roles blend network engineering with systems administration. Systems administrators tend to focus on maintaining existing networks, while network engineers work more on developing and implementing new networks. As an IT network engineer, your job could encompass both creating and managing networks, so make sure your resume reflects a diverse skill set and an ability to balance numerous different responsibilities.
Using clear action verbs to talk about your prior work experience is a powerful way to convey what you accomplished in IT or networking engineering. Verbs such as “installed”, “supported”, and “engineered” are particularly strong choices because they are industry-specific -- they tell hiring managers that you are expired and knowledgeable within network engineering.
The clearest and most vivid way to illustrate your abilities is through specific examples. Wherever possible, provide specific numbers and data to quantify what you achieved. Mentioning that you improved network efficiency by 25% or developed and installed over 400 systems for auto dealerships gives recruiters a picture of what you can do for their company.
A Cisco network engineer is specially trained to use Cisco products in planning, implementing, and managing network systems. Cisco networks are used widely, and the demand for Cisco-certified networking professionals is high. If you want to become a Cisco network engineer, your resume should show recruiters that you have excelled as a network engineer and that you’ve attained the necessary education to work with Cisco products.
To become a Cisco network engineer, you need to get certified as a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and become knowledgeable about these specialized systems. The CCNA is also a respected credential that adds to your professional credibility and marketability -- so make sure to display it in a prominent location, such as the top of your resume.
The job candidate in this example has spent over a decade working as a network engineer, and has worked specifically with Cisco systems. Having the CCNA certification is a great start, but if you can show that you’ve had hands-on experience with Cisco networks and equipment, you’ll be an even better candidate for the job you’re after.
What makes a great network engineer? A thorough understanding of networks (and the technology needed to build them) certainly helps. However, engineering isn’t only science and tech-based; it’s also communicating ideas and collaborating with teams to solve all manner of problems. Network engineers also need to be effective at managing their time and the various projects they work on.
Use examples from your work history to illustrate how you’ve put all of these skills to good use in past jobs. Also, because network engineering has a strong technical component, you will need a solid foundation of technical abilities and knowledge. You’ll want to list all relevant softwares, equipment, programming languages, and other hard skills in your resume skills section along with any certifications you’ve done (such as CCNA).
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Network Engineer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
When detailing your accomplishments at past jobs, you should always introduce those accomplishments with vivid action verbs. Choose the best, most precise word to describe what you achieved and how you did it -- you’ll convey a strong message to hiring managers, and you’ll save valuable space on your resume by eliminating fluffy, insubstantial language.
If you’re an aspiring network engineer, choose verbs that highlight your communication, problem-solving, and technical skills. Here is a list of verbs that could be helpful as you write your resume.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
If you're a senior-level employee, or you're changing careers to become a Network Engineer, it's useful to add a paragraph at the top of your resume highlighting your most impressive accomplishments. This is called a resume summary.
Here's an example of a summary that can be used on a Network Engineer resume.
A resume summary is a totally optional section, and in most cases, it's better to leave it out of your resume than include it. For example, if you're a student or mid-level hire, you should not include a summary, and instead use the space to add to your work experience.
To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Network Engineer resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Resume Summary Examples for Job Seekers: When To Include One.
Demonstrate that you can take ownership of your roles by starting your bullet points with strong networking-related verbs such as “Implemented”, “Troubleshot” and “Installed.” You can better your network engineer resume by uploading it to Score My Resume. The free tool will analyze your resume for mistakes identified by recruiters and show you how to correct them.Redesigned client’s network topology, increasing the network’s efficiency by 25%.
