System Administrators are responsible for ensuring that all systems and networks are installed and maintained properly. As a Systems Administrator you can expect to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Information System Management. Depending on what you choose to focus on, you might earn a specialized certification as a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) for example.
To follow a linear path, you could begin your career as a System Administration Specialist and then continue to progress to System Administrator and then up to Senior System Administrator where you’ll be taking on additional leadership roles. Or, you could specialize as an IT System Administrator or a Linux Administrator. Other options are to transition to areas such as IT Consulting, System Architecture, or Cybersecurity. Right now, you can expect steady growth in the field for the next few years.
System Administrators should have strong problem solving skills and be knowledgeable of software and hardware programs like Windows Server, Amazon Web Services, Python, or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Remember that each role is slightly different so make sure to know which of these are required for the specific job.
A System Administrator is responsible for making sure that all systems are working properly. This might include setting up computer networks and performing server maintenance. To advance in this field, you will want to show past experience of clear growth through promotions or additional responsibilities. It’s also important to use specific metrics throughout your bullet points with tangible examples. For each achievement, try to use a number or metric.
This resume does a nice job of showing past experience of being promoted quickly. It shares, “Promoted within 19 months due to strong performance and organizational impact, one year ahead of schedule.” This would show future employers that you learn quickly, and are looking to grow and advance with the company. Check out our article for examples of how to list a promotion on a resume.
Using specific metrics and examples in your bullet points is an ideal way to show your tangible results. This resume uses the example, “Planned all system design, saving $200,000 a year in lost time and materials…” Whenever possible, try to use a number or metric to convey your ideas as this will speak volumes about your capabilities.
An IT System Administrator is a specialized System Administrator that is in charge of designing, organizing, changing, and supporting the computer systems, as well as solving problems related to LAN, Wide Area Networks, and other networking areas. Using strong action verbs to convey your leadership will help you to continually advance from junior to senior positions. Also, including the most important IT skills will help your resume to stand out.
Starting your bullet points with verbs such as, “Collaborated,” “Trained,” and “Supported” will show employers that you have solid experience training and managing other teams or employees. By taking on responsibilities like this, you are also showing that you’re capable of advancing and managing at a higher level.
IT System Administrators are more focused on administrative tasks within the IT department so focus on your skills on those. Look at the job description for required skills that you should include in your skills sections and the rest of your resume. For example, in IT, “Linux,” “Networking,” and “SharePoint” are common.
A Junior System Administrator needs to assist other administrators with setting up, maintaining the computer databases and making sure that everything is operating well. In your resume you can use the keyword of the job title you are applying for and add any relevant certifications after the skills section of your resume. Remember you don’t need to include everything, just the jobs, skills, and certifications relevant to the position.
Especially if you don’t have much system administration experience, it might be worth including the specific job role of “Junior System Administrator” at the top of the resume, ensuring that you will pass the automated screeners. In this case, the resume is targeted to this particular role, and focuses on past experience in the exact same position.
If you have a specific certification that is relevant to the position, include it in your resume. This could be an online course or a bootcamp you completed — including an online course is an opportunity to add in relevant sysadmin or networking skills to your resume that you otherwise might not have in your work experience.
Unlike generalist System Administrator roles, a Linux System Administrator is focused specifically on skills involving the Linux operating system — for example, installing and setting up Linux servers and systems. A resume like this can emphasize your advanced education in Computer Science and also references your vast experience working with Linux systems. Your bullet points can draw attention to common industry jargon.
If you have a specific degree that employers are looking for or have an advanced degree make sure that this is emphasized in your education section of your resume. For example, this resume shows both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Computer Science which will certainly impress companies. Remember your degree might be a keyword that the screeners want.
As you can see in this resume, any direct experience should be prominently displayed. For a specialized role like this, use language that is specific to the role or field with metrics and clear examples.
A Senior System Administrator is part technical expert and part manager. In this role you’ll be configuring new systems, monitoring progress and overseeing other employees and teams. Because this is a senior level role, you’ll want to draw attention to your career progression, emphasizing promotions and leadership experience. You should also focus on specific project experience that the job will require or that are transferable skills or areas.
When applying for senior and higher level positions, it’s important to use past promotions and growth to show your progression in the field. This will also show employers that you are serious about advancing in your career and will demonstrate your ability to take on additional responsibilities and continue to develop.
Sometimes, it’s useful to call out your most relevant or most high-profile experiences to the job you’re applying to. The “Selected Project Experience” highlights experience with specific systems and projects, like SuSE, RedHat, and Solaris.”
A system administrator is in charge of a company’s network and computers. Tasks you can expect include installing software, setting up servers, managing data storage, etc. As an entry-level system administrator, your job will be to learn everything you can about the hardware, software, and networks of the company and how to satisfy the company’s IT needs. For many companies, this position is seen as a training position for new professionals in the field.
Your resume may not show a lot of experience so focus on your qualifications and skills sections. Take a look at this strong resume sample.
If you have no experience in the field, adding a specific job title can help you get past resume screeners looking for specific skills or keywords on your resume.
Because you will most likely not have years of experience, recruiters will be keen to see what qualifications you have in the field. Gaining certifications in system administration will show recruiters that you are more qualified and skilled than your competitors and that you are driven and passionate about the profession.
An experienced system administrator will manage a company’s networks and the software and hardware used within them. Some of your tasks will include troubleshooting, installing hardware or software, designing networks and their infrastructure, assisting staff with network needs, etc.
You will be expected to have expertise in IT, software, hardware, network design, and more. Being able to show a degree in IT, computer science, or a related field is a sure way to prove your knowledge in these areas. Beyond that, your resume should show a history of handling networks for companies and the achievements you have had in that area. Look at this successful resume sample.
An experienced system administrator has a range of tasks they need to complete, so using action verbs that show a range of functions is an easy way to make your range clear to recruiters. Some action verbs relevant to this position include designed, maintained, and resolved.
Your skill section should be specific to the skills needed in system administration. This is especially true for the technical skills or industry knowledge sections. Relevant skills may include DBA, system backup, and capacity planning.
A Windows system administrator, otherwise known as a Windows administrator, is in charge of the Windows systems in a company. Tasks you can expect include acquiring, installing, upgrading, and maintaining Windows-based systems and servers. You will be expected to be an expert when it comes to Windows systems so having Windows certifications listed on your resume would be very beneficial for you. Recruiters will otherwise expect to see a background in I.T.
In terms of soft skills, you will be expected to have strong communication skills and patience as you will be talking and assisting multiple people across the company. Here is a successful resume sample.
Having many I.T. certifications is great, but for this position, the only ones recruiters care about are the Microsoft certifications. So only list those so they stand out. For many companies, having these certifications will be required to qualify for this job.
By reading your resume, recruiters should be able to tell that you are highly knowledgeable and skilled. An effective way to do this is to litter your resume with industry and job-specific keywords. For this position, relevant keywords may include VMware, software licensing, and operating systems.
As the name suggests, it is important to have strong software and technical skills relating to system administration, often called ‘sysadmin’. Of course, the system administration field is broad, so depending on your area of focus, you may need to know scripting (e.g. Python or Bash), Networking (e.g. LAN/WAN), Databases or work with Operating Systems. Your needed skills will vary depending on if you’re applying for a role as an IT System Administrator, Junior Administrator, or Linux System Administrator so make sure that you read the job description carefully so that you can include any important skills in your bullet points or as a separate skills section.
Adding relevant keywords to your resume will help you get past the Applicant Tracking Systems. These tracking systems are automated filters and the more you’re able to use the specific keywords that the system is looking for, the better chances you’ll have of getting interviews.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on System Administrator job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
System Administrators need to have experience designing and implementing systems, diagnosing and resolving problems, and leading teams and projects. You can emphasize these skills with your action verbs - examples: use Troubleshooted and Resolved to show your problem solving skills.
As you are structuring your bullet points, remember to begin with an action verb. By doing this, you are putting the focus on what you’ve achieved in previous jobs.
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 System Administrator, 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 System Administrator 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 System Administrator resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Resume Summary Examples for Job Seekers: When To Include One.
Notice how the bullet points start with strong technical verbs (“Configured”, “Implemented”) and are followed by numbers and metrics to quantify their impact.Configured 3500 computers and 2 servers to create a LAN that improved inter-departmental communications, saving $50,000 annually.
Educated over 10,000 employees on phishing risks reducing successful phishing scams by 80%.
Implemented new load-balancing technique that improved client satisfaction from 80% to 99%.
