Network Administrator resume examples & templates

Ready to land your next network admin role? You need a resume that makes a strong connection with recruiters and hiring managers.

Just like the networks you install, your network administrator resume should be built for performance. It should show prospective employers why you’re the right person to keep their networks optimized, secure, and running smoothly 24/7.

A weak or generic resume won’t cut it. Your network administrator resume needs to communicate your value and show hiring managers your ability to solve problems, support end users, and collaborate with IT teams.

With the right infrastructure and technical know-how, you can build a resume that transmits your value at lightning speed. We’ll show you how to write a network administrator resume that  gets results.

Guide for a network administrator resume example

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This writing guide and network administrator resume example will cover:

• How to write a network administrator resume
• Selecting a format for a network admin resume
• How to include your contact information
• Writing a professional summary or profile
• How to list your technical experience
• Including your education and relevant skills
• Choosing a resume design and layout
• What the network admin job market and salary potential look like

How to write a network administrator resume

Before you begin writing your network administrator resume, familiarize yourself with the information to include. Your resume should have these sections:

• A  resume header
• A  resume summary
• A  work history section
• A  resume skills section
• An  education section

Your resume should have the same logic, structure, and organization as the networks and systems you oversee. When employers review your resume, they should see that you have the technical skills and experience to keep an organization’s network operating smoothly.

To make your network administrator resume stand out, follow these tips:

• Emphasize accomplishments, not duties. Most network administrators have experience monitoring performance and configuring routers. If that’s all your resume says, you’re unlikely to set yourself apart from other candidates. Instead, focus on the value you’ve delivered, such as improving network speeds or minimizing system outages.
• Tailor your resume to the job. Every time you send out a resume, you should adjust it slightly to match the role and employer. Make sure that your resume references the specific skills and technologies an employer has requested in the job description.
• Use a concise, readable layout. Even if you’ve worked in the technology field for many years, don’t clutter your resume with every project you’ve ever completed. Keep your resume concise and choose a  readable template, so that employers can easily review your top qualifications.
• Optimize with keywords. Many companies use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to screen resumes before hiring managers review them. Use  resume keywords from the job posting to boost your chances of moving forward.

Choosing the best format for a network administrator resume

Optimal network performance depends on having the right infrastructure. The  format of your resume serves a similar purpose. It should clearly guide recruiters through your skills and experience as an IT professional.

The best format for most network administrators is the  reverse-chronological resume. This format places your most recent experience on top and works backward through your career. It’s the most common resume format and works well with ATS software. It also highlights your professional growth and career advancement.

If your career hasn’t followed a linear progression, another format may work better. The  functional resume format focuses more on relevant skills than hands-on experience. It’s a good option if you want to minimize  employment gaps or if you’re transitioning into network administration from another role.

A combination resume, also known as a  hybrid resume, can work well if you have some experience, but also want to showcase your technical strengths. This format combines elements of the other two, so that both your skills and experience have a chance to shine.

Explore the  resume templates we offer to find the format that works best for your career path and goals. You can also compare the three formats by browsing our collection of  resume examples.

Provide your contact information

Much like an IP address identifies a device connected to a network, your resume header introduces yourself to prospective employers. It should be organized and accessible, located at the top of your network administrator resume.

A resume header should include:

• Full name and title. Use your first and last name and your professional title, such as “Network Administrator.”
• Professional email address. Provide an email that easily identifies you, such as one with your full name or initials.
• Phone number. Give hiring managers the best number to reach you. Don’t forget to record a professional voicemail greeting when you start applying for jobs.
• Location. Include only your city and state, not your  full mailing address. It’s unsafe to provide your address on a resume.
• LinkedIn. You can include your  LinkedIn profile if it’s up to date with your most recent work experience.

It should not include:

• Date of birth. Potential employers don’t need to know your age, and providing it can lead to  potential discrimination.
• Personal information. You shouldn’t include your driver’s license number, marital status, or other personal details on your resume.
• Photo or headshot. It’s not necessary to have your  photo on your resume.

Include a resume summary or profile

Hiring managers often make split-second decisions about whether to keep reading a resume or toss it aside. Your network administrator resume summary needs to hook employers by describing why you’re the right fit for their IT infrastructure needs.

Your summary, also known as a profile, should convince recruiters that you understand what’s required to keep networks secure and efficient. In two to three sentences, outline your IT experience, key skills, and impact you’ve made on other organizations.

Without repeating information listed elsewhere on your resume, briefly mention one or two career highlights you’ve achieved. For example, did you reduce network downtime in your last role? Have you successfully led the migration to a hybrid cloud infrastructure? Discuss achievements like these that showcase your technical expertise and influence within an organization.

Your summary should also highlight the  unique strengths or proficiencies you can bring to the new role. Review the job posting and tailor your summary to meet an employer’s needs. If the job description asks for experience with network design, for example, highlight your skills in that area.

A summary is an opportunity to pitch your skills, knowledge, and experience to employers.  In your pitch, explain why you’re the missing piece to a company’s tech stack.

View some adaptable summaries from network administrator resume examples below:

Outline your network administrator work experience: prove your bandwidth

Your work experience section outlines your professional infrastructure. It should focus on the ways you’ve made improvements or solved problems in your past jobs.

Provide your employment history in reverse order, starting with your most recent position. List all of the relevant jobs you’ve held for the  past 10 to 15 years. For jobs older than 15 years, group them into a separate section titled “Other Experience.”

Use bullet points to describe your work experience and achievements. Start each statement with a  powerful action verb, such as “deployed,” “optimized,” “resolved,” or “configured.” These action words show employers how you make a difference for IT teams and organizations.

Your  resume bullet points should focus on the tangible outcomes you achieved in past jobs, rather than generic duties. For example, take a look at these statements:

• “Monitored network systems.”
• “Managed firewalls.”
• “Solved user problems.”

These bullet points don’t show hiring managers your specific value or contributions. Avoid these broad, task-focused statements. Instead, write bullet points like these:

• “Monitored and resolved network issues quickly, improving uptime from 94% to 99.9%.”
• “Implemented firewall policies and prevention protocols to eliminate major security vulnerabilities.”
• “Communicated with users to understand network issues and find timely solutions to problems, resulting in a 98% user satisfaction rating.”

These results-based statements do a much better job of showing your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and impact on network performance and security. Where you can, include  quantifiable data in your bullet points to boost your credibility. A network administrator resume may include metrics like cost savings, network speed, security incidents, and compliance rates.

Check out our network administrator resume work history example below:

Include your relevant key skills for a network administrator resume

Your skills section should include both the  hard and soft skills you need to be a network administrator. Hard skills are the technical abilities you bring to the role, while your soft skills are the qualities you use to communicate with others and solve problems under pressure.

Check the job description to see what  hard skills an employer requires for the role. Include those same skills on your resume to show you’re a good fit. These skills might include wireless network configuration, cloud computing, authorization protocols, and VPN management.

This section should also include the  soft skills you use to support users and collaborate with IT teams. Soft skills for a network administrator resume can include  critical thinking, communication, and  multitasking.

As you create your resume in our resume builder, you can choose from pre-written skills and indicate your  proficiency levels. You can also choose to add your own unique skills.

See what our skills section looks like in our network administrator resume example below:

Don’t limit your skills to one place on your network administrator resume. Instead, weave your skills into your resume summary and work experience section as well.

For example, you can highlight these skills:

• Security knowledge. Explain the actions you take to protect an organization’s network from security vulnerabilities and breaches.
• Problem-solving abilities. Discuss times when you proactively resolved problems or troubleshooted issues quickly in stressful situations.
• Communication skills. Describe how you communicate with users, clients, and other IT team members to provide support or complete projects.

By incorporating your skills throughout your resume, you show potential employers the knowledge and expertise you can contribute as a network administrator.

Detail your education & relevant network administrator certifications

Most companies require network administrators to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or a similar field. In your education section, list the  academic credentials you’ve earned, starting with your highest degree. You don’t need to list your high school diploma.

Besides your formal education, you can also discuss other training you’ve completed. This additional professional development may include:

• Certifications. Highlight  professional certifications you’ve earned related to network administration, such as the CompTIA Network+ or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification.
• Technical training or courses. Mention  courses or workshops you’ve taken in relevant areas, such as network security or cloud platforms.
• Professional memberships. Participation in industry organizations or local IT groups can show employers your commitment to professional development.

Unless you’ve recently graduated with a degree, your education should be at the bottom of your resume, below your experience and skills. If you want to mention a specific certification higher on your resume, you can include it in your professional summary.

Pick the right layout & design for a network administrator resume

Just as the right infrastructure can optimize a network,  the right design can take your resume to the next level. The layout of your network administrator resume should be organized, structured, and professional, similar to the qualities you bring to the job.

Choose a layout or template that’s clean, balanced, and easy to navigate. A hiring manager should be able to glance at your resume quickly and spot your key qualifications. Use bold headers and leave white space between sections.

Most network administrators should have a  one-page resume. If you have over a decade of IT experience, you can have a  two-page resume. However, avoid making the font or margins smaller to cram more details onto your resume. You can expand on your qualifications in a cover letter or an interview.

Your resume isn’t necessarily the place to let your creative juices flow. Overly artistic  fonts, graphics, and colors can pull an employer’s focus away from your skills and experience. If you want to show some personality, add a simple  splash of color to your resume header.

There’s a logical hierarchy to building a well-designed resume, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Use our  ATS-optimized resume templates to craft an impressive resume without the headache of formatting, structure, and design. With our easy-to-use resume builder, you can quickly configure a resume that gets your foot in the door.

Network administrator job market & outlook

Network administration is an essential function in modern offices. While the role of network administrators may look different in the future, employers will continue to need technology professionals who can build and oversee their networks.

What type of salary you can make as a network administrator

In many companies, network administrators are among the most senior IT staff, and are usually high-earning employees. Network administrators make an average annual salary of $96,800. 

However, keep in mind that your salary may look different depending on your experience level and where you work.

Key takeaways for building a network administrator resume

Writing a network administrator resume requires the same skills you use in your job: logic, research, and critical thinking. On your resume, clearly explain why you’re the best candidate to manage an employer’s network. 

Highlight your technical skills, record of user support, and data-backed achievements. By following these guidelines, your resume can become the strongest link in your job search.

Once you start your job search with our  resume builder, don’t stop there! With resume.io’s 18 advanced tools, you can search for IT jobs, track your journey, prepare for interviews, and negotiate the best salary—all with our powerful career toolkit at your fingertips.