Entry-level network administrator resume example

By the Rezumed team · Updated November 5, 2026

A network administrator keeps the switches, routers, servers and accounts an organization depends on running every day. An entry-level network administrator resume should show you have configured real equipment, managed users and permissions, and checked that backups can actually be restored.

What network administrators do

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says "Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations' computer networks and systems." Their listed duties include making needed upgrades and repairs to networks, maintaining network and system security, evaluating and optimizing performance, and diagnosing and resolving problems when alerted by a user or an automated monitoring system. One duty reads simply: "Add users to a network and assign security permissions". BLS says network administrators "install, configure, and manage computer infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and cables", including local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), while systems administrators manage servers, desktop and mobile equipment and software, and make sure email and data storage work properly.

On education, BLS says administrators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to computer or information science, and that "Some employers require a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree." It adds that "Employers may require their network and computer systems administrators to be certified in the products they use." So the resume has to show hands-on work with network gear and servers, plus the certifications a posting names.

Sample resume

Certifications sit under Education because network postings often name them. The campus network job comes first and gets the most bullets because it is real switching work on a live network. The internship covers the systems side: accounts, updates and backups. The home lab shows what you practice on your own time, and with no network job yet it is your experience section.

What to put in each section

Experience: the device, the change and how you checked it

A strong network bullet names the equipment, what you changed and how you made sure it worked: a review, a test or a monitoring check. Counts help when you know them: ports, access points, accounts, servers or computers. Unlike help desk work, the focus here is the infrastructure behind the users, so lead with switches, servers and permissions rather than tickets.

Certifications: name, month and status

BLS says certifications come from vendors and from vendor-neutral providers. List each one with the month you earned it. For one you are studying for, write "in progress" with the exam month.

Skills to list

Network postings name vendors, protocols and systems, such as "Cisco", "VLANs", "Active Directory" or "VMware". Use their exact words for the ones you have configured. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords. Mark anything you have only used in Packet Tracer or a course.

Tools

• Network gear: Cisco IOS, Juniper, Ubiquiti or Aruba switches and access points
• Firewalls: pfSense, Fortinet or Palo Alto, if you have configured one
• Servers and directory: Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Linux
• Virtualization and backup: VMware, Proxmox or Hyper-V, Veeam or similar
• Monitoring and analysis: PRTG, Zabbix or SolarWinds, Wireshark
• Scripting: PowerShell, Bash or Python basics

Abilities

• Planning IP addresses and VLANs
• Troubleshooting from the cable up to the application
• Managing accounts and permissions through groups
• Testing backups and restores
• Keeping diagrams and change notes current
• Explaining network changes to people outside IT

Common mistakes

• A list of protocols with no device. "TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, VLANs" says you studied them. Show where you configured each one: a job, a lab or a course project.
• Writing it like a help desk resume. Password resets and printer tickets belong on the page, but keep them short. The switches, servers and backups are what this job is about.
• Overstating lab work. A Packet Tracer topology is a design exercise, not a production network. Label it as a course project and describe what you built.
• Sharing too much. Leave out real IP addresses, device names, passwords and anything about a past employer's security setup. Describe the kind of network instead.

FAQ

Do I need a certification to get hired?

Not always. BLS says employers may require certification in the products they use, so read each posting. If you are studying for one, list it as in progress with the exam month.

Network administrator or IT support: which example fits?

If most of your experience is helping users at a help desk, start from the entry-level IT support specialist example. If you have configured switches, managed servers or run backups, use this one.

One page or two?

One page. It fits two jobs, a lab and a course project, so avoid a second page. See How to write a new grad resume for the general layout.

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More resume examples

• Entry-level IT support specialist resume exampleA campus help desk job, CompTIA A+ and a home lab, with bullets that show the problem, the fix and the system.
• Entry-level cybersecurity analyst resume exampleA SOC internship, Security+ and a home lab, with bullets that name the alert, the tool and what happened next.
• Entry-level web developer resume exampleFreelance client sites, a campus web job and a live portfolio, with bullets about what shipped, how fast it loads and who can use it.

See all resume examples.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Network and Computer Systems Administrators
• University of Maryland Career Center: Resume how-to guide