System Administrator Resume—Sample and 25+ Writing Tips

You’re using all of your 100Mbps bandwidth to send out system administrator resumes, and nothing is pinging back. Perhaps, something is getting misinterpreted as a malicious threat.

Luckily, we know which ports to hit to get your system administrator resume through to interview.

In this guide:

• A system administrator resume sample that doesn’t drop packets. 
• The cfg: a resume format guide.
• Expert hints on how to bolster your system administrator job application.

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Applying to a range of positions? See our other dedicated guides:

• IT Resume
• IT Project Manager Resume
• IT Specialist Resume
• IT Technician Resume
• Software Engineer Resume
• Web Designer Resume
• UX Resume
• Web Developer Resume
• Information Security Analyst Resume
• iOS Developer Resume
• DevOps Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• Engineering Resume
• Systems Engineer Resume
• Salesforce Admin Resume
• Technical Resume
• Quality Engineer Resume
• Manufacturing Engineer Resume
• Network Engineer Resume
• Network Administrator Resume
• Cyber Security Resume
• IT Director Resume
• Data Engineer Resume
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

System Administrator Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

1. Reconfigure Your System Administrator Resume Format

Did anything ever come straight out of the box and work right the first time? Sometimes. An expert like you can tweak it to get the maximum performance. Just like you know Cisco and Linux, we know resumes.

Use this resume format cfg:

System Administrator Resume Format

• The reverse-chronological resume format will bring your most relevant experience to the top. 
• Use resume fonts like Calibri or Garamond in 10–12pt.
• Set 1-inch resume margins, and use white space to guide their eyes. 
• The one-page resume is probably best. If you have sizable experience and are applying to a specialist position, feel free to extend your resume length. 
• Order your resume sections like this: Resume Header, Objective, Experience, Education, and “Additional.”
• Send your resume as a PDF, unless instructed to otherwise.
• Use a modern resume template unless you’re applying to a traditional company.

We’re ready to boot.

2. Write a Fiber Optic System Administrator Resume Summary

Your resume profile must be as smooth and fast as a fiber optic connection. Get the right information through, right away. There is no time to waste. According to the Ladders Eye Tracking Study, employers only spend an average 7.4 seconds scanning a resume.

After you are finished writing your system admin resume, scan it through a few times, and think which pieces of information you’d like to transmit in 7.4 seconds. Then scan the job posting, and think about what they’d like to know you can do by the time 7.4 seconds are up.

Summarize your best achievements with relation to the above, back them up with numbers, and write a 1Gbps resume summary.

System Administrator Professional Summary

A cost-saving system administrator with 4+ years of experience, and a proven track record in supporting 1,500 users across 4,000 stationary and mobile devices at NeoCorp Jersey. Reduced tickets and ticket response time by 37% and 50% respectively. Improved server uptime from 97% to 99.9%. Seeking to leverage the optimization and saving skills in a new position at T&G.

I am a system administrator with 4 years of experience of managing the IT infrastructure of NeoCorp Jersey, including desktops and mobile devices. Handle all day-to-day IT operations, user tickets, and cybersecurity. Able to start immediately.

Don’t waste packets. Be scarce with words also, sum up the significance of your achievements, but if you need to explain them, do it in your job description. 

But what if you’re writing an entry-level system administrator resume? Think internships, volunteering, and school achievements. Here’s an example of a junior system administrator resume.

Motivated system administrator looking to boost ROI at CrocLabs Inc. Have worked as a volunteer sys admin at local homeless shelters for the last 2 years. Completed work under budget for both time and cost.

Entry-level network administrator with no professional work experience so far. Seeking a new job with room for advancement.

Expert Hint: To make sure you do not sound generic, considering writing a targeted resume, and referencing your future employer in the resume profile.

3. Patch Your System Administrator Resume Job Description To the Newest Version

The resume work experience section is where you score the points. You have their attention. Demonstrate that you are as perfect as Linux for this job. Focus on the requirements of the job, if it’s a Windows system admin resume, focus on your Windows experience, and vice versa.

Back up your performance with solid numbers to show exactly the kind of impact you can make on their business. Be the Disk Defragmenter they need. Here’s how:

System Administrator Job Description for a Resume

System Administrator

NeoCorp Jersey

2017–2020

• Supporting 1,500 users across 4,000 stationary and mobile devices. 
• By analyzing ticket types and building a relevant FAQ and Help tool, reduced tickets by 37% and ticket response time by 50%.
• Improved server uptime on the company’s 27 servers from 97% to 99.9%.
• Developed a plan to use Citrix to save time on software installs on 1,500 desktops.
• Found and patched 7 security vulnerabilities in the first year.

Junior System Administrator

boss.io

2016–2017

• Responsible for 50+ Windows and Linux machines and 25+ users in a startup environment.
• Responsible for all installations, software and hardware rollouts.
• Designed automatizations for software updates, saving 10hrs/month+.
• Grew a team of 5 to 29 IT professionals responsible for local and global systems comprising 600+ machines used by 3,000+ users, present in 27 countries with an annual turnover of $760m.

• Responsible for management of all IT systems at NeoCorp Jersey.
• Decreased ticket response time and volume.
• Increased uptime on company servers.
• Streamlined the software installation and patching process.

You might end up with a list of 20 technologies you are used to dealing with. Feel free to relegate some of them to a separate section with skills for a resume, which you can also bolster with some interpersonal qualities.

System Administrator Skills for Resume

Hard skills

• Scripting
• Access Management
• Network Administration
• Cyber Security & Defense
• Applications Architecture
• Data Center Management
• Agile & SCRUM Methodology
• Research & Analysis
• Database Administration
• Cloud Architecture
• Data Architecture
• Designing Network Architecture
• DevOps
• Database Administration
• Cloud Systems
• Network Administration
• Troubleshooting
• HTML/JavaScript
• Windows/Unix/Linux

Soft skills

• Written Communication
• Active Listening
• Budgeting
• Negotiating with Vendors
• Conceptual Thinking and Planning Skills
• Cost Management
• Collaboration
• Interpersonal Skills
• Perceptiveness
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving

Expert Hint: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth of only 5% for system administrator positions. Many system admins have been in the field for a long time. If you are one of them, consider if a two-page resume could be beneficial.

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4. Buffer Your Education Section Without Glitches

The length of the education section on your resume will depend on the size of your experience. If you have terabytes of relevant experience, you can cut down and just list the school name and major. 

If you have relatively little experience, list your GPA, you can expand this section with relevant coursework or achievements sections. Focus on the aspects that fit the profile of your new position.

Windows System Admin Resume Sample—Education

BSc in Computer Science

University of Texas, Houston

2012-2016

GPA: 3.8

If you’re writing a recent college graduate resume and have some scholarships under your belt, mention them in the education section as well.

5. Defrag Your System Administrator Resume With Added Sections

The amount of keywords and names in your resume can make it messy. When your certifications and technologies start stacking up, you can defrag your resume by splitting everything up into bonus resume sections. Begin with a certifications section. 

Consider the rest only if you have adequate space:

• Tech Stack
• Awards
• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Hobbies, Activities, and Interests
• Volunteering
• Professional References
• Skills—if you haven’t included them as part of your other sections

Compare these two system administrator resume examples:

Linux System Administrator Resume—Extra Sections

Key Skills

• Citrix
• Cost Optimization
• DevOps
• Cloud Computing
• Cyber Security
• Teamwork Skills
• Communication Skills

Certifications

• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
• Red Hat: RHCSA and RHCE
• Linux Professional Institute (LPI): LPIC System Administrator
• CompTIA Server+
• VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV)
• ServiceNow Certified System Administrator

Languages

• Intermediate French
• Fluent German

Added Information 

• CGEIT, MCSD, CCNA
• Cantonese
• Expert in DevOps and Cloud computing

Limit the length of these sections as you add more experience to your system administrator resume. 

One last thing. Write a cover letter. Though it might seem it’s a thing of the past, almost 50% of recruiters still expect to get one attached to your resume.

Expert Hint: The CompTIA certifications are some of the most sought after on system administrator resumes. Depending on the positions you’re applying to, Server+, Linux+ or Cloud+ specializations might be most suitable.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

Follow these protocols so that your Windows system admin resume does not get firewalled:

• Use our resume format cfg—margins, fonts, 1 page, reverse chronological.
• Quantify the impact and achievements, instead of just listing technologies and responsibilities. Think about numbers, schedules, improvements. 
• Limit the length of the education section as you become more experienced. 
• Write a system administrator cover letter.

Did you find our System Administrator resume examples helpful? Did we help you get your System Administrator resume right? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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