One of the key CV challenges you might encounter as a system administrator is effectively showcasing your technical skills and experience in a concise manner without oversimplifying complex projects. Our guide provides detailed tips on articulating your achievements and tailoring your technical expertise to the job description, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
Learn how to create your next system administrator CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for system administrator
Explore additional system administrator cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Junior System Administrator
- Strategic Content Presentation - The CV is structured with clarity and conciseness, making it easy for potential employers to identify key skills and achievements. Each section is well-organized and distinct, allowing the reader to quickly grasp Harry's professional background and suitability for the role of Junior Corporate Administrator.
- Steady Career Progression - Harry's career trajectory demonstrates a smooth transition from legal internship to a corporate administrator role, reflecting growth in responsibilities. This progression highlights his ability to adapt and excel within the corporate legal domain, suggesting potential for future advancements.
- Cross-Functional and Soft Skills - The CV showcases Harry's strong adaptation and cross-functional experience, evident in his collaborations with finance and HR teams. His exemplary soft skills, such as attention to detail and communication, are highlighted both through measurable achievements and participation in strategic projects, emphasizing his capability to navigate and lead within diverse teams.
Senior System Administrator
- Comprehensive Experience in Governance and Risk Management - Sienna West's CV effectively outlines a progressive career trajectory that spans key roles in governance and risk management. She has consistently taken on more complex responsibilities, demonstrating a clear path of growth and expertise development in her industry. Her roles have evolved from an Administrative Officer to senior positions, reflecting her capability to handle more strategic functions.
- Achievements Emphasize Business Impact - The CV highlights significant achievements, showing Sienna's ability to influence business outcomes. For example, her initiatives led to a 30% decrease in operational errors and a 22% improvement in policy compliance. These accomplishments illustrate not just competence but also a strong focus on improving efficiency and driving organizational excellence, directly impacting business performance positively.
- Cross-functional and Multi-industry Adaptability - The document effectively captures Sienna's ability to work across various functions and industries, including healthcare and corporate governance. Her experience with cross-functional teams, coupled with remote work adaptability, showcases her skill in collaborating effectively to enhance both data management and policy development, which are crucial in her fields of expertise.
Lead System Administrator
- Clear achievements with business impact - The CV highlights significant accomplishments such as enhancing operational efficiency by 30% during a cloud migration and optimizing SQL queries to reduce response time by 40%. These achievements demonstrate the candidate's ability to drive substantial business results through technical expertise.
- Structured presentation of career growth - Finley Robinson's career trajectory is depicted clearly, showcasing his progression from a Junior Database Administrator to a Senior Database Administrator. Each role is detailed with accomplishments and responsibilities that illustrate his growth and increased responsibility within the industry.
- Emphasis on cross-functional collaboration - The CV emphasizes Robinson's adaptability and collaborative skills, particularly his experience working with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless application deployments and enhance application speed, highlighting his ability to work effectively in team environments.
Assistant System Administrator
- Structured and Clear Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized into distinct sections that enhance its readability and flow. Each section is clearly labeled and details are presented concisely, making it easy for potential employers to quickly identify key qualifications and experiences. The bullet points provide focused descriptions of responsibilities and achievements without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary details.
- Dynamic Career Trajectory in Recruitment and Compliance - Harper Webb has shown significant career growth, transitioning from an Administrative Assistant role to an Operations Coordinator and then to a Compliance Specialist. This progression within the care industry highlights a deliberate focus on advancing expertise in operations and compliance, showcasing a dedication to professional development and sector specialization.
- Significant Business Impact through Achievements - The CV highlights impactful achievements that go beyond mere numbers by demonstrating clear business relevance. For example, implementing a new recruitment system that reduced hiring time by 15% not only improved operational efficiency but also resulted in notable cost savings. Such achievements underscore the candidate's ability to drive strategic initiatives that enhance organizational performance.
By Role
Network System Administrator
- Impressive Career Progression - Olivia Turner's career trajectory demonstrates significant growth, moving from a System Engineer at BT Group to a Senior System Administrator at Capgemini. This upward movement reflects her increasing responsibilities and expertise in IT infrastructure and cloud technologies.
- Strong Focus on Industry Compliance - Throughout her roles, Olivia has been an active leader in compliance efforts, notably maintaining GDPR and SOC II compliance. These actions safeguard company data and ensure the organization meets necessary regulations, showcasing her commitment to data protection.
- Technical Versatility and Depth - Olivia's CV is rich with advanced skills across a broad spectrum of IT environments, including Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and network security protocols such as VLANs and Fortigate Firewalls. Her technical acumen is further evidenced by achievements like the deployment of OAuth authentication, underscoring her proficiency and innovative approach in applying technical solutions.
Database System Administrator
- Structured career advancement - Florence Knight's CV showcases a career trajectory with consistent growth, advancing from a Junior Database Administrator to a Senior Database Administrator. This progression illustrates her dedication to her field and capability in taking on more complex responsibilities over time.
- Implementation of key industry tools and methodologies - The CV highlights Knight's expertise in utilizing industry-specific tools such as SQL Server, RedGate SQL Backup, and Microsoft Azure, demonstrating her proficiency with essential technologies. Her experience with advanced methodologies like SQL Server performance tuning and database mirroring underlines her technical depth.
- Achievements with business impact - Knight has a proven record of accomplishments that deliver real business value, as evidenced by her leadership in a project that reduced database downtime by 40%. Her achievements translate into enhanced reliability and efficiency for her employers, demonstrating her ability to drive critical improvements in database management.
Windows System Administrator
- Strong Career Progression - Mia Ward’s CV showcases a clear upward trajectory from Junior System Administrator to a Senior position within just six years, indicating her drive and capability to take on more responsibility and complex projects within the defense sector.
- Industry-Relevant Technical Expertise - The CV effectively highlights Mia’s specialization in key tools and technologies relevant to the defense sector such as Windows systems, VMware vSphere, and Active Directory. Her technical depth is further evidenced by specific achievements like leading server infrastructure upgrades and implementing disaster recovery strategies.
- Leadership in System Administration - The experience sections emphasize Mia’s leadership skills through her role in managing a team, coordinating cross-functional projects, and streamlining operations. Her soft skills are further underscored by her success in reducing incident response times and enhancing operational efficiency, directly contributing to organizational goals.
Linux System Administrator
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - The CV is well-structured, featuring defined sections such as Experience, Education, Skills, Courses, Achievements, Languages, and Passions. Each section is concise and communicates relevant information efficiently, making it easy for potential employers to quickly assess Chloe's qualifications and fit for the role.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Chloe's career exhibits clear progression, starting from an IT Systems Administrator and advancing to a Senior Linux System Administrator role at BAE Systems. This trajectory indicates not only depth of experience in Linux system administration but also successful adaptation to increasingly responsible positions, highlighting her commitment to career growth.
- Technical Expertise and Tools - The CV emphasizes Chloe's strong technical skills with a focus on Linux System Administration, cloud platforms, and virtualization technologies. Proficiencies in industry-standard tools like VMWare, Docker, and Ansible demonstrate Chloe's ability to utilize advanced technology and methodologies to enhance system performance and security.
Cloud System Administrator
- Structured clarity in content presentation - The CV is well-organized, presenting information in a clear, structured format that makes it easy for recruiters to quickly assess the candidate's qualifications. Key sections such as experience, education, and skills are concisely presented, allowing attention to be focused on the most relevant details for the role.
- Consistent career growth and advancements - Noah Jones demonstrates a progressive career trajectory from Junior Database Administrator to Senior Database Administrator. This upward movement highlights not just the accumulation of experience, but also the acquisition of deeper skills and increased responsibilities over time, indicating both competence and ambition in the database administration field.
- Focus on impactful achievements - The CV underscores significant achievements with a business impact, such as improving database performance by 30% and executing data recovery protocols with zero data loss during a major system upgrade. These accomplishments not only stress technical proficiency but also align with enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring data integrity, vital for business success.
IT System Administrator
- Concise Presentation and Structure - The CV is well-organized, offering a clear layout that aids readability. Each section is distinct and provides pertinent information concisely. This clarity ensures that potential employers can quickly discern key qualifications and accomplishments without wading through unnecessary details.
- Demonstrated Career Progression - Thomas Walker's career trajectory is marked by steady growth, beginning as an IT Support Specialist and advancing to IT Systems Administrator. This progression suggests a deepening expertise and an increasing level of responsibility, reflecting positively on his capability to adapt and excel in the evolving IT/OT landscape.
- Industry-Specific Competence and Tools - The CV highlights a profound understanding of relevant technologies and methodologies, such as Cisco technology, VMware, and cybersecurity protocols. These industry-specific competencies illustrate an ability to manage complex IT systems and infrastructure, which is critical for roles in IT and network administration.
Enterprise System Administrator
- Emphasizes comprehensive educational background - Daisy Shaw's CV highlights her strong academic foundation with a Master’s in Innovation Management and a Bachelor’s in Business Studies, which aligns well with her chosen career in enterprise administration and event planning. These qualifications support her proficiency in creating and executing strategic programs that encourage entrepreneurship among students.
- Integrates effective cross-functional experience - The CV illustrates Daisy's adaptability and experience working across different roles and institutions, effectively explaining how her skills in event planning and marketing are transferrable between the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and City, University of London. This cross-functional experience enriches her capability to enhance program operations at varying levels within academic settings.
- Showcases impressive achievements with clear business impact - Daisy’s ability to achieve significant results is underscored by her accomplishments, such as a 25% increase in participation in startup competitions and a 95% event satisfaction rate. These achievements speak to her effective leadership in driving engagement and improving operations, which are critical for fostering entrepreneurship at a university level.
Web System Administrator
- Impressive Career Progression - Charlie's resume showcases a clear trajectory of growth and increasing responsibility, moving from a Junior Web Administrator to a Senior Web Systems Administrator. This upward movement emphasizes their capability to not only adapt to more significant roles but also to lead teams and manage complex projects effectively, illustrating a strong and strategic career path within the tech industry.
- Robust Technical Expertise - This CV highlights Charlie's deep technical skills in WordPress Administration and Web Security, essential for web systems administration. Additionally, the inclusion of courses like Advanced WordPress Development and CISSP certification point to continuous professional development and a strong command over critical tools and security measures relevant to their field.
- Achievements with Business Impact - The CV effectively links Charlie's achievements to tangible business outcomes, such as reducing security breaches by 25% and decreasing website downtime by 40%. Such accomplishments underscore the candidate's ability to drive improvements that enhance operational efficiency and contribute to the company's bottom line, making their experience highly relevant for roles requiring a focus on both security and performance optimization.
Security System Administrator
- Strong Career Progression - Alexander's career trajectory is evident with consistent growth in roles and responsibilities. Starting as a Security Systems Analyst, he progressed to Technical Security Coordinator, and then to his current position as a Security Systems Administrator. This shows a clear path of promotions reflecting his growing expertise and leadership in the field of technical security.
- Emphasis on Industry-Specific Technologies - The CV demonstrates Alexander's deep technical knowledge in security systems, particularly with IP-based CCTV and access control systems. He highlights specific tools and methodologies like S2 Lenel Honeywell and C-Cure, which are crucial for executing his duties efficiently and setting him apart as a specialized expert in his industry.
- Quantifiable Achievements Highlight Business Impact - The document effectively presents Alexander's accomplishments with quantifiable data that showcases his impact, such as reducing security system operational downtime by 15% and achieving a 25% increase in regional system security. These metrics not only demonstrate his capabilities but also underscore the tangible improvements and efficiencies he has brought to his teams and projects.
Infrastructure System Administrator
- Content Presentation - Clarity and Structure - The CV is structured in a coherent and logical manner, making it easy for readers to track the candidate's career progression and achievements. Each section is clearly defined, aiding in presenting complex technical roles with clarity. The use of concise bullet points allows for quick comprehension of key responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Career Trajectory - Growth and Consistency - Charlotte Powell's career trajectory demonstrates steady growth from a Junior Systems Engineer to a Systems Administrator. This progression reflects increased responsibility and capability, illustrating a clear career path within IT management and infrastructure support. Her experience across reputable companies like Capita and BT Group underscores her professional development.
- Achievements and Business Relevance - The CV effectively communicates the real-world business impact of the candidate's contributions. Achievements like reducing IT downtime by 30% and improving email system performance by 40% are not only quantified but also linked to enhanced business efficiency and continuity. This focus on business value adds a robust dimension to her technical accomplishments.
By Industry
Healthcare System Administrator
- Progressive Career Path in Healthcare Administration - Isla King's career demonstrates a clear trajectory, moving from an Administrative Officer to Healthcare Administrator. This upward movement indicates growth, increased responsibility, and recognition within her industry, showcasing her competence and dedication to advancing in the healthcare administration field.
- Application of Industry-Specific Tools and Techniques - The CV highlights proficiency in specialized systems like Systmone and Nebula, alongside advanced data management methodologies. This technical depth underscores her capability to handle complex healthcare IT systems, an essential component of effective healthcare administration, thereby further enhancing patient data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Robust Record of Impactful Achievements - Significant accomplishments, such as leading a project that improved patient data accuracy by 20% and receiving an Employee of the Year award, are emphasized. These achievements not only showcase her ability to effect positive change but also demonstrate her contributions towards optimizing healthcare delivery, which is critical in a patient-focused care environment.
Financial System Administrator
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is excellently structured, with clear sections that efficiently guide the reader through the candidate's experience, education, skills, and achievements. Clarity and conciseness are maintained throughout, making it easy to identify key information such as specific roles and accomplishments.
- Clear Career Progression - This CV effectively maps out a strong career trajectory, moving from a Junior Financial Administrator to a Senior position at a major wealth management firm. Each role reflects growth in responsibility and expertise, showcasing a commitment to professional development within the financial services industry.
- Achievements with Tangible Benefits - The CV goes beyond listing responsibilities by emphasizing substantial achievements, such as a 35% improvement in departmental efficiency and a 25% increase in client satisfaction. These figures are tied to business outcomes, demonstrating the candidate's impact on operational and client-related improvements.
Education System Administrator
- Structured Career Growth - Within less than a decade, Samuel Campbell has effectively transitioned from a Contract Management Analyst to a Systems Administrator. This progression highlights a strategic career path where skills in contract management have been leveraged and expanded into comprehensive systems administration expertise, marking an upward trajectory in responsibility and proficiency.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration and Impact - His ability to work with diverse teams is underscored by his success in reducing response times by 20% and managing platform updates and documentation. Such achievements point to not just technical skills but an ability to bring people and processes together seamlessly, impacting the entire company's operational efficiency positively.
- Emphasis on Operational Security and Efficiency - By implementing user audits and system access management processes, Campbell enhances security and operational continuity. This focus on preventative measures and compliance underscores a proactive approach to risk management, aligning well with industry demands for robust IT security protocols.
Telecommunications System Administrator
- Clarity in Structure and Presentation - Freya Richardson's CV is well-organized, with clear sections that guide the reader through her professional journey smoothly. Each segment is concise and the use of bullet points enhances readability, ensuring that her key achievements and skills are highlighted without overwhelming details.
- Targeted Career Progression - Starting as an IT Support Technician at BAE Systems and advancing to a Systems Administrator at NHS Digital, Freya's career trajectory showcases a clear path of growth. Her transition from general IT support to specialized roles in clinical systems indicates a targeted approach towards carving out a niche in health informatics.
- Emphasis on Impactful Achievements - The CV effectively underscores not just numbers but the impact of Freya's contributions. For instance, her ability to reduce system downtime by 20% and ticket resolution time by 40% at NHS Digital showcases her role in significantly improving operational efficiency, proving her value in a competitive field.
Retail System Administrator
- Clear Career Progression - Isabelle Reed's CV presents a clear career trajectory, demonstrating progressive growth through increasingly responsible roles in major energy companies. Starting as an Administrative Support Officer, she advanced to roles demanding greater responsibility in data management and customer operations, showcasing her ability to excel and grow in her professional journey.
- Focus on Tangible Outcomes - The CV concisely quantifies Isabelle's achievements, linking them to business outcomes. Whether it’s the 95% resolution rate in customer queries or the 85% reduction in response times she achieved, these numbers underscore her significant contributions to operational improvements, emphasizing her impact on business efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Emphasis on Adaptability and Cross-Functional Expertise - Isabelle’s experience spans customer service, administration, and data management, displaying her ability to adapt and operate cross-functionally. Her roles at E.ON UK, EDF Energy, and ScottishPower highlight her proficiency in navigating various organizational functions effectively, which is particularly relevant in dynamic industry environments aiming towards net-zero goals.
Manufacturing System Administrator
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV is meticulously structured and presented, starting with clear labels for each section, such as "Experience," "Education," and "Skills," ensuring that the reader can easily navigate through Samuel Campbell's credentials. It provides concise and straightforward details with a well-organized format that highlights essential information, making it easy for any employer to extract relevant details quickly.
- Consistent Career Growth and Development - Samuel Campbell's career trajectory demonstrates consistent growth and development within the manufacturing and operations sectors, transitioning from roles like Logistics Coordinator at Unilever to more advanced positions such as Manufacturing Administrator at The Hut Group. Each role illustrates an upward progression and accumulated experience, showing readiness for more responsibility and a deeper understanding of operational systems.
- Technical Proficiency and Industry-Specific Tools - The CV showcases in-depth technical proficiency, particularly with ERP systems like Odoo, and highlights a strong command over manufacturing operations and data management. Samuel has completed courses in Advanced ERP System Management and holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, underscoring their adeptness at utilizing industry-specific tools and methodologies to optimize processes efficiently.
Formatting your system administrator CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional system administrator CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :
- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional system administrator CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a system administrator CV
- Professional Summary explains your expertise and value.
- Technical Skills showcase relevant technologies you master.
- Work Experience demonstrates your past roles and achievements.
- Certifications highlight your commitment to ongoing learning.
- Systems Projects detail your experience with specific systems.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your technical proficiency by listing key systems and platforms you're experienced with, such as Windows Server, Linux, VMware, or AWS, ensuring you align these with the job requirements.
- Emphasise your troubleshooting and problem-solving skills by providing examples of complex issues you've resolved, the impact they had, and the methodologies you employed.
- Demonstrate your experience in system security by mentioning any specific security protocols you've implemented or managed, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, or security audits.
- Showcase your ability to automate tasks and improve efficiency by documenting any experience with scripting or automation tools like PowerShell, Bash, Python, or Ansible.
- Detail your experience with system backups, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning, as these are critical responsibilities for a system administrator in maintaining organisational resilience.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your system administrator CV header
Right at the very top of your system administrator CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for system administrator:
- Senior Systems Administrator | Linux Expert | Cloud Infrastructure | ITIL Certified | 10+ Years' Experience
- Systems Engineer | Virtualisation Specialist | Network Security | CCNA | Committed to Continuous Improvement
- Junior System Administrator | Microsoft Environments | Hardware Troubleshooting | Eager to Upskill | A+ Certified
- IT Systems Manager | Strategic Planning | Server Management | DevOps Practices | 15 Years in IT
- Lead Systems Administrator | Cybersecurity Focused | Disaster Recovery Expert | CISSP | 12 Years' Tenure
- Infrastructure Analyst | Data Centre Operations | VMware Certified Professional | 8 Years Dedicated Service
Choosing your opening statement: a system administrator CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a system administrator job:
- With over 7 years of dedicated experience in systems administration, adept at managing server infrastructures and data-centre operations across Unix, Linux, and Windows platforms. Effectively plan, install, configure, and optimise IT infrastructures to achieve high availability and performance. Proven ability to create and deliver solutions that meet business objectives tied to reliability and high system availability benchmarks.
- Seasoned IT professional with 9 years' expertise in systems and network administration, specialising in implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex multi-platform environments. Possesses a strong command of cloud technologies, scripting languages, and automation frameworks, coupled with a record of reducing downtime and enhancing system integrity.
- A dynamic finance manager keen to transfer 8-year expertise into system administration, with a profound ability to assimilate technical knowledge, manage financial data on servers, and safeguard sensitive information. Eager to leverage strong analytical and organizational skills to contribute to the technological efficiency of a dynamic IT team.
- Former healthcare project coordinator with 5 years of experience aiming to pivot into system administration. Brings a unique perspective with a rich background in managing patient data systems, overseeing compliance with health regulations, and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive healthcare information within digital environments.
- Eager to embark on a career in system administration, bringing forth a strong foundation in computer science principles from recent academic training. Objective: To leverage recently acquired certifications in network security and cloud services to support the development and maintenance of robust IT systems, while cultivating hands-on experience in a challenging technical environment.
- As a recent graduate with significant theoretical knowledge and foundational skills in networking and system management, determined to apply fresh insights and new technologies to improve operational efficiency. Objective: To immerse in the world of system administration, aspiring to contribute innovative problem-solving techniques and enthusiasm for technology advancements.
How to meet job requirements with your system administrator CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed and maintained a network of over 200 workstations and 15 servers, ensuring 99.9% uptime and rapid issue resolution.
- Implemented a comprehensive disaster recovery plan, tailored to company needs, reducing potential downtime by 75%.
- Streamlined system deployment by creating automated scripts, cutting deployment time by 50% and increasing consistency.
- Conducted regular system audits to ensure compliance with industry standards and company policies, resulting in zero compliance infractions over a two-year period.
- Led a successful migration of company email servers to a cloud-based solution, enhancing accessibility and collaboration for 300+ users.
- Optimised network security measures, implementing a next-generation firewall and advanced threat protection, which reduced security incidents by 90%.
- Trained a team of junior system administrators in best practices, elevating team capability and ensuring redundancy for critical skills.
- Devised and maintained comprehensive network documentation, greatly improving knowledge transfer and efficiency in troubleshooting issues.
- Evaluated and integrated new technologies into the existing IT infrastructure, consistently staying under budget while meeting strategic goals.
Senior System Administrator
Senior Systems Administrator
IBM
03/2020-Ongoing
- Designed and implemented a complete revamp of the company’s backup strategy, increasing data recovery speed by 40%.
- Managed a team of 4 junior system administrators, providing mentorship and technical guidance that elevated team performance.
- Spearheaded the migration to a hybrid cloud environment, enabling a 25% cost saving on infrastructure expenses annually.
Systems Engineer
Network Systems Administrator
Cisco Systems
06/2018-12/2019
- Optimized network operations for a complex LAN/WAN environment, resulting in a 15% improvement in system reliability.
- Automated routine maintenance tasks using PowerShell, reducing time spent on these tasks by 30% and allowing the team to focus on critical issues.
- Led the deployment of a multi-factor authentication system across the company, enhancing security measures and reducing unauthorized access incidents by 90%.
IT Systems Specialist
System Administrator III
Oracle Corporation
08/2015-05/2018
- Initiated and executed the upgrade of server infrastructure to Windows Server 2016, which cut down on-premise server costs by 20%.
- Developed a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that successfully protected critical data during two unforeseen outages.
- Coordinated with cross-functional departments to streamline IT support, resulting in a 35% increase in end-user satisfaction.
System Administrator Lead
Lead Systems Administrator
Dell Technologies
09/2013-07/2015
- Orchestrated the deployment of a centralized management system for patching and software distribution which improved compliance to 95%.
- Reduced datacenter cooling costs by 10% through server virtualization and consolidation efforts.
- Instituted robust monitoring tools that decreased downtime incidents by 50%.
Junior System Administrator
Associate Systems Administrator
HP Inc.
01/2012-08/2013
- Supported a network infrastructure serving over 500 users, ensuring consistent uptime and quick resolution of connectivity issues.
- Administered the roll-out of new software updates to workstations company-wide with a 98% success rate in first-pass deployment.
- Contributed to the reduction of IT support ticket backlog by 40% through effective troubleshooting and proactive system maintenance.
IT Support Specialist
Systems Administrator I
Intel Corporation
04/2009-12/2011
- Managed active directory services for over 1000 employee accounts, maintaining secure access and efficient account provisioning.
- Played a key role in the rollout of a new email system to all staff, which resulted in a 30% improvement in email deliverability.
- Delivered comprehensive training programs on IT security awareness, reducing the incidence of security breaches by employees by 75%.
Systems Analyst Administrator
IT Systems Administrator Analyst
Adobe Systems
05/2016-02/2020
- Conducted a company-wide IT systems audit that identified and remedied over 150 security vulnerabilities.
- Implemented a sophisticated ticketing system that tracked and prioritized IT issues, improving resolution times by 25%.
- Overhauled the legacy VoIP system with a modern unified communications platform that saved the company an average of $10k per month on telecommunication costs.
System Administrator Specialist
Systems Administrator Specialist
Salesforce
11/2011-06/2014
- Led the development and deployment of a centralized asset management system that streamlined the tracking of IT assets, resulting in a decrease in loss/theft of devices by 70%.
- Coordinated with software development teams to deploy critical updates to production environments with zero downtime during business hours.
- Reduced overall IT operating expenses by 15% through strategic vendor negotiations and the adoption of cost-efficient technologies.
System Administration Coordinator
Systems Administration Coordinator
Microsoft
02/2014-03/2016
- Developed a system automation framework that reduced manual workloads by 50% and helped to speed up deployment processes.
- Championed the successful migration of 200 virtual machines to a new data center without service interruption.
- Introduced rigorous IT performance metrics which directly correlated with a 20% increase in overall system stability and user productivity.
IT Systems Operation Manager
IT Systems Administrator Manager
Amazon Web Services
07/2015-03/2018
- Led a high-stakes data center relocation project that improved operational efficiency by 30% and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities.
- Managed critical security updates and patches across 500+ servers, reducing the potential risk of data breaches.
- Drove an initiative to refresh end-of-life hardware, which optimized performance and extended the usable life of IT assets by an average of two years.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your system administrator CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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PRO TIP
If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your system administrator CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your system administrator CV:
HARD SKILLS
Operating systems (Windows Server, Linux, UNIX)
Networking (TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, VLANs)
Virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)
Cloud services (AWS, Azure)
Scripting (PowerShell, Bash, Python)
Database management (SQL, MySQL)
Storage solutions (SAN, NAS)
Security measures and protocols
Server hardware configuration and maintenance
Backup and disaster recovery solutions
SOFT SKILLS
Problem-solving
Communication
Time management
Analytical thinking
Teamwork
Customer service orientation
Attention to detail
Proactivity
Adaptability
Continuous learning
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your system administrator CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your system administrator CV:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your system administrator CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
