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Table of contents

Network engineer resume examples
Choose a format for your network engineer resume
How to write a network engineer resume in 5 easy steps
Add a cover letter
Network engineer resume — key takeaways
Frequently asked questions from job seekers

Whether it’s configuring complex systems, overseeing user access or maintaining a secure environment, network engineers like you are all about practical solutions.

Yet your confidence waivers when you start considering the solution to your job hunt — a well-written resume.

Let us help. We’re here to steer you toward crafting a resume that showcases your pivotal achievements and deep knowledge, making your job hunt smoother and increasing your chances of landing that prime role.

This guide provides:

Effective network engineer resume samples.
A clear outline on how to frame your resume for impact.
Insights into choosing a layout and design that reflects your professionalism.
Extra sections to enrich your resume’s content.
Steps to draft a standout cover letter to pair with your resume.

In a hurry to craft your resume? Streamline your efforts with our AI Resume Builder. Pick a design that suits your professional style and build upon it with our expert guidance and adaptable content recommendations.

Network engineer resume examples

Entry-level network engineer resume example

Entry level resume example network engineer

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Why this is an outstanding resume for an entry-level network engineer?

Opens with a clear career objective
The candidate starts by expressing a genuine desire to apply their networking knowledge to network performance and overall system preferences, revealing a deep understanding of a network engineer’s crucial role in businesses today.
Uses a functional resume template
This functional resume template prioritizes skills and qualifications over job history, which is perfect for a candidate who is entering the field for the first time.
Presents a well-rounded skill set
The resume offers a nice balance of skills, from hard skills like routing and soft skills like teamwork and timely communication, creating an overall quite versatile set.

Experienced network engineer resume example

Experienced resume example network engineer

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Why this is a great resume for experienced network engineer?

Features a sleek, professional design
With a refined design choice, this resume ensures that the candidate’s career highlights are instantly noticeable, creating a lasting impression.
Highlights extensive work history
The resume shows a dynamic career journey across various roles and networking projects. By adopting the popular reverse-chronological format, they can easily show how they took on greater roles and responsibilities.
Incorporates quantifiable achievements
Using a results-oriented approach, this engineer underscores achievements with tangible data, such as reduced network downtime and increased data transfer speeds, illustrating a proven track record in elevating network efficiency.

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Choose a format for your network engineer resume

How can you present your achievements in just a page or two?

The key lies in the resume format. Different formats emphasize different parts of your resume, catering to varying career stages or scenarios.

Here’s how you can use formats effectively:

Chronological resume format: This format displays your network engineering milestones in a job-by-job sequence, starting with your most recent job and showing a career arc over time. Ideal for seasoned engineers who have a substantial work history to draw from.
Functional resume format: Here, your core networking skills stand front and center. With dedicated sections for skills, you can highlight capabilities like network configuration, diagnostics and security. It’s perfect for those pivoting from related tech roles or fresh entrants eager to show they’re equipped for the job.
Combination resume format: This format blends the first two, letting network engineers present a view that balances experience and skills. It’s a top pick for those boasting a mix of deep experience and a broad skill range.

Once that’s sorted, it’s time to choose a design that captures the precision and efficiency of network engineering.

What resume template should a network engineer use?

Create your resume

Your resume template should be clear and organized. While it’s essential for it to look good, it shouldn’t distract from your accomplishments.

For network engineers, the simple resume template is an easy pick. The elegant design is focused on getting the information across without sacrificing style.

However, if you’re aiming for a role in a more design-conscious firm, you might opt for a creative resume template for that extra flair — as long as the design doesn’t undermine your content.

By the way, we also offer an array of Microsoft Word templates and Google Docs templates, if those better suit your needs.

Now, let’s craft a standout resume.

How to write a network engineer resume in 5 easy steps

A solid resume opens doors in the world of network engineering.

This straightforward guide is here to help you make it happen.

Step 1

Study the job post closely

Before penning your resume, immerse yourself in the job details. These posts provide insights into what the hiring team values, from critical skills to essential qualifications.

Why focus on this step? Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter candidates, targeting specific keywords linked to technical terms, qualifications and tools.

Your goal? To craft an ATS-friendly resume mirroring the job’s requirements. For instance, if the post cites “Cisco certification,” “knowledge in network security” or “expertise in IP routing,” integrate these terms into your resume.

With a little effort, you’ll become adept at fine-tuning your resume for each position.

Now, it’s time to get to work.

Step 2

Craft a compelling professional overview

At the top of your resume sits a resume profile. This short section introduces your career, skills and notable achievements.

You can choose between two types of profiles: a career summary and a resume objective. Your experience level and career situation should determine your choice.

A professional summary is a snapshot of your major milestones and is apt for network engineers with vast experience.

Alternatively, a career objective highlights your goals in network engineering, focusing on your aspirations rather than your history. It suits those new to the field.

Check out these examples for both:

Network engineer career summary example:

Seasoned network engineer with over 10 years of experience in designing and maintaining robust network infrastructures. Proven ability to optimize network performance, ensure security and solve complex technical challenges. Skilled in utilizing cutting-edge network solutions to support business goals and operational needs.

Network engineer career objective example:

Recent graduate in Computer Networks eager to apply knowledge in a network engineer role. Aim to contribute to team projects, enhance network reliability and grow professionally. Focused on creating stable and efficient network systems to support organizational objectives.

Step 3

Highlight your skill set

Whether you’re just starting out or have been a network engineer for years, your resume must feature the skills employers prioritize.

It’s crucial to display a balance of hard and soft skills. Your hard skills demonstrate your expertise in network setup, troubleshooting and system upgrades, while your soft skills feature interpersonal abilities like teamwork, communication and adaptability.

Including a variety of hard and soft skills will make you a more attractive candidate. Don’t forget computer skills!

Let’s review skills you’ll often find in a solid network engineering resume.

Essential skills for a network engineer resume:

Hard Skills

Network configuration
Troubleshooting
Protocol knowledge
Security management
System upgrades
Hardware setup

Soft Skills

Teamwork
Clear communication
Problem resolution
Flexibility
Analytical mindset
Time management

Here’s a sample of a network engineer skills section:

Proficient in network configuration for optimal performance.
Skilled in troubleshooting to minimize downtime.
Experienced in routine system upgrades for security and efficiency.
Effective communicator, bridging gaps between technical and nontechnical teams.
Strong analytical mindset, quickly identifying and resolving network issues.
Adept at managing time, ensuring timely completion of tasks and projects.

Pro tip

Keep your network training programs up to date. Network technologies evolve rapidly, and being informed about the latest trends — and adding them to your resume — is essential.

Step 4

Showcase your engineering accomplishments

Boost your resume’s impact by presenting your achievements in a work history section.

List your roles in order, starting with your most recent one. Use bullet points to outline key successes and keep a consistent style for every job.

Your list should clearly show your career growth, highlighting your work in improving network efficiency, ensuring system uptime and optimizing network configurations.

Choose strong action words like “designed,” “implemented” and “enhanced” to make your resume come alive.

Example of a network engineer’s job entry:

Lead Network Engineer, Tech Innovations
Seattle, WA
June 2018 – Present

Designed a robust network infrastructure that increased system uptime by 25%.
Implemented security protocols, reducing network vulnerabilities by 40%.
Enhanced network speed by optimizing configurations, resulting in a 15% boost in data transfer rates.
Organized training sessions on new networking tools, raising team efficiency and fostering team cohesion.
Led a team project to overhaul old network systems, ensuring improved reliability and speed.

Pro tip

When detailing your achievements, it’s vital to highlight real outcomes. Be clear about the results of your actions, like “increased system uptime by 25%” or “reduced network vulnerabilities by 40%.” This emphasizes your concrete contributions to network performance and security.

Step 5

List your education and training

Your education section should do more than just list degrees.

Include relevant certifications, workshops and training that prove you’re ready for the job.

Degrees in Computer Engineering, Network Management or Information Technology can strengthen your application.

Here’s an example of what this section can look like.

Education and certification details:

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Tech College, Dallas, TX

CERTIFICATIONS

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Tech Training Institute

Certified Network Professional (CNP)
Network Academy

TRAININGS

Advanced Network Configuration Workshop
Tech Training Institute

Network Security Best Practices
Network Academy

Optional sections for your network engineer resume

Professional affiliations

Highlight your engagement with professional networks, showcasing your commitment to staying updated with the evolving landscape of network technologies.

How to list professional affiliations on your resume:

Member of the Cisco Networking Professionals Group in your region.
Active participant in local Network Engineering workshops and seminars.

Trainings and workshops

Emphasize any specialized training or workshops you’ve attended, focusing on the enhancement of your technical skills and keeping up with industry advancements.

How to list trainings and workshops on your resume:

Attended a workshop on Advanced Network Security Protocols, implementing best practices that improved the company’s security by 30%.
Completed a certified training on Software-Defined Networking (SDN), leading to a more streamlined network configuration process in the organization.

Publications

Showcase any research, articles or publications you’ve produced, reflecting your deep understanding and contributions to the networking domain.

How to list publications on your resume:

Published a research paper on “The Future of Quantum Networking” in the Journal of Advanced Networking Technologies.
Authored an article on “Best Practices for Network Optimization” featured in the annual Network Engineers Handbook.

Awards and honors

Highlight any awards on your resume that underline your dedication and impact in the networking arena.

How to list awards on your resume:

Received the “Networking Innovator of the Year” award for introducing cutting-edge solutions that enhanced the company’s network performance by 40%.
Honored with a “Network Security Champion” recognition for exemplary work in fortifying the organization’s network defenses.

Hobbies and interests

Mention relevant hobbies or interests that can indirectly reflect skills or knowledge beneficial to the role.

How to list hobbies and interests on your resume:

Maintaining a personal tech blog where complex networking concepts are broken down for a general audience.
Building home labs to experiment with and test new networking tools and techniques.

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

For network engineers, it’s often a tight race with many skilled contenders. Even if a cover letter isn’t always required, using one can help you stand out.

Cover letters let you bring a personal touch, allowing your dedication and passion to be evident.

Discuss how you first became interested in networking. Mention unique solutions you’ve designed or network challenges you’ve overcome. Share instances where your expertise made a notable difference in team projects or improved overall system efficiency.

To craft a compelling cover letter, see our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter. Browse our collection of cover letter samples to spark ideas.

Use our handy cover letter templates and create one with our Cover Letter Generator. This tool offers job-specific suggestions to help you craft a clear and engaging story.

Your cover letter should complement, not just repeat, your resume. It’s a tool that can set the stage for your next role.

Network engineer resume — key takeaways

Customize your resume for every job
Adjust your resume for each network engineer position. Focus on skills and experiences that match the job description.
Highlight all your skills
Display your wide knowledge in network engineering, covering technical skills like expertise in network protocols, and soft skills like teamwork and communication. Mention any specific certifications or tools you’re familiar with.
Provide clear results of your work
Use numbers to show your impact, like the percentage of uptime maintained, the number of network issues resolved or the scale of networks managed.
Point out key certifications and courses
List down important certifications or training sessions, especially those directly related to networking, such as Cisco or Juniper certifications.
Choose a clear resume format
Pick a resume style that clearly maps out your career in network engineering. Use a layout that’s both clear and professional.
Add value with a cover letter
A cover letter offers a unique opportunity to express your passion for networking, delve deeper into your experiences and provide context to your resume — so why not add one to your application?

Frequently asked questions from job seekers

Last Updated: January 01, 2025

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.