Network administration skills: tools and how to show them
Network administration is installing, configuring and maintaining the networks and systems an organisation uses. O*NET lists operating systems such as Microsoft Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, monitoring tools such as Nagios and Wireshark, firewall and VPN software and Microsoft Active Directory for network and computer systems administrators.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill | Network administration |
| Source of the occupation data | O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), accessed 31 October 2026 |
| Occupations in this guide that list it | 3 |
| Where to learn more | Our career guides and the O*NET pages linked below |
What is Network administration?
Administrators keep systems available and secure. Show the environments you managed and the tools, without private network details.
Which jobs use it?
The occupation pages on O*NET OnLine list technology skills and top essential skills. These occupations from our career guides include this skill or closely related ones:
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators (O*NET 15-1244.00): Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Nagios, Wireshark, firewall and VPN software, Active Directory, DNS and Ansible.
- Computer User Support Specialists (O*NET 15-1232.00): Active Directory, Wireshark, Nagios and firewall software.
- Database Administrators (O*NET 15-1242.00): Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, backup tools.
O*NET examples are illustrative, not a requirement for every employer. Read the postings for the role you want.
How do I show it on a resume?
- Name the platforms and tools.
- Describe what you kept running and how you handled outages.
- Never include real hostnames or configuration.
- Name certifications you hold exactly.
See the software engineer resume example for layout, and our guide to an ATS-friendly resume.
On LiveRec, employers who find candidates for a job see up to five of your skills on your card, with the ones that match the job first. Use the exact name of the skill, as in which skills to put on a profile.
Where can I learn it?
We link only official sources we could verify. The O*NET Skills Search shows skills and examples, and each career guide above explains typical education from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your employer or school what training it offers, then add what you complete to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
What tools should I know? O*NET names Windows Server, Linux, Nagios, Wireshark, Active Directory and others.
Is it the same as cybersecurity? They overlap, but O*NET treats them as separate occupations.
How do I show home lab experience? Say it is a home lab and what you built.
Related guides
When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, Network and Computer Systems Administrators, 15-1244.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1244.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Computer User Support Specialists, 15-1232.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1232.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Database Administrators, 15-1242.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1242.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Skills Search: https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ (accessed 31 October 2026)