9 CCNA Network Engineer Resume Examples for 2024

As a hiring manager, I see many resumes for ccna network engineers. In this article, we will look at strong examples and share tips for your resume. You’ll learn how to list your skills, experience, and certifications in a way that catches an employer's eye. We’ll also guide you on tailoring your resume for the job you want in the networking field.

  Compiled and approved by Jason Lewis
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in top resumes for network engineers with a CCNA certification.

  • Show Your Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show your impact in clear terms. They use numbers like uptime percentages, reduction in network outages, improvements in data throughput, and decrease in setup times to show how you've made a difference.

  • Match Your Skills To The Job Description: Include routing protocols, network security, troubleshooting, VPN configuration, and switching technologies on your resume, but only if you have them and the job description mentions them.

  • Highlight Relevant Certifications: Certifications are key for you in this field. If you have a CCNA Security or CCNP, mention them clearly. They quickly show your specialized knowledge.

Placement of education section

When it comes to positioning your education on your CCNA network engineer resume, consider your professional experience. If you are currently employed or have been in the workforce for some time, your experience should come first. However, if you've just completed a significant educational course such as a specialized IT bootcamp or a master's program, show your education section first to explain the gap in your employment history.

For entry-level roles, if you've recently graduated or are currently studying, prioritize your education. Here you can highlight your CCNA certification, relevant modules, projects and your strong grade point average, if applicable.

Demonstrating technical capabilities

In the networking field, employers prioritize technical proficiency. Make sure to highlight any familiarity with Cisco networking equipment, routers and switches, IP addressing, network troubleshooting, and WAN technologies on your resume.

Another strong point to mention is experience or knowledge in security practices related to networking. As a CCNA network engineer, understanding how to mitigate network vulnerabilities and dealing with security threats could make you more appealing to potential employers.

Ideal resume length

You should aim for a one-page resume, particularly if you're an entry to mid-level network engineer with less than 10 years' relevant experience. A concise, focused resume can make a stronger impression than a longer one that includes unnecessary details.

For senior applicants, a two-page resume will suffice. Remember, if you're finding it hard to reduce your resume's length, consider changing your template to use space more efficiently or omit older, less relevant experiences or extracurriculars.

Breaking into network engineering

If you're trying to break into the network engineering field, earning your CCNA indicates you have a solid foundation in networking concepts. However, real-world skills are equally important. Therefore, emphasize any hands-on experience or lab work you have done during your education or training.

Include specific experiences where you implemented, managed, or troubleshooted network systems. Having experience with popular networking tools and technologies, can give you an edge over other candidates.

Beat the resume screeners

You need to understand how resume screeners work. These tools, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), help hiring managers sort through resumes. They look for keywords related to the job.

Here are two tips for a CCNA network engineer resume:

  • Include specific networking keywords like 'Cisco routing,' 'switch configuration,' and 'network troubleshooting.' These match the job and show your relevant skills.
  • Use common terms like 'network security' and 'wireless protocols' early in your resume. This way, the ATS can easily find them.

Make sure your resume is clear and well-organized. Use headings like 'Skills,' 'Experience,' and 'Certifications' to help the ATS understand your resume. This will make it easier for you to get noticed.

Match your resume to the job

You should show how your skills fit the job of a network engineer certified in CCNA. This means you list the work you've done that proves you can do this job well. Use strong, clear examples that are easy to understand. Keep your resume focused on the job you want.

  • Show the systems you've worked with, like Cisco networks, and how you used them to help your last job.
  • For a job where you need to lead, talk about the teams you have managed or times you helped make big decisions.
  • If you're coming from a different career, share work you've done that uses the same skills. For example, if you've managed network security elsewhere, that's important to talk about.

Key skills for your resume

As a network engineer with a CCNA certification, you need to show you have the right technical skills. List them in a dedicated section on your resume. This helps automated systems, like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), find your resume. These systems look for specific keywords related to the job.

Here are some skills you should consider adding, if they match your experience:

  • Network configuration
  • Troubleshooting
  • Cisco IOS
  • Routing protocols
  • Switching
  • Network security
  • WLAN
  • VPN
  • IP addressing
  • VoIP

Don't feel like you must list every skill. Only include those that match the job you want. If you are good at network security, focus on that. If you worked a lot with VoIP, highlight it. Put your skills in the section where you list your professional experience or in a separate skills section. Remember, the goal is to make it easy for both people and computers to see you have the skills they are looking for.

Show impact with numbers

As a network engineer certified in CCNA, showing the impact of your work through numbers can make your resume stand out. Metrics can provide a clear picture of your achievements and the value you add. Think about how your actions have led to improvements and try to quantify these changes.

Here are some ideas to help you think about the numbers that might apply to your work:

  • Percentage increase in network uptime due to your maintenance or upgrades, e.g., 'Increased network uptime from 95% to 99% over six months.'
  • Amount of time saved through your network optimizations, such as 'Cut down network deployment time by 30% through automated scripts.'
  • Number of network devices you've successfully managed or configured, e.g., 'Managed a network of over 150 devices across 5 locations.'
  • Reduction in network incidents or customer support issues after your interventions, like 'Reduced critical incidents by 40% year-over-year.'
  • Cost savings achieved by implementing new technologies or processes, such as 'Saved the company $20,000 annually by migrating to a new WAN provider.'
  • Number of projects led or completed on time and within budget, for example, 'Completed 10+ major network upgrade projects on time.'
  • Improvement in data transfer rates or latency, such as 'Improved data transfer speeds by 25% through network reconfiguration.'
  • Training sessions or workshops conducted to improve team skills, e.g., 'Conducted 12 training sessions for IT staff on network security protocols.'

Remember to review your work history and identify where you made a measurable difference. If you are unsure about exact numbers, make a good estimate based on the information you have. Use these metrics to show how your skills and efforts have had a positive, tangible impact on the networks you've worked with.

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