How To Become a Windows System Administrator

Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become a windows system administrator. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in a windows system administrator.

Most companies require a windows system administrator to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as computer science or computer information systems.
It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 1-2 years in related fields.
Common job titles before becoming a windows system administrator include systems administrator, systems engineer, and network administrator.
Hiring managers expect a windows system administrator to have soft skills such as analytical skills, communication skills, and problem-solving skills.
Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 3-6 months of job training to become a windows system administrator.
Getting a certification as a Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator (MCITP) will help you to earn more as a windows system administrator.

Before becoming a windows system administrator, 61.6% earned their bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree, 9.6% windows system administrators went for the extra education. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, most windows system administrators have a college degree. But about one out of every seven windows system administrators didn't attend college at all.

Those windows system administrators who do attend college, typically earn either computer science degrees or computer information systems degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for windows system administrators include business degrees or information technology degrees.

How to become a Windows System Administrator in 6 steps:

Step 1: Explore windows system administrator education
Step 2: Develop windows system administrator skills
Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
Step 4: Get windows system administrator certifications
Step 5: Research windows system administrator duties
Step 6: Prepare your resume

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Key Steps To Become a Windows System Administrator

Explore Windows System Administrator Education
If you're interested in becoming a windows system administrator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 61.6% of windows system administrators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 9.6% of windows system administrators have master's degrees. Even though most windows system administrators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a windows system administrator. When we researched the most common majors for a windows system administrator, we found that they most commonly have computer science, computer information systems and business.

Windows System Administrator Degrees
Bachelors
61.6 %
Associate
21.5 %
Masters
9.6 %
Windows System Administrator Major Percentages
Computer Science 22.90%
Computer Information Systems 12.00%
Business 11.40%
Information Technology 11.00%
Other Degrees 42.50%
Develop Windows System Administrator Skills
It'll be a good idea to develop windows system administrator skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in windows system administrator job descriptions:

Skills Percentages
Windows Server 8.90%
Infrastructure 6.76%
PowerShell 6.60%
Troubleshoot 5.72%
Linux 4.57%
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Complete Relevent Training/Internship
Windows system administrators spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new windows system administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a windows system administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real windows system administrator resumes.

Average Amount Of Time At Training
None
Less than 1 month
1-3 months
3-6 months
6-12 months
1-2 years
%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Get Windows System Administrator Certifications
Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for windows system administrators. The most common certification is Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator (MCITP), but Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is also frequently seen in windows system administrators resumes.
1. Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator (MCITP)
2. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
3. ITIL Foundation
4. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Fnd Applications (MCTS)
5. VMware Certified Professional 5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV)
6. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
7. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)
8. VMware Certified Professional 6 - Cloud (VCP-Cloud)
More About Certifications
Research Windows System Administrator Duties
When you decide to become a windows system administrator, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most windows system administrator jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:
- Manage and configure VPN connections for the users.
- Deploy and manage Panasonic PBX and VOIP phone systems and network connectivity.
- Manage exchange stores, mailbox provisioning, active sync and monitoring the mailboxes.
- Manage data usage, space, security and archival over servers, workstations and NAS machines.
- Manage issues with server hardware, networking, web services, database, DNS, clustering, and e-mail.
- Manage all OU's under domain at multiple sites across the country through a constant VPN tunnel per client rules.
Prepare Your Resume
Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Windows System Administrator Resume templates
Build a professional Windows System Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Windows System Administrator resume.
Apply For a Windows System Administrator Job
With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams
Windows System Administrator Jobs