Network Administrator Boolean Search String
A first-pass boolean search for sourcing network administrator candidates, built from the role's most-screened-for skills — adapt it with your own must-haves, or generate one tailored to your exact JD below.
"Network Administrator" AND "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" AND "Firewall/VPN management" AND "Network monitoring tools" NOT "recruiter" NOT "intern"site:linkedin.com/in/ "Network Administrator" "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" "Firewall/VPN management" "Network monitoring tools"Run this search on Google →How this string is built
The role title in quotes, ANDed with the top must-have skills for a network administrator — Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper), Firewall/VPN management, Network monitoring tools — each in quotes so LinkedIn and Google match the exact phrase rather than any word in it separately. NOT "recruiter" NOT "intern" filters out the two most common sources of false positives.
Other must-have skills worth adding
If the search above returns too many results, AND in more of these to narrow further:
- Troubleshooting
- Documentation
- CCNA/CCNP certification
- Cloud networking experience
- Wireless network design experience
Other titles to search for a network administrator
The same job is also called Network Engineer, Systems Network Administrator, IT Network Technician, Infrastructure Administrator. Searching only for “Network Administrator” misses those people, so join the titles with OR inside brackets and AND the skills after them.
Five searches to run, from broad to narrow
- Broad: every title, one core skill
("Network Administrator" OR "Network Engineer" OR "Systems Network Administrator" OR "IT Network Technician" OR "Infrastructure Administrator") AND "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" - Focused: three skills, with the noise removed
("Network Administrator" OR "Network Engineer" OR "Systems Network Administrator") AND "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" AND "Firewall/VPN management" AND "Network monitoring tools" NOT "sales" NOT "cabling installer" NOT "intern" - Tools and credentials: the nice-to-haves as an OR group
("Network Administrator" OR "Network Engineer" OR "Systems Network Administrator") AND ("CCNA/CCNP certification" OR "Cloud networking experience" OR "Wireless network design experience") - Google X-ray on LinkedIn profiles
site:linkedin.com/in/ ("Network Administrator" OR "Network Engineer" OR "Systems Network Administrator") "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" "Firewall/VPN management" - Feeder role: people from a neighbouring job
"Helpdesk Technician" AND "Network configuration/administration (Cisco/Juniper)" AND "Firewall/VPN management"
Start with the broad search to see how large the pool is. If it is too big, move to the focused one. If it is too small, drop a skill or use the feeder search.
Noise to exclude for this role
For a network administrator the usual false positives are sales, cabling installer, intern. Each one added with NOT removes a group of profiles that look similar but are not the job.
Where else to look
Good network administrator candidates often come from Helpdesk Technician, IT Support, Systems Administrator. Search for them with the same core skills, then check that they are ready to move.
What to check on the profile
Network size, vendors and incidents resolved.
Credentials to confirm
Vendor networking certifications are common. Confirm any on-call duty.
Frequently asked questions
Why AND the skills together instead of OR?
AND narrows to candidates who show evidence of every listed skill — good for a first-pass search on a specific role. If that returns too few results, dropping to OR between the least-critical skills (keeping the must-haves ANDed) widens the pool without losing precision on what actually matters.
Why exclude "recruiter" and "intern"?
Those two terms are the most common source of false positives in a network administrator search — recruiters and internship-seekers whose profiles happen to mention the same skill keywords. Adjust or remove the exclusion if it's cutting out candidates you actually want (e.g. if you're specifically hiring for an internship).
How is this different from the full Boolean Search Generator tool?
This is a static starting-point example built from network administrator's most common requirements. The tool builds a tailored version from your actual job description — different seniority, location, and specific must-haves than this generic example.
What other job titles should I search for a network administrator?
The same job is also called Network Engineer, Systems Network Administrator, IT Network Technician, Infrastructure Administrator. Put them in a bracketed OR group so one search covers them all, for example ("Network Administrator" OR "Network Engineer" OR "Systems Network Administrator").
What should I exclude when sourcing a network administrator?
The usual noise is sales, cabling installer, intern. Add each with NOT so the results are people who do the job, not people near it.
Where else can I find network administrator candidates?
Look at people in related roles who already have the core skills: Helpdesk Technician, IT Support, Systems Administrator. Search for them with the same skills and check whether they are ready to move across.
Hiring a network administrator? The rest of the toolkit
- How to write the job description →
Titles, must-haves, credentials and a starting posting.
- Interview questions to ask →
Role-specific questions and what a good answer contains.
- Run the whole hire in one place →
Jobs, CV review, interviews, offers and checks together.