Microsoft 365 (M365) Engineer Resume Keywords (2026): 60+ Intune & Entra ID Skills
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🚨 Still applying with "System Administrator" on your resume? You're losing money.
In 2026, the industry has rebranded. The "System Admin" who manages on-prem Active Directory is paid $80k. The "Modern Workplace Engineer" who manages Entra ID and Intune is paid $130k+. The difference isn't just skills—it's keywords.
Why M365 Resume Keywords Matter in 2026
The "Microsoft Admin" role has split into two distinct paths:
- Azure Infrastructure: Servers, VNETs, Kubernetes (AKS).
- Modern Workplace (M365): Identity, Devices, Collaboration, Security.
This guide focuses on the Modern Workplace track. If you are applying for roles like "M365 Engineer," "Cloud Workplace Specialist," or "EUC (End User Computing) Architect," the ATS is looking for a very specific vocabulary.
The "Shift" you must reflect:
- Old Term: Active Directory (AD) -> New Term: Entra ID
- Old Term: Imaging/Ghosting -> New Term: Windows Autopilot
- Old Term: GPO (Group Policy) -> New Term: Intune Configuration Profiles
- Old Term: Antivirus -> New Term: Defender for Endpoint (EDR)
If your resume still talks about "Golden Images" and "WSUS," you look like a dinosaur. This guide gives you the 60+ keywords to sound current, certified, and "Cloud-Native."
Table of Contents
- What Are M365 Engineer Keywords?
- Identity & Access (The Foundation)
- Device Management (Intune/MECM)
- Security & Compliance
- Collaboration (Teams/SharePoint)
- PowerShell & Automation
- How to Optimize Your Resume Bullets
- FAQ
What Are M365 Engineer Keywords?
These are the proprietary tool names, protocols, and services that define the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Since Microsoft renames its products frequently (e.g., Azure AD becoming Entra ID), using the 2026 terminology is the single best way to prove you are keeping up.
Recruiters use "Boolean Search Strings" to find candidates. A typical search string looks like this:
("Intune" OR "Endpoint Manager") AND ("Autopilot") AND ("Entra ID" OR "Azure AD") AND ("PowerShell")
If you are missing any of those key buckets, you don't even appear in the search results.
Identity & Access (The Foundation)
Identity is the new firewall. In a Zero Trust world, your ability to manage Entra ID is more important than your ability to manage a switch.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Core Identity | Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Hybrid Identity, AD Connect (Sync), User Principals, Azure AD Join, Hybrid Join |
| Access Control | Conditional Access Policies, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), SSO (Single Sign-On), Hello for Business, FIDO2 Keys |
| Governance | PIM (Privileged Identity Management), Access Reviews, Entitlement Management, B2B/B2C Guest Access |
ATS Warning: While everyone knows "Azure AD," you MUST list "Entra ID" as well. Modern JDs use the new name. Write it as: "Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)" to capture both search terms.
Device Management (Intune/MECM)
This is the bread and butter of the role. You must demonstrate that you can manage a laptop without ever touching it physically.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Windows Autopilot, OOBE (Out of Box Experience), White Glove (Pre-provisioning), ESP (Enrollment Status Page) |
| Management | Microsoft Intune, Endpoint Manager, MDM (Mobile Device Management), MAM (Mobile Application Management), BYOD Policies |
| Legacy/Hybrid | MECM (Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager), SCCM, Co-management workloads, Cloud Management Gateway (CMG), Task Sequences |
| Patching | Windows Update for Business (WUfB), Feature Updates, Quality Updates, Update Rings, Driver Management |
The "Autopilot" Keyword
Autopilot is the #1 most requested skill for Desktop/EUC engineers in 2026. If you have done even one Autopilot deployment, highlight it. It is the differentiator between legacy IT and modern IT.
Security & Compliance
You are no longer just an "Admin"; you are a "Security Practitioner." The separation between SecOps and IT Ops is blurring.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Threat Defense | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE), EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules |
| Data Protection | BitLocker, WIP (Windows Information Protection), Purview, Sensitivity Labels, DLP (Data Loss Prevention) |
| Monitoring | Microsoft Sentinel (basic awareness), KQL (Kusto Query Language), Security Score, Compliance Manager |
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Collaboration (Teams/SharePoint)
While you might not be a dedicated SharePoint developer, you must know the admin side of these tools.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Teams Admin | Teams Admin Center, Call Quality Dashboard (CQD), Direct Routing, Operator Connect, Teams Rooms, Meeting Policies |
| SharePoint/OneDrive | SharePoint Admin Center, Site Collections, OneDrive for Business, Storage Quotas, External Sharing Policies |
| Exchange Online | Mailbox Management, Transport Rules, DKIM, DMARC, SPF, Anti-Phishing policies, Hybrid Exchange |
PowerShell & Automation
If you click buttons in the portal, you are Level 1. If you write scripts to do it for 10,000 users, you are Level 3.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Scripting | PowerShell 7, Microsoft Graph API, Azure Cloud Shell, PnP PowerShell, Exchange Online PowerShell module |
| Automation | Power Automate, Logic Apps, Runbooks, Azure Automation Accounts, Graph Explorer, JSON Payloads |
Key Phrase to use: "Automated repetitive administrative tasks using PowerShell and Microsoft Graph API, reducing manual effort by 30%."
How to Optimize Your Resume Bullets
Recruiters want to see Scale and Modernization. Don't just say "Managed Intune." Say "Migrated 500 devices from SCCM to Intune."
❌ Weak Example (Legacy)
- Managed Active Directory users and groups.
- Imaged computers using SCCM.
- Provided support for Outlook and Teams.
✅ Strong Example (Modern Workplace)
- Engineered a Zero Touch Provisioning workflow using Windows Autopilot and Intune, reducing device setup time from 4 hours to 30 minutes.
- Migrated 2,000 users from on-prem Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) utilizing Hybrid Join and Connect Sync.
- Hardened the security posture by implementing Conditional Access Policies and MFA across the tenant, raising the Microsoft Secure Score by 45 points.
- Managed Windows Update for Business (WUfB) rings to ensure 99% compliance with critical security patches.
Why the strong example wins:
- Scale: "2,000 users" (Shows enterprise experience).
- Impact: "Reduced setup time from 4 hours to 30 mins" (ROI).
- Modern Vocabulary: "Zero Touch," "Secure Score," "WUfB."
FAQ
Aqui estão as perguntas mais comuns (Here are the most common questions) regarding M365 resumes.
1. Do certifications matter?
Yes. The MD-102 (Endpoint Administrator) and MS-102 (M365 Administrator Expert) are the gold standards. If you have them, put them in your resume header. They bypass the "maybe" pile and go straight to the "interview" pile.
2. Can I list "Office 365" or should it be "Microsoft 365"?
Use "Microsoft 365" or "M365." Microsoft rebranded years ago. "Office 365" refers strictly to the apps (Word/Excel), whereas "Microsoft 365" includes Windows and Security. Using M365 shows you understand the suite.
3. What if I only know SCCM and not Intune?
You are in a danger zone. You need to upskill immediately. On your resume, focus on any "Co-management" or "Cloud Management Gateway" work you did in SCCM, as those are the bridges to Intune.
4. How do I list migration experience?
Migrations are money. "Tenant-to-Tenant Migration," "Exchange Hybrid Migration," or "SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)" keywords are incredibly high value. Highlight any project where you moved data from A to B.
5. What's the best way to prove skills without a job?
Get a developer tenant (free from Microsoft), set up Intune, enroll your own PC, and document it. Then list it as a "Home Lab" project: "Deployed an Intune Lab environment with Conditional Access and Autopilot testing."
Related Resources
- System Administrator Resume Keywords - For general IT infrastructure roles.
- Azure Developer Resume Keywords - For cloud platform roles.
- Cybersecurity Engineer Resume Keywords - For dedicated security roles.
- How to Get Hired at Microsoft - Culture & interview guide.
- Resume Keywords by Industry (Pillar) - The complete directory.
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