How to write a standout administrative assistant CV

Hiring managers sift through endless amounts of CVs. An effective administrative assistant CV needs to look professional and stand out.

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Table of Contents

  1. Administrative assistant CV example
  2. Administrative assistant CV
  3. What is an administrative assistant?
  4. What are the top skills to highlight on an administrative assistant CV?
  5. Sections to include in an administrative assistant CV
  6. How to write an attention-grabbing administrative assistant CV
  7. FAQ: Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistant CV example

Administrative Assistant Resume Example

Administrative assistant CV

Administrative assistants play a crucial role in maintaining smooth and effective business operations. This article will cover what an administrative assistant is, which skills they should highlight on their CV, and how to write a CV.

What is an administrative assistant?

An administrative assistant is someone who carries out daily clerical and organisational tasks. Many assistants have several daily responsibilities to provide administrative support to administrative professionals or companies.

Entry-level administrative assistants may have tasks such as handling phone calls, filing documents or data entry. On the other hand, more experienced administrative assistants may be responsible for more advanced tasks, such as making travel arrangements, managing several projects and scheduling and coordinating company meetings. 

No matter what type of administrative assistant position you’ve had or wish to have, it’s important to list your top skills on your CV. Here are some top skills to highlight on your administrative assistant CV.

What are the top skills to highlight on an administrative assistant CV?

No matter what job you’re applying to, it’s important to include both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are learnt abilities, while soft skills are intangible and interpersonal skills that can be applied to most industries. Some standard soft skills that you should include in your administrative assistant skills section include: 

  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Detail-oriented
  • Customer service
  • Research skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Multitasking
  • Time management

On the other hand, some hard skills that are important for an administrative assistant job include:

  • Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel
  • QuickBooks
  • Calendar management
  • Filing systems
  • Office management
  • Purchasing and distributing office supplies
  • Preparing and editing reports, memos and emails
  • Accurate data entry
  • Answering several phone calls per day

Sections to include in an administrative assistant CV

The first step in creating a professional CV is formatting it correctly. While CV formats may not seem like a huge deal, recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate an easy-to-read CV and cover letter. If you’re unsure where to start, check out an administrative assistant CV example or some of our CV templates. Otherwise, here are a few tips to help you get started. 

Header

The first section of your CV should be your CV header. This section will list your name and contact information, including your phone number, email address and a link to your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile. Then, move on to your administrative assistant professional summary or career objective, where you explain why you’re the best candidate for the job position. 

Skills 

When you move on to your skills section, make sure you read the job description and match your skills to what the job requires – this is known as using “keywords” from the description. 

Work Experience 

This section includes your job title, dates worked at each job, and a brief description of job achievements or duties. Start with your most recent job and work backwards to older work experiences. Keep in mind that hiring managers and recruiters like to see CVs with numerical values, so incorporate them into your CV wherever possible. Using strong action verbs (e.g., “managed,” “oversaw”) can also highlight your achievements and let hiring managers know that you’re taking charge of your duties.

Education, Achievements, or Certifications

Once you’ve listed your most relevant job experiences, you can go on to list your education, achievements or certifications. If you’ve earned any college degrees, certificates or other acknowledgements, then list them in their respective CV sections.

How to write an attention-grabbing administrative assistant CV

To make your administrative assistant CV stand out to hiring managers, focusing on only the most important elements is crucial. Read the job description and fully understand what skills and qualifications the hiring manager is looking for. Then, tailor your CV to fit the company’s needs.

Additionally, your CV should be formatted well to stand out against other candidates. If you’re not sure how to format your CV, then check out an administrative assistant CV sample, which will give you a good idea of what your CV should look like.

FAQ: Administrative Assistant

Q: How do you improve your administrative assistant skills?

If you want to improve your administrative assistant skills, continuously work on your technology skills. As technology rapidly becomes more advanced, it’s essential to keep up with these skills and adapt to changes. Additionally, it’s never too late to perfect your communication skills and improve your time management.

Q: Why is an administrative assistant CV important?

An administrative assistant’s CV is important because the hiring manager looks through countless job applications. So, yours needs to stand out while giving hiring managers a detailed look at your background, education and other qualifications.

Q: What are some examples of administrative assistant CVs?

If you’ve never created a CV before or need help updating yours, here are several examples of administrative assistant CVs. Remember to customise your CV for each job you apply for. Job seekers should avoid sending the same CV to several different employers. Instead, tailor your CV to match your skills with the job requirements.

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