Best Administrative Assistant Resume Examples [Skills Tips]

Best Administrative Assistant Resume Examples [Skills Tips] You are 7 minutes away from the perfect administrative assistant resume. But firstAn administrative assistant is the offices one-person special operations unit. You make the boss run like clockwork. You make that Monday morning teleconference happen.You make the world go round.The problem?Landing that job in the first place.Demand for secretaries and administrative assistants isnt growing fast enough.You need the perfect admin assistant resume to land your next job.This guide will show you:An administrative assistant resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.How to write an administrative assistant resume that will land you more interviews.Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a resume for administrative assistant positions.How to describe administrative experience to get any job you want.Heres an example of a resume for an administrative assistant made using our resume builder.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume bu ilder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Administrative Assistant ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHere are more resume samples for office and administrative support occupations:Executive Assistant ResumeOffice Assistant ResumeOffice Manager ResumeSecretary ResumeReceptionist ResumeClerical ResumeOffice Clerk ResumeFront Desk ResumeBusiness Administration ResumeNonprofit Resume1Whats the Best Format for an Administrative Assistant Resume?The best format for an administrative assistant is elegant and personable like Pam Beesly. But it packs a punch like Peggy OlsonIts the reverse-chronological resume format.You cant go wrong with this format for a professional administrative assistant resume .Remember how hard it was for you to write your first resume?This time its different.Whats a good administrative assistant resume template?Professional. Clean. Simple. Easy to scan.The core of administrative assistant job skills is organization. Prove your worth by using a professional resume templateA modern resume-friendly font. White space to guide the hiring managers gaze. Headings that help navigate the contents.Finally, save your perfect administrative assistant resume as a PDF. The PDF format keeps the layout in shape better than bubble wrap.Have your resume saved in different formats depending on whats required on the job advertisement, says Sarah Dowzell, COO at Natural HR.Pro Tip: Check the job description for the administrative assistant position to make sure PDFs are OK. Some Applicant Tracking Systems cant read PDF-formatted resumes. Then a Microsoft Word file may be preferred.How many pages? Aim for a one-pager, but double-check if its your ideal resume length.The reve rse-chronological format is best for most admin assistant resumes. But there are better templates for career changers and admin assistants re-entering the workforce. This guide will show you what will work best for you: Resume Format: How to Format a Resume for a Dream JobWant to make sure your resume will hook every recruiter and get you that interview? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a job-winning resume: 46 Things You Need To Do Before You Send Your Resume2Administrative Assistant Resume Summary or Resume ObjectiveWhatever introduction you use, it should be catchy but chock-full of job-relevant skills and experience.Who should use a resume objective for an administrative assistant resume?Fresh graduatesCareer-changersAre you an experienced administrative assistant? Go for aresume summary.An administrative assistant resume objective is like an elevator pitch. It explains what skills you excel at and how you can prove yourself on the job:Sample Resume Objective for Admi nistrative Assistant (No Experience)Heres how entry-level administrative assistant resumes could begin:Right Example of Administrative Assistant Resume ObjectiveRightEnglish graduate with proven communication, travel planning, and email management skills. Seeking a position as an administrative assistant at Acme Inc., to leverage organizational and research skills to support internal and external communication.Wrong Example of Administrative Assistant Resume ObjectiveWrongLooking for an admin assistant role where I can apply my skills. Im a self-starter that wants to make a difference.But wait! The first example does mention experience!Actually, both examples come from the same candidate. She was writing an admin assistant resume without experience in the industry.In the right example, she included work experience relevant to the position. She got it through internships, freelancing, and in college. It's a success!In the wrong example? Well, she simply called it quits and moved on.P ro Tip: Writing a resume for an entry-level administrative assistant job? Brainstorm. Come up with relevant experience and skills from other jobs. If you have the time, do a quick internship or volunteer at a local not-for-profit. Get involved in on-campus activities.An administrative assistant resume summary is a to-the-point highlight of your achievements and skills as an admin assistant.A good summary will make the hiring manager think, This is our savior!Examples of a Senior Administrative Assistant Resume SummaryLook at these two samples of executive administrative assistant resume summaries.Right Example of Administrative Assistant Resume SummaryRightSenior administrative assistant with 5+ years of experience and a degree in accounting. Managed busy schedules and travel plans of 3+ corporate executives while performing general office administration duties. Wanting to execute appointment management, manage internal and external communication, and aid with QuickBooks bookkeeping while meeting deadlines at Acme Inc.Wrong Example of Administrative Assistant Resume SummaryWrongAdmin assistant with on-the-job experience. Well-versed in handling day-to-day office management duties and bookkeeping. Excellent at multitasking.The right administrative assistant resume summary cuts to the chase. The hiring manager will want to call this skilled candidate ASAP.This candidate has the experience. Delivered quantifiable results. No need to mention multitasking, its clear shes a pro.The wrong administrative assistant resume summary isnt wrong wrong. Its just like the mystery meat served at the canteen on your first job. It looks fine, but youre clueless about specific ingredients (How many years of experience? Whats their background?). Some might like it, but only if theyre out of options.Pro Tip: Its easier to write a heading statement after youve finished the whole admin assistant resume. This way youll know exactly what to showcase in your summary or objective.A headi ng statement works great on any administrative assistant resume template. With all the competition out there, you need to grab the employers attention ASAP. Pack that entry-level administrative assistant resume objective with relevant experience. Highlight your pedigree in your summary. These guides will show you how: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See and 20+ Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips)When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.3How to Describe Administrative Experience on a ResumeFollowed our advice on writing the best admin assistant resume summary/objective?Great, the hiring manager will read on.Time for the make or break part of your resumethe experience section.Administrative Assistant Res ume SamplesExperienceRight Example of Administrative Experience on a ResumeRightExecutive Administrative AssistantAcme Company, October 2014January 2018Trusted with a $350,000 budget to coordinate all international and domestic travel arrangements for executives going to corporate events.Trained 3 administrative assistants on customer service and other office procedures, including maintaining files and sending correspondence.Organized office transition from paper invoice to QuickBooks and online invoicing.Achievements:Saved $3,000 a year in office supplies after negotiating a new deal with the current supplier.Commended for creating the in-house newsletter to communicate managements vision. Reduced email back-and-forth by 20%.Wrong Example of Administrative Experience on a ResumeWrongAdmin AssistantAcme Company, March 2017PresentResponsible for coordinating travel arrangements.Managed online invoicing.Responsible for basic procurement of office supplies.Circulated in-house newslette r.See the difference?The right example of an administrative assistants resume will get any hiring managers seal of approval!The wrong example of an administrative assistants resume?It reads like a generic administrative assistant job description from Craigslist.Listen, hiring managers know the responsibilities and duties of an administrative assistant. They wrote the job ad to hire new employees.Curious how you can give your resume a boost like our candidate in the right example?Here are the best tips for talking about administrative assistant duties and responsibilities:How to Write About Administrative Experience in a ResumeDont list non-critical or routine day-to-day tasks, unless theyre in the job ad.Dont list responsibilities. List achievements.What is administrative experience without the numbers? Quantify your achievements whenever possible.Introduced a procedure or initiative that saved time or money? Show that off.Dont use clichs like responsible for or managed. Use action words to highlight your strengths: organized, trained, arranged, or distributed.Use the ProblemActionResult method to talk about your work. For example: Saved $3,000 a year in office supplies after negotiating a new deal with the current supplier. Problem? Money wasted. Action? Renegotiated. Result? Saved $3,000.You really need to do this right.Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that demand for secretaries and administrative assistants is not growing fast enough. But knowledge of office equipment is not enough. Fine-tune your experience section with help from this guide: How to List Work Experience on Your Resume [+20 Examples]Having trouble making that administrative assistant entry-level resume shine? These guides will help you kick the employers doors wide open: Entry-Level Resume: Sample and Complete Guide [+20 Examples] and First Resume with No Work Experience Samples (A Step-by-Step Guide)If you have worked on projects that required you to make use of your administ rative skills, be sure to mention them. Internships matter. So does freelancing and volunteering. You can create an additional section that will surely change the status of your application from maybe to hell yes!: Resume Sections to Include on Your Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)Action Words and Power Verbs for an Administrative Assistant ResumeUse these power words on your AA resume. See section 4. How to Put Skills on a Resume of this guide for more administrative assistant keywords.Keywords for Administrative Assistant ResumesLeading a Team or ProjectDesigned or CreatedAchievementsAssistanceCoordinatedAdministratedAchievedArrangedExecutedBuiltAcceleratedAidedGeneratedCreatedBoostedAnsweredHeadedDevisedDecreasedAssistedHandledDevelopedEnhancedCooperatedOrganizedFormedExpeditedContributedOversawImplementedGainedGuidedOperatedLaunchedIncreasedProvidedInitiatedPioneeredMaximizedSimplifiedPlannedSpearheadedOptimizedSupported4Skills toPut on an Administrative ResumeYoure well on your way to finishing the perfect administrative assistant resume.Remember how jobs arent growing fast enough? That means competition.Time to tip the scales in your favor and emphasize your administrative assistant skills on the resume.The ones that double as resume keywords for administrative assistants20+ Must-Have Administrative Assistant Resume SkillsAppointment SettingCalendar ManagementTravel PlanningEvent PlanningTime ManagementForeign Language SkillsEmail ManagementWriting Letters and EmailsFaxingCalling Clients and SuppliersReceiving VisitorsCustomer ServiceTranscriptionRecording Minutes of the MeetingTraining New EmployeesResearchOrder ProcessingData EntryFilling SystemsBookkeepingInventory ManagementBillingSalesForceMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMIcrosoft PowerPointA good admin assistant is like a Swiss Army knifedependable and can do almost anything.See the administrative assistant skills list above?It combines soft skills, technical abilities, and problem-solv ing skills.But dont just copy and paste the whole thing into your resume. Pick your best abilities which mirror the requirements of the job ad. Match them to your previous jobs and mention them in bullet points describing your administrative duties.Does the job listing require you to know something about accounting, managing communication, and be fluent in Spanish?For this candidate its check, check, and check. Look how she put these administrative skills on her resume:Right Example of Administrative Assistant Resume SkillsRightAdministrative AssistantDecent Company, January 2017PresentProofread and ghostwritten internal communication for the management board.Communicated with clients and scheduled face-to-face meetings for 5+ executives.Conducted basic accounting tasks in QuickBooks and escalated issues to the supervisors.ReceptionistIncredibleStaffingAgency SF, August 2014January 2017Navigated a multicultural work environment and created positive rapport with potential hires.Scree ned phone calls and incoming email in Spanish.Skills:Fluent in Spanish (2 years in a bilingual work environment), accounting, QuickBooks, G Suite, MS Office, database management, multiple productivity apps (Slack, Trello), ...Cant quantify or prove your administrative skills through achievements?Dont worry, you cant put a number on everything. List the remaining relevant skills in the skills section of your AA resume template.Always highlight your command of foreign languages. Especially, if youre a bilingual admin assistant.Pro Tip: Want your admin assistant resume to start landing you interviews? Always write with the prospective employers needs in mind. Heres a great guide to explain what we mean: 6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)Why do resume keywords matter? Your resume goes through an applicant tracking systeman app that puts non-relevant applicants on hold. Forever. Dont let this happen to you. This guide will help you get straight to the rec ruiter: Resume Keywords To Use: Step-by-Step Guide [25+ Examples Tips]Its not easy to come up with administrative skills on your own, so let us assist you: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)5Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might BeJust list the highest level of education and move on, right?Not really.Yes, a high school diploma works just fine on an entry-level administrative assistant resume.For many executive administrative assistant resumes, youll need a bachelor of arts.Either way, this is how to put education on an AA resume:BA in Business Economics 2012State University of New York (SUNY)Relevant coursework: Introduction to Managerial and Financial Accounting, Advanced English Composition.See that?Its not just the degree, date, and the schools name. Our candidate also listed coursework that matches the job requirements of the position.Pro Tip: Whatever goes on the resume has to work in your favor. Use the education section to show o ff job-relevant knowledge and skills. If youre a recent graduate with an almost perfect GPA, put it on your resume. In all other casesdont.Still working on your degree? Just finished vocational training? Employers will appreciate this. Read our resume tips to find out how to put that education on your administrative assistant resume to wow them: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips Examples]6How About a Cover Letter for an Administrative Assistant?Youve got some serious communication skills, right?Dont do like the rest of your competition and just plonk communication skills in your administrative assistant skills list.Prove them by writing a cover letter for the administrative assistant position.For administrative assistant jobs, are cover letters necessary?Spoiler alert: Yes.Approximately half of all recruiters expect to get a cover letter.Dont make them send you that thanksbutnothanks email the previous admin assistant wrote.Write an administrative assistant cover letter t hat makes them think, Wow! I need this candidate to write everything from now on!Aim for a short cover letter for your administrative assistant resume. Show youve got the skills, you know the company inside out, and provide them with an offer they cant refuse.Not sure what we mean? Weve got you covered. Heres our complete guide on how to write a cover letter that fits your perfect resume: Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Sample Writing GuideYou can also see general cover letter writing tips here: Cover Letter for a Resume: 12+ Sample Cover Letter SectionsA great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.Here's what it may look like:See more cover letter templates and start writing.Want a sample to work from as you write your office assistant cover letter? See this guide:Office Assistant Cover Letter: Sample Full Writing Guide [20+ Tips]Key TakeawaySo, to write a professional admini strative assistant resume you need to follow these steps:Grab the hiring managers attention with the perfect administrative assistant resume objective or summary.Focus on achievements to prove youre worth your weight in gold.Show youve got the right education by listing relevant coursework and vocational training.Pepper your AA resume with relevant skills.Prove your communication and research skills by writing a catchy admin assistant cover letter for your resume.Include contact information, but consider skipping the address on your resume.Resume writing can be a challenge. Do you have any questions on how to make an administrative resume shine? Want others to review your document? Give us a shout in the comments section!