How to Write an Administrative Assistant Resume
When you’re looking for a job as an administrative assistant, your resume needs to show that you’ve got the skills necessary to do the job. This guide from creating a resume is meant specifically for this type of position.
Regardless of what kind of administrative assistant job you are looking for, your resume has to be unique and stand out from other applicants in order to get noticed during the hiring process.
This article will include everything from resume-building tips and hints on how to present your skills and experience in a way that will turn heads. Follow this step-by-step guide for help with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and everything else that could increase your chances of landing the job.
Administrative Assistant Job Description:
The administrative assistant helps the organization’s management solve ongoing problems by dealing with tasks such as filing, research, correspondence, and bookkeeping. They may enter data into databases or perform other related technical tasks that are essential to the organization’s success. Administrative assistants often serve as team leaders, and those who can speak clearly to their audiences will increase their earning potential.
Administrative Assistant Job duties:
- Organize files and office documents.
- Respond to emails and telephone calls.
- Schedule meetings and refer to calendars.
- Keep records of meetings, telephone calls, and decisions made.
- Prepare agenda for meetings.
- Review contracts tally remittances, and other business documents to verify accuracy.
- Take notes during meetings and record comments of attendees to distribute later.
- Retrieve information such as articles or photographs from libraries, photographic archives, or digital archives prior to press conferences or presentations for use by speakers or presenters.
- Distribute materials in the mailroom.
- Create and update appointment books and calendars, set up conference rooms or office suites as needed.
- Photocopy and process incoming documents, faxes, correspondence, and Xerox or copy the originals.
- Assist in filing, sorting, maintaining records of correspondences such as emails, letters, memos; prepare documents for review; process incoming mail; handle messages from vendors and customers in response to requests.
- Post notices on bulletin boards such as personnel announcements or company news.
Tips to Write Administrative Assistant Resume Summary:
- When writing your resume, it’s always useful to summarize your skills and achievements. Make sure you include your personal information (name, contact info).
- State what type of work you’re looking for. Make it clear that you are applying for a specific position.
- Place the most important information first.
- Keep the length of your resume to one page if possible.
- It is recommended that you include the most recent position first, generally on top of the page.
- Be concise.
- Write a good summary of your skills and experience in the Administrative Assistant Resume Summary.
- Include key skills for Administrative Assistant in the work experience section and use bullet points to separate each one.
Example Summary:
“I am an experienced administrative assistant seeking a position in an organization that will utilize my skills and ability to work well under pressure. I have more than ten years of administrative experience, with more than six years as a secretary for the major department in XYZ Company. Working long hours in fast-paced environments, I’ve gained invaluable experience in organizational skills, time management, prioritizing tasks, and excellent communication skills.”
“Having 2 years of experience as a secretary, I do not have much administrative experience, but I bring to the table valuable skills that will make me an excellent candidate for your position. Fast and thorough work with excellent results is what I want to achieve in the new job, where every day will be challenging and rewarding.”
Resume Tips For Administrative Assistants:
- Use action verbs such as “Generated”, “Reviewed”, “Assigned” instead of “Performed”, “Completed”, or “Executed”.
- Make use of the “In” and “Since” formats.
- Include individual accomplishments such as successful projects if appropriate.
- Remember that you are not only looking for a job in this field, but also for a specific position. List the company’s name in the contact section.
- Use the “Latest” format, following by your current position title.
- Use the “Work” format, followed by the company’s name.
- Use the “Company” section when listing your employers, locations, and dates of employment.
- Spell out employer names and use periods instead of commas, make sure you type each word correctly.
- Include job responsibilities thoroughly and accurately.
- List the skills needed to complete your previous jobs in the work experience section.
- Always write down your contact information including your email address and phone number under the personal section.
Top 15 Must-Have Administrative Assistant Skills:
- Excellent communication
- Organization
- Multi-tasking ability
- Attention to detail.
- Computer skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment without being stressed or frustrated
- Multi-lingual (ability to speak more than one language)
- Ability to work in a team and under pressure.
- Patience and tolerance of others.
- Confidentiality and privacy.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work with minimum supervision.
- Organizational skills (to plan, set goals, prioritize tasks).
- Good instincts.
- Determination and commitment to their work.
Before applying for an administrative assistant position, it is recommended to research the company you are applying for. This will help you understand the company culture and objectives before presenting yourself to a potential employer, hence presenting yourself as a more professional and reliable candidate who is genuinely interested in the position offered.
Administrative Assistant Education Qualification:
- 2 years of college or university education.
- Good academic records (minimum GPA of 2.5).
- At least one year of experience working as an administrative assistant or equivalent in an administrative/clerical position.
- A Bachelor’s degree program with three years of related course work and one year of experience is preferred.
- A degree in human resources may be preferred for some positions.
- Competencies:
-Computer skills- Must be proficient with all Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Other software skills are a plus.
-Communication- Must have excellent writing and public speaking skills, including the ability to present information in a manner that can be easily understood by the audience. Must possess good listening skills so that information is gathered and fully comprehended correctly.
Tips to Write an Administrative Assistant Resume with no experience:
- Set goals for yourself and your career. Figure out how you want to be seen in the near future and how your professional skills match up with that image. Have a resume critique and ask for feedback on the resume before you submit it. It’s important to have someone who is an objective look at your resume because they’ll be able to give honest advice and constructive criticism. Many employers are starting to use automated screening processes when hiring, so make sure yours stands out!
- Apply to jobs that interest you, but be prepared to show specific reasons why you want that job. Customize your resume so it highlights your qualifications, and check it for spelling and grammatical errors. Keep in mind that the employer probably has hundreds of resumes to read; do yours stand out?
- Practice your interview skills, which are similar to those of communicating in a professional manner during the application process. Employers are looking for candidates who can speak articulately about their work experience and can convince others they’re worth hiring. Professional appearance, etiquette, and voice are also important!
- Try to network as much as you can. This is very important in any job search because it can help you meet people who may offer you a career opportunity. Gather information from past and present coworkers by interviewing them, asking about their successes, and asking them how they got started in their current position or company.
- Remember that a resume is not a commitment to the employer. It’s just a way of communicating your qualifications. The employer is the one who decides whether or not to give you an interview. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, but do be prepared for rejection!
Guide to Write an Administrative Assistant Cover Letter
- In the letter, you should immediately show employers why you’re a good fit for their organization. Include a personal touch to make the letter stand out from all the others in your pile.
- Tell what you will do for the employer, not what they will do for you. Demonstrate that you are motivated and capable of performing various tasks and understand how things work at the company. Show your interest, describe how your skills would benefit them, and demonstrate your ability to fulfill whatever goals they set.
- Highlight your qualifications and why you would be a good fit, not just your skills. Show that you have the motivation and dedication to perform all tasks effectively.
- Make sure you’re addressing something specific in the letter, so it will be easy for the employer to know what you’re getting at. Don’t rank all your qualifications or list every experience, but make one relevant comment about each one or even only about a few.
Conclusion:
We hope this article helps you writing the perfect Administrative Assistant Resume & Cover Letter. Check our sample resume and cover letter before submitting your own. Also, use our free resume builder to build your resume and cover letter. You can also download it in pdf format.