To craft an effective administrative assistant resume, you must show hiring managers you have the skill set to support and manage their company’s office operations across multiple departments. We’ll help you craft a resume that highlights your multitasking expertise and meticulous attention to detail with expert tips, strategies, and examples.
Using a premade resume template will make writing your resume effortless. Your administrative assistant resume should include these sections:
At the top of your resume, provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile. Double-check that all of your information is current so hiring managers can easily schedule an interview.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
Your profile is the opening statement of your resume. In just a few sentences, it informs hiring managers of who you are, how much experience you have, and what makes you qualified for the role. It should emphasize your administrative expertise and highlight specific skills the employer is looking for. For example, if a company needs someone proficient in Google Workspace, mention that here.
Proactive and detail-oriented administrative assistant with over eight years of experience in dynamic office environments. Demonstrated success in optimizing office efficiency, overseeing procurement processes, and ensuring financial accuracy. Microsoft Office specialist with a track record of supporting front offices in both postsecondary and innovative educational settings.
Whether helping customers or managing interdepartmental communications, you rely on a well-rounded skill set to provide clerical support. It takes technical proficiency and interpersonal abilities to be a successful administrative assistant. When writing your resume, include both hard and soft skills that align with the job you’re applying for.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Bookkeeping | Adaptability |
Calendar management | Attention to detail |
Customer service | Critical thinking |
Data entry | Dependability |
Database management | Initiative |
Email management | Leadership |
Meeting coordination | Organization |
Phone system management | Professionalism |
Spreadsheets | Team collaboration |
Typing speed | Time management |
When writing your professional experience section, it’s best to start your bullet points with action verbs. These words help frame your job descriptions as accomplishments and concisely illustrate your contributions in past roles. Instead of stating, “I was responsible for,” over and over, use action verbs to communicate your point instantly. Use some of the words below as you write your administrative assistant resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Administered | Coached |
Collaborated | Communicated |
Coordinated | Enhanced |
Executed | Facilitated |
Implemented | Managed |
Organized | Prioritized |
Resolved | Streamlined |
Synchronized |
In your professional experience section, demonstrate to hiring managers your past success in previous admin roles. Describe your job duties and achievements, highlighting anything that aligns with the requirements of the job you’re applying for. Emphasize your proficiency in specialized software and your knack for multitasking.
Administrative Assistant, Altitude Learning, Frisco, TX
May 2018 – present
Administrative Assistant, University of Texas Dallas, Richardson, TX
August 2015 – April 2018
When describing your contributions to previous employers, using numbers is a great way to show tangible results. This gives hiring managers insight into the value you could bring to their administrative team. Use dollar amounts or percentages when discussing budget management and cost savings. For example, you could highlight the number of calls you handle in a day or the number of people you’ve trained.
Employment for administrative professionals is projected to see a 10% decline over the next 10 years. As demand shrinks, competition will only get tougher. If you want a chance to land the best admin job, tailor your resume. Adjust your skills and qualifications so they align with the requirements for each position you apply for.
Consider the industry you’re looking to work within. Suppose you have extensive experience in health care settings. If you’re applying for an administrative assistant job with a tech company, you’ll need to translate your skills accordingly.
Out of the 2.78 million administrative professionals actively employed, prove to hiring managers that you offer more than the minimum requirements of the job. Do this by featuring any leadership abilities you may have. Were you responsible for heading a diversity and inclusion initiative? Have you led a team of administrative staff members? Throughout your administrative assistant resume, describe times you’ve taken the lead and were proactive in your work.
Admin assistants with years of experience would do best with a reverse chronological resume. This approach draws the most attention to your work history, emphasizing your extensive background in administrative roles. Hiring managers can quickly see you’re an established professional with plenty of experience.
However, if you’re at the entry level or transferring from another occupation, the combination format would work better. This resume combines both chronological and functional styles, offering a more balanced resume with a focus on key skills. Any transferable skills you bring from previous unrelated roles are more of a feature than a side note.
You can create a strong, compelling administrative assistant resume even without an extensive background in the field. Whether you’re applying for your first job or making a career change, focusing on your transferable skills and achievements is your best strategy. Highlight skills like organization, time management, communication, and leadership throughout your resume.
Think about the times you’ve managed projects, coordinated events, collaborated with others, or worked in customer service. If you’re proficient in commonly used office software, emphasize your knowledge of relevant technologies. No matter your experience level, there’s always something you can refer to with a little creative thinking.
Start with your highest level of education, listing relevant degrees or diplomas. In addition to your academic background, include certifications that could help you stand out from other applicants. As you list these items, specify the degree or certification name, institution, and date of completion.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Business Administration, September 2011 – June 2015
Texas College, Tyler, TX
Certifications
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Proactive and detail-oriented administrative assistant with over eight years of experience in dynamic office environments. Demonstrated success in optimizing office efficiency, overseeing procurement processes, and ensuring financial accuracy. Microsoft Office specialist with a track record of supporting front offices in both postsecondary and innovative educational settings.
Administrative Assistant, Altitude Learning, Frisco, TX
May 2018 – present
Administrative Assistant, University of Texas Dallas, Richardson, TX
August 2015 – April 2018
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Business Administration, September 2011 – June 2015
Texas College, Tyler, TX
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