Administrative Assistant Resume Examples and Templates (Downloadable)

  • Entry level
  • Midlevel
  • Senior level

To craft an effective administrative assistant resume, you must show hiring managers your skill set can support and manage their company’s office operations. We’ll help you craft a resume that emphasizes your multitasking expertise and meticulous attention to detail with expert tips, strategies, and examples.

Key takeaways:

  • Highlight expertise: Whether your specialties lie in streamlining operations, report generation, or client relations, make these contributions the focus of your resume profile.
  • Give value to achievements: Emphasize your work success using numbers to demonstrate your impact through performing administrative tasks in the past.
  • Utilize keywords: To optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS) include keywords, software names, and relevant admin terminology from the job description.

How To Write an Administrative Assistant Resume Example

Your administrative assistant resume should demonstrate a track record of supporting office functions, regardless of your industry. Ensure your resume contains the following sections:

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

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 call or email you to schedule an interview.

Example

Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio

2. Add a compelling profile featuring your administrative assistant experience

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.

Suppose you led the implementation of a new customer relationship management (CRM) system or you were responsible for coordinating all of the company’s annual conferences. Mention these significant contributions here. Share the unique specializations you have within administrative support to convey the ways you could contribute to an employer’s organization.

Senior-Level Profile Example

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with more than 10 years of experience in health care administration. Leader who manages office operations and financial aspects of high-stakes medical offices. Supports department heads of critical care, pediatric, and oncology units. Trains and mentors staff. Utilizes Epic Systems to ensure data accuracy and compliance.

Entry-Level Profile Example

Certified Administrative Professional with three years of experience performing office duties. Currently an intern at Fidelity Investments who manages complex schedules and administrative tasks for senior staff. Proficient in Google Workspace, Salesforce, and SharePoint. Driven to improve office processes and productivity through automated scheduling tools.

3. Add a compelling section featuring your administrative assistant experience

In your professional experience section, demonstrate to hiring managers your 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.

This is your chance to describe how you’ve used relevant skills in real-world situations. That might be describing times you’ve managed complex travel itineraries, organized a corporate retreat, or supported a new marketing campaign. Demonstrate how you played a role in these types of situations and any noteworthy accomplishments, using numbers when you can.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Senior Administrative Assistant, Carrington Medical Center, Memphis, TN
March 2016 – present

  • Lead administrative support for three department heads in critical care, pediatrics, and oncology
  • Manage departmental purchases and expenditure reviews to ensure annual budget does not exceed $200,000
  • Reduced payroll reconciliation errors by 25% through optimization of payment processing for 30 medical staff members
  • Train incoming admin staff on office procedures and proper patient data management
  • Produce monthly financial reports that detail spending and savings across multiple departments

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Administrative Assistant Intern, Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA
January 2023 – present

  • Manage the reception area, greet visitors, and respond to telephone and in-person inquiries
  • Provide administrative support to a team of 10 senior staff in organizing schedules, meetings, and all communications
  • Prepare necessary documentation and reports for quarterly financial audits
  • Improved retrieval times by 30% with the digitization of nearly 3,000 client documents
  • Assisted with an international finance conference for over 100 participants to ensure a smooth execution

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

When describing your work history, 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, percentages, and metrics. For example, you could demonstrate the number of calls you handle in a day or the number of reports you generate each week.

Do
  • “Answer an average of 80 calls per day, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate”
Don’t
  • “Answer phone calls each day using quality customer service skills”

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

While generalized resumes can land you an interview, a well-tailored one can greatly increase your chances. Every administrative assistant job you apply for will have its own unique requirements depending on the employer and the industry. Study the job description for each application you submit and identify what kinds of admin skills and experience they need.

For example, if you’re applying for a job in a law firm, they might be looking for someone who has experience with “legal documentation” and can manage a “busy schedule for multiple attorneys.” In that case, you would show a similar experience using those exact keywords and phrases mentioned in the job description.

What if you don’t have experience?

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 your experience with skills such as:

  • Attention to detail
  • Organization
  • Multitasking
  • Time management
  • Verbal and written communication

If you’re proficient in commonly used office software, emphasize your knowledge of those relevant technologies. Also, detail times you’ve coordinated events, collaborated with others, or worked in customer service.

4. Add administrative education and certifications

While a four-year degree may not be a requirement for most administrative assistant positions, employers may have a preference for applicants with some college. Start with your highest level of education, listing relevant degrees or diplomas. As you list these items, specify the degree or certification name, institution, and date of completion.

You can also include certifications to help you stand out from other applicants. For example, a Certified Administrative Professional credential could help an entry-level assistant prove their role readiness. On the other hand, an industry-specific certification for professionals in the medical or higher education field would be helpful for more seasoned assistants.

Education

Template:

[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example:

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration
Texas College, Tyler, TX | June 2015

Certifications

Template:

[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example:

Administrative Assistant Certification, National Career Certification Board, 2010

5. List key administrative assistant skills and proficiencies

Whether helping customers or managing interdepartmental communications, you rely on a well-rounded skill set to provide admin 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. For example:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Adaptability Attention to detail
Calendar management Critical thinking
Customer service Data entry
Database management Dependability
Email management Initiative
Meeting coordination Organization
Team collaboration Time management

Resume writer’s tip: Use specific action verbs

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 Collaborated
Communicated Coordinated
Enhanced Executed
Facilitated Implemented
Managed Organized
Prioritized Resolved
Streamlined Synchronized

How To Pick the Best Administrative Assistant Resume Template

Your administrative assistant resume should be neat, organized, and easy to read. The best choice is a basic template with a well-structured layout. Look for simple designs and avoid those with elaborate graphics and bright colors. The goal is to present a polished document showcasing your ability to manage the administrative needs of a professional office.

Administrative Assistant Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates

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  • Entry level
  • Midlevel
  • Senior level
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Cheryl Nelson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio

Profile

Certified Administrative Professional with three years of experience performing office duties. Currently an intern at Fidelity Investments who manages complex schedules and administrative tasks for senior staff. Proficient in Google Workspace, Salesforce, and SharePoint. Driven to improve office processes and productivity through automated scheduling tools.

Key Skills

  • Customer service
  • Document management
  • Event coordination
  • Initiative
  • Professional communication
  • Scheduling and calendar management

Professional Experience

Administrative Assistant Intern, Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA
May 2023 – present

  • Manage the reception area, greet visitors, and respond to telephone and in-person inquiries
  • Provide administrative support to a team of 10 senior staff in organizing schedules, meetings, and all communications
  • Prepare necessary documentation and reports for quarterly financial audits
  • Improved retrieval times by 30% with the digitization of nearly 3,000 client documents
  • Assisted with an international finance conference for over 100 participants to ensure a smooth execution

Receptionist, Porsche Smith, Cambridge, MA
March 2021 – April 2023

  • Greeted customers with a warm, professional welcome when they came into the dealership
  • Managed telephone lines, answering or redirecting an average of 50 calls per day
  • Handled appointment scheduling for a team of 11 sales representatives and acted as liaison by providing timely information to customers
  • Executed daily data entry in compliance with dealership policies and procedures
  • Collaborated with the marketing team to increase customer foot traffic by 25% through the monthly organization of at least one promotional event

Education

Associate of Science (A.S.) in Business Administration, June 2023
Fisher College, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • Certified Administrative Professional, International Association of Administrative Professionals, June 2024

Frequently Asked Questions: Administrative Assistant Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with an administrative assistant job description?

Employment for administrative professionals is projected to see a 10% decline over the next decade. As demand shrinks, competition will only get tougher. If you want to land the best admin jobs, tailor your resume by adjusting your skills and qualifications to align with the requirements for each position you apply for.

Consider the industry you’re looking to work within. For example, suppose you have extensive experience in working with tech companies but are applying for a job in a medical office. Your goal is to translate your skills for the health care sector. In that scenario, you would highlight your proficiency in database management, privacy compliance, and schedule management.

What is the best administrative assistant resume format?

A combination format is particularly beneficial for an administrative assistant resume. With room for a skills list, you can emphasize the most relevant competencies for the job you’re applying for. This style leads with your strengths, followed by evidence of your experience with a progressive work history section. Any transferable skills you bring from previous, potentially unrelated roles are more of a feature than a side note.

Expert advice:

Include a cover letter with your resume

Once you’ve finished your resume, write a cover letter to accompany it. This additional page provides space to communicate how your skills and experiences qualify you for an administrative assistant position. You’re more likely to make a connection with the hiring manager by explaining how your approach would benefit their office operations.

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.

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