- Most Popular Sales Resumes
- Administrative Assistant Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
- How To Write an Administrative Assistant Resume Example
- How To Pick the Best Administrative Assistant Resume Template
- Frequently Asked Questions: Administrative Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
- Check Out Related Examples
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 emphasizing 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.
Most Popular Sales Resumes
Executive Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This resume specifies how Jessica helped reduce costs and raise efficiency in high-pressure work settings. Learn how to structure your own resume here.
Medical Administrative Assistant Resume
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Why This Resume Works
This resume highlights Lauren’s specialized health care experience and compliance skills, helping position her for work in medical settings. Learn how to tailor your resume here.
Federal Administrative Assistant Resume
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Why This Resume Works
This resume emphasizes Michael’s compliance with regulations and specialized tools like GSA systems. It’s tailored to federal agency roles. Learn how to refine yours here.
HR Administrative Assistant Resume
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Why This Resume Works
This resume accents Sophia’s key HR-related tasks and measurable contributions to onboarding and benefits processes. It also condenses her early career into a brief prior experience section, focusing on her more recent and relevant work. Learn how to enhance your own resume here.
Legal Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This legal administrative assistant resume emphasizes legal-specific tasks like case file management and court scheduling, making it tailored for law firms. Learn more here.
Real Estate Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This real estate administrative assistant resume highlights specialized industry skills like MLS management, transaction tracking, and measurable impacts on client satisfaction and marketing. Learn more here.
Office Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This office administrative assistant resume highlights general office management skills, making it suitable for a variety of industries. It demonstrates efficiency and organization with measurable achievements. Learn how to enhance yours here.
Educational Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This educational administrative assistant resume emphasizes industry-specific skills like student data management and compliance. Event coordination and measurable contributions enhance its appeal. Learn how to structure yours here.
Entry-Level Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This entry-level administrative assistant resume highlights internship and volunteer experiences that demonstrate readiness for professional roles. It showcases transferable skills. Learn how to build yours here.
Nonprofit Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This nonprofit administrative assistant resume emphasizes donor communication and event coordination skills, both crucial for nonprofit operations. It showcases measurable impacts. Learn how to tailor your resume here.
Virtual Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This virtual administrative assistant resume highlights remote work expertise and proficiency with digital collaboration tools. It’s perfect for roles in distributed teams. Learn more here.
Legal Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This legal administrative assistant resume focuses on legal-specific tasks and measurable impacts, making it ideal for law firms and legal departments. Learn how to improve your resume here.
HR Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This HR administrative assistant resume highlights experience with HR-specific systems and processes, making it perfect for roles in human resources departments. Learn how to refine yours here.
Educational Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This educational administrative assistant resume emphasizes skills specific to school settings, such as FERPA compliance and student data management. Learn more here.
Nonprofit Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This nonprofit administrative assistant resume emphasizes donor communication and event coordination skills, both crucial for nonprofit operations. It showcases measurable impacts. Learn how to tailor your resume here.
Executive Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This executive administrative assistant resume highlights key accomplishments in cost savings and process improvements. It demonstrates the ability to handle high-pressure executive support roles. Learn how to improve yours here.
Church Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This church administrative assistant resume demonstrates strong organizational and communication skills essential for church environments. It emphasizes measurable impacts on attendance and event success. Learn more here.
Property Management Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This property management administrative assistant resume focuses on industry-specific tasks like lease management and tenant communication, demonstrating strong operational support skills. Learn how to refine yours here.
Sales Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This sales administrative assistant resume showcases technical expertise in CRM systems and a strong focus on measurable contributions to sales processes. Learn how to structure yours here.
Medical Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This medical administrative assistant resume emphasizes key industry-specific skills like Epic Systems proficiency and HIPAA compliance, with measurable results in scheduling efficiency. Learn more here.
Construction Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This construction administrative assistant resume highlights industry-specific skills like permit processing and project scheduling. Measurable impacts showcase efficiency in supporting large-scale projects. Learn more here.
Marketing Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This marketing administrative assistant resume emphasizes campaign coordination and analytics skills, demonstrating the ability to support marketing teams effectively. Learn how to structure yours here.
Retail Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This retail administrative assistant resume demonstrates expertise in retail-specific tasks like inventory management and sales reporting, with measurable impacts on operations. Learn more here.
Finance Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This finance administrative assistant resume highlights technical expertise in financial reporting and account management, ideal for financial institutions. Learn how to craft yours here.
Technology Administrative Assistant Resume Example
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Why This Resume Works
This technology administrative assistant resume emphasizes technical skills and tools, making it highly relevant for IT departments. Learn how to refine yours here.
Administrative Assistant Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
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 your current information 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, your experience, 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 your unique specializations within administrative support to convey how 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 describe 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
Using numbers is a great way to show tangible results when describing your work history. 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 the keywords and phrases mentioned in the job description.
What if you don’t have experience?
You can create a strong, compelling administrative assistant resume without an extensive field background. 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 completion date.
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 medical or higher education professionals 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Administrative Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
Employment for administrative professionals is projected to see a 10% decline over the next decade. As demand shrinks, competition will only get tougher. 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.
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.
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.
Check Out Related Examples
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.