Applying for a new job is exciting, and it is important to do everything possible to stand out. One key way to do that is by writing a strong resume. Your administrative assistant resume should show you have the technical and organizational skills to assist a potential employer. The information below reveals the secrets to crafting a great administrative assistant resume.
¡°Administrative assistant resumes should highlight organization, communication, and multitasking. Show how you keep teams running smoothly.¡±
¡ª Carolyn Kleiman, Resume and Career Advisor
Most Popular Administrative Assistant Resumes
Entry Level Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong:
This resume demonstrates a well-rounded administrative skill set, including customer service, data entry, and bookkeeping. The experience in a busy college admissions office shows the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting. Learn more about what to put on a resume to make your qualifications stand out.
Administrative Professional Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume showcases versatility and the ability to support executive leadership and departmental teams. The focus on event planning and internal communication highlights essential administrative strengths. For tips on refining your resume¡¯s format, visit best resume formats.
Administrative Assistant Manager Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume emphasizes leadership and operational management skills, positioning the candidate for supervisory roles. For guidance on effective resume structure, explore resume outline examples.
Medical Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume highlights strong experience with patient data management and HIPAA compliance, which is critical in medical settings. If you're unsure how to structure your summary, explore resume summary examples.
Accounting Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume demonstrates the ability to manage budgets and financial data accurately, making the candidate well-suited for finance-oriented roles. For more examples of technical and soft qualifications, check out resume skills.
Financial Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume balances financial knowledge with administrative experience, showing the candidate¡¯s ability to support technical and operational functions. For more on how to tailor resumes to financial roles, read about technical skills for resumes.
School Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume showcases the candidate¡¯s ability to work in educational environments with students, staff, and families. It highlights specific systems and processes used in schools. Learn more about what to put on a resume to make your experience stand out in school settings.
Executive Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume emphasizes advanced administrative responsibilities and high-level communication support. For tips on creating a clean and effective format, visit best fonts for resume.
Administrative Assistant with No Experience Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume is great for candidates entering the field. It shows transferable skills and highlights internship experience relevant to administrative duties. Learn how to shape your first resume in resume examples for teens.
Professional Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume provides a clear picture of the candidate¡¯s consistent work in administrative functions across multiple departments. For help crafting a summary, check out these resume objective examples.
Administrative Assistant Law Firm Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume highlights the specialized nature of working in a law firm and demonstrates knowledge of legal processes. For a deeper understanding of how far back work experience should go, visit how far back should a resume go.
Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume emphasizes bilingual proficiency and the ability to support diverse populations. To learn how to showcase language skills effectively, read about resume language skills.
Customer Service Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume clearly shows a focus on customer service and administrative support. The candidate highlights their ability to communicate, resolve problems, and maintain records. Learn more about customer service skills for a resume.
Dental Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume highlights experience in dental-specific software, billing, and patient relations. It speaks directly to what hiring managers look for in dental offices. For help listing certifications or licenses, read how to list certifications on a resume.
Construction Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume focuses on industry-specific administrative experience, such as managing construction documents and field coordination. For advice on matching your resume to the job, visit how to align your resume with a job description.
Real Estate Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume speaks directly to real estate office functions, highlighting listing management and support for multiple agents. For help formatting your resume to fit all details on one page, read should a resume be one page.
HR Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume clearly demonstrates experience supporting an HR team, a common need in administrative roles. For tips on listing coursework and educational background, visit how to list relevant coursework on a resume.
Remote Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume highlights remote work capabilities and cloud-based tools essential for virtual administrative roles. For advice on digital communication and collaboration, check out how to email a resume.
Legal Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume demonstrates deep legal processes and documentation knowledge, making it perfect for law office roles. Learn more about how to list publications on a resume if relevant to your legal career.
Insurance Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume reflects deep familiarity with insurance processes, a competitive edge for administrative roles in that industry. Learn how to format credentials with how to list certifications on a resume.
Nonprofit Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume showcases valuable nonprofit administrative experience, including support for events and donor relations. Explore how to strengthen your summary with resume summary examples.
Retail Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume aligns administrative skills with the needs of a retail environment. To learn how to highlight relevant technical tools, check out technical skills for resume.
Marketing Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume highlights cross-functional collaboration and marketing support tasks. Learn more about combining your skills strategically with resume skills.
Academic Administrative Assistant Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume focuses on responsibilities unique to academic settings, such as coordinating academic programs and research schedules. To learn how to showcase education credentials effectively, read how to list your education on a resume.
Administrative Assistant Internship Resume
Why this resume is strong
This resume is ideal for internship or entry-level roles. It connects part-time experience with relevant administrative tasks. For guidance on academic timelines, check out how to put the expected graduation date on a resume.
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Administrative Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write an Administrative Assistant Resume
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your administrative assistant qualifications
The Profile section is where you give the hiring manager a concise summary of your skills and experience. It should highlight what makes you an excellent fit for the role and entice the manager¡¯s interest so they keep reading. In most cases, indicate the number of years of administrative experience you have. You may also want to mention your past work environment (such as a health care office or small business) if it aligns with your goals. This is also a good place to include a short list of your technical proficiencies, such as Microsoft Office or Google Suite.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Administrative professional with over 10 years of advancement and experience. Diligent and organized assistant with expert Microsoft Office skills and a strong service mindset.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Recent college graduate with a background in business administration. Passionate about providing peerless service to both internal and external customers.
2. Add your administrative assistant experience with compelling examples
Being an administrative assistant is all about streamlining tasks and taking daily duties off your boss¡¯s plate. This means your Experience section should focus on how you raised office efficiency or contributed to the business¡¯s overall goals. For example, if you recognized the office¡¯s calendar system was outdated and researched and presented better options to your manager, that shows you find solutions and take initiative.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Administrative Assistant Manager
ABC Financial Services Corp, New York, NY | April 2015 to present
- Oversee administrative assistants in specific business units, including scheduling and time card reporting
- Answer phones, organize visitor information, and direct clients to appropriate groups
- Manage digital and physical filing systems for all departments
- Perform ongoing clerical duties such as managing supply inventory, preparing presentations, organizing meetings, and arranging executive travel
- Support marketing efforts by assembling and distributing print and email communications about upcoming campaigns
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Admissions Office Receptionist
College Office of Admissions, New York, NY | August 2016 to December 2019
- Greeted prospective students, provided paperwork, scheduled tours, and coordinated interviews with admissions counselors
- Answered phones from prospective students and their families, providing information about application status and transferring calls as needed
- Processed student information, including sorting mail and entering data received into the applicant management system
3. Include administrative assistant-related education and certifications
Administrative assistants are often required to know a little about a lot. You may need to manage phone and email communication systems, keep track of your manager¡¯s calendar, and maintain an inventory of office supplies that need to be ordered ¡ª all in a day. These skills can be hard to quantify, but you can use the Education and Certifications sections of your resume to show you took classes in Microsoft Excel and Access or obtained a certification in certain software.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) ¨C English
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | May 2009
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Administrative Assistant, National Career Certification Board | 2022
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to administrative assistants
The Key Skills section allows a hiring manager to quickly tell if you meet the requirements for an administrative assistant position. Below are some of the common skills managers look for, so you can incorporate as many as are relevant to your experience and the job posting. If you have more than can fit in a brief list, sprinkle them in your Profile or Experience sections.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat | Appointment scheduling |
| Bookkeeping and accounting | Customer service and relations |
| Data entry | Event planning and scheduling |
| Microsoft Office | Multi-line phone systems |
| Process streamlining | Rapid problem-solving |
| Reporting and documentation | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
How To Pick the Best Administrative Assistant Resume Template
The best administrative assistant resume template focuses on your work experience and has room to list your technical and professional skills. Text should be in a clean and easy-to-read format, with headers and bullet points that allow quick scanning. Hiring managers only spend a few seconds on average per resume, so you need to catch their attention. In most cases, use separate sections for your Profile, Experience, Education, and Key Skills relevant to the job opening.
Frequently Asked Questions: Administrative Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
How do I ensure my Administrative Assistant resume example is ATS-friendly?-
To make your Administrative Assistant resume example ATS-friendly, focus on including relevant keywords from the job description and avoid using complex formatting like images or non-standard fonts. Keep the document simple and ensure each section is clearly labeled (e.g., Education, Professional Experience, Skills). The use of action verbs and proper section headings will also help your resume get noticed by both ATS and hiring managers.
What are common action verbs for administrative assistant resumes?-
Listing your professional experience with bullets for your job duties lets you show an employer you¡¯re ready for the position and can contribute to their success. But it can be difficult to come up with a unique action verb for each bullet point. To help you fill any gaps, we¡¯ve compiled this list of common action verbs for administrative assistant roles.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Arranged | Assisted |
| Collaborated | Communicated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Drafted |
| Enhanced | Facilitated |
| Filed | Implemented |
| Liaised | Organized |
| Prepared | Prevented |
| Prioritized | Ranked |
| Recorded | Scheduled |
| Streamlined | Supported |
| Updated | Won |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting a decline in open positions for administrative assistants over the next decade, so competition for the jobs posted is likely to be strong. Once you¡¯ve found a specific job posting you want to apply for, increase your chances of an interview by tailoring your resume to it. Scan the position summary looking for key skills ¡ª managers often put them in bullet points ¡ª and add any that overlap with your expertise.
What is the best administrative assistant resume format?-
When looking at administrative assistant resume templates, you¡¯ll notice a few formats to choose from. If you have prior administrative experience, a combination or reverse-chronological format is usually your best choice. But if you¡¯re changing careers or applying for an entry-level position, a functional resume lets you focus more on key skills and other experiences, such as volunteer work.
What¡¯s the ideal length for an administrative assistant resume?-
A one-page resume is ideal for most administrative assistant positions, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience. For experienced professionals, a two-page resume may be appropriate, but only if it includes valuable, job-relevant content. Focus on showcasing your key achievements, certifications, and skills that align with the job description.
Aim to include work experience from the last 10 to 15 years. Older roles can be summarized or omitted unless they add significant value. Keeping your resume concise and relevant will leave a strong impression on hiring managers.
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After you¡¯ve put the finishing touches on your resume, don¡¯t forget to write a cover letter. An administrative assistant cover letter template lets you emphasize your best qualifications and skills and can set you apart from other candidates. Use these examples to learn how to structure your cover letter and what to include.
