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How to Write a Standout Administrative Assistant Resume

Hiring managers sift through endless amounts of resumes. An effective administrative assistant resume needs to look professional and stand out.

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Administrative Assistant Resume

Administrative assistants play a crucial role in maintaining smooth and effective business operations. This article will cover what an administrative assistant is, which skills they should highlight on their resume, and how to write a resume.

What Is An Administrative Assistant?

An administrative assistant is someone who carries out daily clerical and organizational tasks. Many assistants have several daily responsibilities to provide administrative support to administrative professionals or companies.
 
Entry-level administrative assistants may have tasks such as handling phone calls, filing documents, or data entry. On the other hand, more experienced administrative assistants may be responsible for more advanced tasks, such as making travel arrangements, managing several projects, and scheduling and coordinating company meetings.
 
No matter what type of administrative assistant position you’ve had or wish to have, it’s important to list your top skills on your resume. Here are some of the top skills to highlight on your administrative assistant resume.


What Are the Top Skills to Highlight On an Administrative Assistant Resume?

No matter what job you’re applying to, it’s important to include both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are learned abilities, while soft skills are intangible and interpersonal skills that can be applied to most industries. Some standard soft skills that you should include in your administrative assistant skills section include: 

  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Detail-oriented
  • Customer service
  • Research skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Multitasking
  • Time management

On the other hand, some hard skills that are important for an administrative assistant job include:

  • Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel
  • QuickBooks
  • Calendar management
  • Filing systems
  • Office management
  • Purchasing and distributing office supplies
  • Preparing and editing reports, memos, and emails
  • Accurate data entry
  • Answering several phone calls per day


Sections to Include in an Administrative Assistant Resume

The first step in creating a professional resume is formatting it correctly. While resume format may not seem like a huge deal, recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate an easy-to-read resume and cover letter. If you’re not sure where to start, check out an administrative assistant resume example or some of our resume templates. Otherwise, here are a few tips to help you get started. 
 
Header
 
The first section of your resume should be your resume header. This section will list your name and contact information, including your phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile. Then, move on to your administrative assistant resume summary or objective, where you explain why you’re the best candidate for the job position. 
 
Skills 
 
When you move on to your skills section, make sure you read the job description and match your skills to what the job requires – this is known as using “keywords” from the description. 
 
Work Experience
 
This section includes your job title, dates worked at each job, and a brief description of job achievements or duties. Start with your most recent job and work backwards to older work experiences. Keep in mind that hiring managers and recruiters like to see resumes with numerical values, so incorporate them into your resume wherever possible. Using strong action verbs (e.g., “managed,” “oversaw”) can also highlight your achievements and let hiring managers know that you’re taking charge of your duties.
 
Education, Achievements, or Certifications
 
Once you’ve listed your most relevant job experiences, you can go on to list your education, achievements, or certifications. If you’ve earned any college degrees, certificates, or other acknowledgments, then make sure to list them in their respective resume sections. 

How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Administrative Assistant Resume

To make your administrative assistant resume stand out to hiring managers, focusing on only the most important elements is crucial. Read the job description and fully understand what skills and qualifications the hiring manager is looking for. Then, make sure to tailor your resume to fit the company’s needs.
 
Additionally, your resume should be formatted well to stand out against other candidates. If you’re not sure how to format your resume, then check out an administrative assistant resume sample, which will give you a good idea of what your resume should look like


FAQ: Administrative Assistant

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Q: How do you improve your administrative assistant skills?

If you want to improve your administrative assistant skills, then continuously work on your technology skills. As technology rapidly becomes more advanced, it’s essential to keep up with these skills and adapt to changes. Additionally, it’s never too late to perfect your communication skills and improve time management.

Q: Why is an administrative assistant resume important?

An administrative assistant’s resume is important because the hiring manager looks through countless job applications. So, yours needs to stand out while giving hiring managers a detailed look at your background, education, and other qualifications.

Q: What are some examples of administrative assistant resumes?

If you’ve never created a resume before or need help updating yours, then here are several examples of administrative assistant resumes. Remember to customize your resume to each job you apply for. Job seekers should avoid sending the exact same resume to several different employers. Instead, tailor your resume to match your skills with the job requirements.

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