Executive Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Executive Assistant resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Executive assistants are the right-hand men and women of their bosses, providing support and assistance on everything from scheduling meetings to managing travel arrangements. They’re also the first point of contact for many people who interact with their company—they’re the ones who answer the phones, greet visitors at the door, and direct calls and emails to the right person.
Because executive assistants are so integral to the success of their organizations, they tend to be well compensated for their efforts. In fact, the average executive assistant salary is upwards of $60,000 per year! If you’re looking for a new role in this field or want to update your resume to reflect your experience as an executive assistant, here are some tips and an example for reference when writing your own resume.
How to Write an Executive Assistant Resume
Here’s how to write an executive assistant resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best way to make your resume stand out is to use specific examples and numbers. So rather than saying you “provided administrative support,” you could say that you “provided daily administrative support for executive team, including scheduling meetings, drafting agendas, and preparing reports and presentations.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work. It also includes a quantifiable result (preparing reports and presentations).
Related: What Is an Executive Assistant? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume for a executive assistant role, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This system looks for certain terms related to the job, like “administrative support” or “office management,” in order to determine whether your skills and experience are a match for the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common executive assistant keywords as a starting point to help you identify the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job:
- Executive Administration
- Administration
- Office Administration
- Office Management
- Event Planning
- Microsoft Access
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Teamwork
- Administrative Assistance
- Social Media
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Communication
- Leadership
- Data Entry
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Travel Arrangements
- Strategic Planning
- Negotiation
- Administrative Management
- Personal Assistance
- Customer Service
- Public Relations
- Diary Management
- Personal Management
- Corporate Administration
- Project Planning
- Executive Support
- Event Management
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Executive assistants need to be proficient in a variety of technologies in order to be effective in their roles. They use a variety of software programs to communicate with others, manage their calendars, and complete their work. Additionally, many executive assistants are now using social media platforms to stay connected with their colleagues and clients.
Some of the programs that executive assistants are typically expected to be proficient in include: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
Related: How Much Does an Executive Assistant Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, you’ll want to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Create Easy-to Scan Sections
There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.
Be Concise
When it comes to resumes, less is more. You want to be succinct and get your point across quickly, so brevity is key. A resume should typically be one page long, but can be two pages for more experienced candidates. If a resume is too long, candidates should remove irrelevant information, such as personal details or hobbies.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Consider a Summary
When it comes to writing a resume, a resume summary statement can be a powerful tool. A well-crafted summary can help to provide context for your experience, highlight your key skills and experiences, and show how you see your experience translating into a new role. If you’re looking to make a strong first impression, a well-written summary can be a great way to do it.
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