Resume Example
Administrative Assistant Resume Example
Emphasize scheduling, operational support, and organization. This sample focuses on executive efficiency.
Classic Professional
Traditional single-column ATS-optimized layout. Best for conservative industries.
Keywords
Sample bullets
- Managed calendars for four executives, reducing scheduling conflicts by 40%.
- Coordinated travel for 120+ trips per year with zero missed deadlines.
- Streamlined expense reporting to cut month-end processing time by 30%.
Soft skills
- Organization
- Attention to detail
- Discretion
- Communication
Certifications
- CAP (Certified Administrative Professional)
- Microsoft Office Specialist
Why this works
- Shows measurable efficiency gains for executive teams.
- Highlights coordination across travel, meetings, and reporting.
- Demonstrates reliability and proactive support.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to Write a Administrative Assistant Resume
Lead with scope and impact
Administrative roles vary widely in scope. Your summary should establish who you supported (executives, teams, departments), what you managed (calendars, travel, events, budgets), and any efficiency improvements you drove.
Quantify your responsibilities
Include metrics where possible: number of executives supported, meetings coordinated per week, travel budgets managed, events planned with attendee counts. 'Coordinated 200+ meetings monthly for C-suite' shows scale.
Highlight technical proficiency
List your software expertise: Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace, scheduling tools (Calendly), travel booking systems, and any industry-specific software. Include proficiency levels.
Show organizational and project skills
Demonstrate you can manage complex logistics: multi-city travel, board meetings, office relocations, or event planning. Include examples of juggling competing priorities and maintaining attention to detail.
Include discretion and professionalism
Administrative roles often involve confidential information. Mention experience handling sensitive matters, maintaining confidentiality, and exercising judgment. This is especially important for executive assistant roles.
Summary Examples
Good vs. Bad Resume Summaries
“Executive assistant supporting 3 C-level executives with complex calendar management, international travel, and board meeting coordination. Managed $150K annual travel budget and reduced scheduling conflicts by 40% through process improvements.”
Clear scope (3 C-level), specific responsibilities, budget scale, and a process improvement with metrics.
“Organized administrative professional with excellent attention to detail. Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to multitask in fast-paced environments.”
Generic and expected. No indication of scope, level of executives supported, or specific achievements.
“Office manager overseeing daily operations for 50-person startup. Coordinate facilities, vendor relationships, and company events. Reduced office supply costs 25% and managed successful office relocation with zero downtime.”
Clear scope (50-person, startup context), specific achievements with metrics, and significant project (relocation).
“Reliable assistant seeking opportunity to utilize my organizational skills. Team player with positive attitude and willingness to take on new tasks.”
No specific skills, tools, or achievements. 'Positive attitude' and 'reliable' are baseline expectations.
Action Verbs
Power Words for Administrative Assistant Resumes
Common Mistakes
What to Avoid
- ✗Being vague about who you supported and at what level
- ✗Not quantifying scope (executives supported, meetings coordinated, budgets managed)
- ✗Listing software without indicating proficiency level
- ✗Missing examples of judgment, discretion, and handling confidential matters
- ✗Focusing only on reactive tasks rather than proactive improvements
- ✗Not differentiating between administrative assistant and executive assistant level work
Salary ranges
| Level | US | EU | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | USD 40,000-50,000 | EUR 28,000-38,000 | CAD 45,000-55,000 |
| Mid | USD 50,000-65,000 | EUR 38,000-50,000 | CAD 55,000-70,000 |
| Senior | USD 65,000-80,000 | EUR 50,000-65,000 | CAD 70,000-85,000 |
Market themes
- Executive support roles reward speed and accuracy
- Hybrid roles remain common
US hot markets
- New York
- San Francisco
- Washington DC
- Boston
EU hot markets
- London
- Dublin
- Amsterdam
Canada hot markets
- Toronto
- Vancouver
FAQ
Common questions about this role
What should administrative assistants emphasize?
Scheduling accuracy, operational support, and process improvements.
Which tools help most?
Calendar suites, expense systems, and document management tools.
Related Roles
More Operations & Admin Examples
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