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The Administrative Assistant Resume Guide for 2024

Here are our most important resume guidelines we recommend all job seekers follow for a significantly better shot at getting invited for an interview.

Here’s what we’re going to cover in this guide:

  • How to properly format your resume for success in 2024 
  • How to talk about your work experience and personal projects
  • How to create a competitive skills section
  • How to customize your resume for each job you apply to

Formatting an Administrative Assistant Resume

Reverse chronological structure: Recent experience first

Reverse chronological resume is the most popular which almost all job seekers should be using. This format means listing out the most recent and relevant things first. It starts with the most recent timeline and you work your way backward, e.g. the latest job position comes first in your work experience section, not the oldest. Structuring your resume this way makes your career timeline more established. 

Administrative Assistant Resume Length

Stick to 1 page.

Most Business Specialists have found that their best shot at landing an offer is by having a one or two-page resume. This includes a collection of sections that cover relevant past experiences. Your resume should be no longer than three pages. The risk of going beyond two pages is including irrelevant content that could distract from your qualifications.

Avoid Common Administrative Assistant Resume Format Mistakes

1) Resumes must include as much content as possible.

2) Uniform and labeled section headers

When it comes to creating an ATS-optimized resume, it’s good to know how it will be read by the software. Like most human readers, the ATS will read from left to right and top to bottom. 

3) Minimal white-space

9 Expert Business Resumes Examples To Use For Business Related Jobs(Including Writing Tips)

Key Sections for an Administrative Assistant Resume 

A Tailored Resume Summary 

In a competitive field like Administrative Assistant, hiring managers sometimes review hundreds of applications for a single position. Writing a resume that stands out is difficult, so solve that problem by including a compelling introduction for your resume. Begin your resume with a resume objective, which is a 2–3 sentence paragraph about your job-relevant skills and career goals.

          Administrative Assistant with 4 years of experience in Email , HTML . Ability to work efficiently and effectively on a team to achieve departmental and organization goals. Proven ability to analyze and solve business issues. Also provided data analysis and reporting to senior management.
         Administrative Assistant with 5 years of experience in Email, Customer Service, and Data Entry. Proven experience in managing complex projects, scheduling meetings, and working with customer service teams to resolve issues. Passionate about the arts and experience in running arts and culture events. Applying for a position in an organization involved in the arts.
       Administrative assistant with more than 4 years of experience in presentations and word processing. Expertise in creating high-quality written work and presentations within tight deadlines. Capable of composing high-quality written work within tight deadlines. Skilled in planning, organizing, and prioritizing work.
You can read more about how to create a resume summary with artificial intelligence here.

Your Relevant Professional Experience 

Employers will want to know what you’ve done in your previous job position to get insight into your skills and expertise. Knowing what you’re familiar with will help them make a decision and to see if you’re more of a good fit compared to the other applicants.

However, you should also be including any positive results you’ve accomplished.

Business Certifications

Emphasize your credentials. Include mention of all Important Skills for Business Jobs, Microsoft office Specialist Master Certification(MOS), Word 2010 Certification, Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert(Office 365 and Office 2019), Certified Data Management Professional - Data management(CDP-DM), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant(NHA) or other Business methods or processes.

Skills for an Administrative Assistant Resume

We suggest adding the categorized skills section at the end of your resume. Be sure to include those that are specifically mentioned in the job ad; these are the most important “keywords” that will help rank your resume highly when it is scanned by an automated applicant tracking system during its first round of review.

Hard skills usually include transferable abilities with software, tools and or other professional resources. But don’t forget to include soft skills like teamwork and communication skills, which are necessary to coordinate with an agency, designers, marketing people, business owners and clients. 

Here are more key hard and soft skills that look great on an Administrative Assistant resume:

Hard skills to consider

  • Business programs: Customer Service, Email, MS Office 365 and Office 2019, Phone Etiquette, Data Entry, Phone calls, Office Procedures, Travel Arrangements, Word Processing, Scheduling meetings, Purchase orders, Client Service
  • Industry credentials: Microsoft office Specialist Master Certification(MOS), Word 2010 Certification, Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert(Office 365 and Office 2019), Certified Data Management Professional - Data management(CDP-DM), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant(NHA) 

Soft skills to consider

  1. Communication
  2. Kind and Respectful
  3. Time Management
  4. Trustworthy
  5. Courageous
  6. Self-Control
  7. Confident
  8. Humorous

Business Resume Content

Using Metrics to Quantify Experiences

Don’t simply fill your resume with lists of your Administrative Assistant job responsibilities. To impress the hiring manager, put your experience in context with specific examples and hard numbers that prove you’re an accomplished Business Specialist.

Describe how you accomplished something from your previous corporate role. Showcasing the achievements that took place as a result of your contribution will keep the reader engaged. It’s also effective in creating a strong impression and demonstrating your level of ability by highlighting the impact you’ve made.

Without any evidence, it’s hard to trust everything that someone might say. Be factual and take an objective approach. Numbers, figures, and statistics are your best friend. These will make your statements and points a lot more credible. 

Optimizing Resume Content with Business Keywords

How to tailor your resume to a job. Many hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter applications based on resume keywords they write in their job ads. The more Administrative Assistant –related keywords you can use, the higher the chances your resume gets past the ATS and onto the hiring manager’s shortlist of applications.

The ATS keyword research process doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it’s a straightforward process if you’re doing it with Rezi. Our AI Keyword Targeting feature allows you to upload a job description and instantly see which keywords should be included in your resume's content.

Instantly Generate Administrative Assistant Resume Content

Job seekers can now use AI to create the perfect application with minimal effort. How long does it take to make a resume writes tailored content instantly and prevents writer’s block completely. It’s that simple yet highly effective in helping you get more job offers and interviews faster. 

All you need to do is enter a few details such as:

  • Name
  • Industry
  • Experience level
Learn more about Rezi AI Resume Writer here

Include an Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

Many job seekers today overlook the importance of a cover letter. The significant impact it can leave on your recruiters will play its part in the decisive moment for whether you’re going to get hired or not.

To put it simply, cover letters can be your gateway to improving your overall job application and a higher chance of getting the job.

Unless your resume is absolutely perfect with no flaws, why settle for less? A cover letter can greatly increase your odds of getting hired for the company you want to work for, even if it’s a competitive job posting.

Learn more about Rezi AI Cover Letter Builder here