How To Write an Executive Assistant Resume
A resume is your professional introduction to potential employers, conveying your skills, experiences, and qualifications. As an executive assistant, your resume plays a crucial role in showcasing your ability to support high-level executives, handle complex tasks, and maintain efficient operations within the organization. By aligning your resume with your career goals and the specific demands of the executive assistant role, you’ll captivate employers and secure new opportunities for professional growth. We’ll help you navigate the process of creating a powerful resume tailored to your field by exploring each section and providing expert tips to help you stand out from the competition. Then, we’ll provide you with three executive assistant resume examples and answer some frequently asked questions.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Resume profiles should be concise, personalized, and packed with relevant keywords from the job description. In about 2-3 sentences, highlight your unique skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the executive assistant role. Emphasize your expertise in providing comprehensive support, excellent communication, and organizational skills. Use action verbs and call attention to your extensive background by telling readers how long you’ve worked in the industry. Remember, your executive assistant resume profile serves as a snapshot of your qualifications, so make it engaging and tailored to meet the organization’s specific needs.
Senior-Level Profile Example:
Passionate and talented administrative professional with over a decade of practice in promoting company objectives. Experience in supporting teams as well as C-suite executives. Expertise includes corporate event planning, scheduling, administrative tasks, travel coordination, and other office management tasks.
Entry-Level Profile Example:
Talented administrative professional and recent graduate in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 2+ years experience in customer service avenues, including receptionist and wait staff positions that demonstrate a commitment to identifying needs and working hard to accommodate them.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
As you recount your professional experience, show readers how you achieved success through your daily job duties instead of just giving a list of responsibilities. Use specific metrics, such as the number of executives supported, successful projects completed, or cost-saving measures implemented. Feature your skills in calendar management, travel coordination, and other relevant tasks. Provide concrete evidence of your abilities to show potential employers that you take the initiative and work to get results. Giving examples of how you positively impacted the workplace will increase your chances of impressing hiring managers.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Executive Assistant, APQ Media Inc, Kent, OH
June 2014 – Present
[Regional headquarters for entertainment company with 1,000+ employees]
- Support staff of 10+ C-level executives and vice presidents as needed, providing assistance such as answering phones, booking appointments, and ordering lunch
- Write and send over 25 corporate communications per month on behalf of the CFO, including team-level distributions and company-wide memos
- Prepare for events, including preparations for SEC filings and earnings calls, as well as training sessions and town halls
- Assist in any other manner requested, such as one-off research projects, mailings and package delivery, and presentation organization
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Receptionist, Morty’s Salon, Amherst, MA
May 2016 – July 2017
[High-end salon with 25+ employees]
- Looked up reservations in the management software to ensure customers were attended to on time, consistently maintaining client satisfaction rating of over 95%
- Answered phones and optimized the appointment schedule for clients, leading to a 20% increase in average number of clients served per day
- Greeted guests at the front door and welcomed them to the salon
- Kept the salon clean, including washing out sinks, wiping down chairs, sweeping floors, and keeping the front desk tidy
3. Include relevant education and certifications
It’s always important to highlight any education or certifications that enhance your skills in the field. Doing so demonstrates your commitment to professional development and adds credibility to your executive assistant resume. Even if you don’t have a high-level degree, consider including any specialized training you’ve completed around executive support, project management, communication, or relevant software proficiency.
Organize your education section with your highest level of education first. Then, list the degree’s title, the institution’s name and location, and the completion date. Follow this same format and create a certifications section for any executive assistant or administrative certifications you’ve earned.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[SCHOOL NAME], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Communication
AMHERST COLLEGE, Amherst, MA August 2015 – May 2019
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
As hiring managers work to find the next addition to their team, they have a list of skills in mind that candidates must meet. Companies post these necessary skills for all to see within their job postings. Study the job descriptions of the roles you’re interested in and tailor your skills section to align with each position. Although executive assistants may require similar knowledge across the board, each company often has a subset of skills they’re looking for in a candidate. These skills will vary from job to job, so do your research. Here’s a list of skills companies may look for in an executive assistant:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Attention to detail | Customer service |
| Event planning | Microsoft Office |
| Multitasking | Operating system experience |
| Organization | Software |
| Written communication | Verbal communication |
How To Pick the Best Executive Assistant Resume Template
The best resume template for executive assistants is clean, organized, and professional in appearance. The template should have clear sections highlighting and differentiating your work history, education, and key skills. Choose a design that complements the corporate environment and takes a simple approach to presenting your work. Look for templates that prioritize readability and consistency while avoiding overly flashy and intricate designs that may distract from the content. The goal is to present your information in a visually appealing format that emphasizes your suitability for the position.
Executive Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jebediah Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Anywhere, USA | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Talented administrative professional and recent graduate in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 2+ years experience in customer service avenues, including receptionist and wait staff positions, that demonstrate a commitment to identifying needs and working hard to accommodate them.
Professional Experience
Hostess, TGIMonday, Amherst, MA
December 2018 – Present
[Local franchise of national restaurant chain with 50+ employees]
- Expedite to-go orders, including adding sides, plastic silverware and condiments to prepare for pick-up, which has helped maintain an average rating of over 4.8 out of 5 on both Uber Eats and DoorDash
- Bus tables and arrange table settings for new patrons, reducing wait times by over 30%
- Greet guests at the front door and welcome them to the restaurant
- Manage the seating chart, seating guests in rotation based on server sections and capacity
- Communicate consistently with wait staff and cooking staff to ensure customers receive their food in a timely manner
Receptionist, Morty’s Salon, Amherst, MA
May 2016 – July 2017
[High-end salon with 25+ employees]
- Looked up reservations in the management software to ensure customers were attended to on time, consistently maintaining client satisfaction rating of over 95%
- Answered phones and optimized the appointment schedule for clients, leading to a 20% increase in average number of clients served per day
- Greeted guests at the front door and welcomed them to the salon
- Kept the salon clean, including washing out sinks, wiping down chairs, sweeping floors and keeping the front desk tidy
Key Skills
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Customer service skills
- Attention to detail
- Scheduling
- Planning
- Organizing
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Communication, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
August 2015 to May 2019
Joaquin Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Anywhere, USA | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Enthusiastic executive assistant with 7 years of experience in providing consistent support to C-suite professionals and other corporate leaders. Expertise in scheduling, event planning and general office management. Ready to support corporate growth and development through hands-on assistance for key executives.
Professional Experience
Executive Assistant, Aloricorp, Plantation, FL
January 2016 – Present
[Global financial services firm with 10,000+ employees]
- Remotely oversee C-suite calendars for team of 10+ executives and manage virtual conference room availability
- Manage annual corporate events budget of over $250,000, including arranging for catering, renting out spaces, negotiating payment and scheduling
- Coordinate with event staff at venues to ensure all events follow predetermined schedules
- Draft, review and distribute corporate communications from the CEO specifically and the company at large
Event Planning Assistant, Windesk Inc., Hollywood, FL
January 2013 – December 2016
[Innovative IT company with 1,000+ employees]
- Served as the point person for organizing 20+ corporate events per year, communicating upcoming conferences and social gatherings with all team members
- Assisted in managing annual event budget of over $100,000, working to find venues, decor, support services and food that fall in line with spending expectations
- Worked with other event management staff to plan events of all kinds from start to finish, including conferences, trainings, seminars, parties and off-sites
- Managed guest lists to determine proper food and drink orders as well as adequate space needs
Education
Associate of Science, Business Administration, Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, FL
August 2007 to May 2009
Key Skills
- Event planning
- Vendor coordination
- Excellent customer service
- Expert written and verbal communication skills
- Organization
- Inventory management
- Microsoft Office
Jack Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Anywhere, USA | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Passionate and talented administrative professional with over a decade of practice in promoting company objectives. Experience in supporting teams as well as C-suite executives. Expertise includes corporate event planning, scheduling, administrative tasks, travel coordination and other office management tasks.
Professional Experience
Executive Assistant, APQ Media Inc, Kent, OH
June 2014 – Present
[Regional headquarters for entertainment company with 1,000+ employees]
- Support staff of 10+ C-level executives and vice presidents as needed, providing assistance such as answering phones, booking appointments and ordering lunch
- Write and send over 25 corporate communications per month on behalf of the CFO, including team-level distributions and company-wide memos
- Prepare for events, including preparations for SEC filings and earnings calls as well as training sessions and town halls
- Assist in any other manner requested, such as one-off research projects, mailings and package delivery and presentation organization
Administrative Assistant, Auto Repair Shop, Mansfield, OH
July 2009 – April 2014
[Family-owned auto repair business that has been operating for over three decades]
- Served as company receptionist, greeting visitors, answering phones, providing directions and contacting team members about visitors and deliveries, leading to a customer satisfaction rating of over 97%
- Managed office supply budget of $1,000 per year, including assessing use, price comparison and ordering
- Acted as the primary point of contact for visitors as well as employees with administrative support queries
- Coordinated with supply and repair vendors to manage office needs, such as equipment repair and furniture requisition
Education
Bachelor of Arts, History, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Customer service skills
- Attention to detail
- Scheduling
- Inventory management
- Vendor coordination
- Planning
- Organizing
Frequently Asked Questions: Executive Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for Executive Assistant resumes?+
We understand crafting the professional experience section of your resume can be challenging, especially when trying to find the right words. One way to keep your readers engaged and wanting to read more is by using action verbs to show how you accomplished your work. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of common action verbs you can use to illustrate your responsibilities. These verbs will inject energy into your bullet points, allowing you to showcase your skills dynamically. Consider using the words on your executive assistant resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Assisted | Arranged |
| Communicated | Coordinated |
| Corresponded | Executed |
| Facilitated | Implemented |
| Liaised | Managed |
| Monitored | Organized |
| Oversaw | Prepared |
| Prioritized | Resolved |
| Scheduled | Streamlined |
| Supported | Implemented |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Although the overall employment of executive assistants is projected to decrease by 8 percent over the next decade, nearly 354,000 new positions will become available simultaneously each year as people retire. To stand out from other applicants, aligning your resume is imperative. The best way to do this is by studying the job description for each position you plan to apply for, working in keywords, choosing the most relevant skills, and speaking to each employer’s needs. Taking the time to do this will significantly improve your chances of landing an interview.
What is the best Executive Assistant resume format?+
The chronological format is the most common and often best choice for executive assistants. This layout focuses on your work history and is a solid option for professionals with plenty of experience to fill out a resume. If you’re still building up your work experience, choose a functional resume format instead. This format puts an emphasis on your key skills and allows you to build a well-rounded document with less professional history. The best format for your executive assistant resume will ultimately depend on your needs and what you have to work with.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
A well-crafted cover letter significantly enhances your chances of securing an interview in your job search. The secret to an effective cover letter is tailoring it to the specific organization you’re applying to. Our comprehensive executive assistant cover letter guide provides valuable insights on customizing your document. For other cover letter examples in related roles, check out our administrative assistant and office assistant cover letter examples.
