Executive Assistant Resume Examples & Templates
- 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
- 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡
Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
An executive assistant plays a crucial role in supporting executives, managers or other high-ranking officials within an organization.
Explore the best executive assistant resume examples and pro tips to craft a standout resume that impresses hiring managers and wins interviews.
Start by editing this executive assistant resume template, or browse our library of professional resume templates to find one that matches your style.
Executive assistant resume example (text version)
David Barron
Fargo, ND 58078
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Smooth and efficient executive assistant with experience enhancing executive productivity and improving business operations. Exceeds expectations to maximize group performance and oversees efficient calendars. Operates well with minimal supervision to meet demanding objectives.
Work History
November 2018 – Current
Trans Voyant – Fargo, ND
Executive Assistant
- Manage over 300 external contacts for the CEO and keep track of periodic communication needed for priority contacts.
- Produce accurate office files, update spreadsheets and craft quarterly presentations to support executives and boost team efficiency.
- Manage administrative functions, including complex calendar management with a focus on the proper allocation of executive availability.
July 2016 – November 2018
EJS Group – Fargo, ND
Administrative Assistant
- Provided logistical support for five programs, weekly meetings and events, including room reservations, agenda preparation and calendar maintenance.
- Interacted with over 250 vendors, contractors and professional services personnel to receive orders, direct activities and communicate instructions.
- Developed and updated spreadsheets and databases to track, analyze and report on performance and sales data.
September 2014 – June 2016
United Technologies Corporation – Fargo, ND
Receptionist
- Answered an average of 80 daily telephone calls to field inquiries from clients, vendors and various other callers seeking information.
- Kept the reception area clean and neat to give visitors a positive first impression.
- Prepared packages daily for shipment, pickup and courier services for prompt delivery to customers.
Skills
- Business writing
- Multiline phone proficiency
- Expense reporting
- Advanced MS Office Suite
- Resourceful
- Problem-solving
- Schedule & calendar planning
- Communication
Education
May 2014
Rasmussen College Fargo, ND
Associate of Arts Business Administration & Management
Certifications
Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) – (2018)
Important resume sections
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you. As our executive assistant resume sample shows, your contact information must include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and a professional website, add them last. See how to write a resume for additional tips and examples.
Personal statement
A professional summary is a concise, three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you offer.
Your summary should include one or two measurable accomplishments and notable job-relevant skills. Here is a sample executive assistant resume summary:
“Dedicated and detail-oriented executive assistant with over five years of experience supporting C-suite executives in dynamic corporate environments. Adept at managing complex calendars, coordinating travel arrangements and facilitating seamless communication between stakeholders. Proven track record of providing exceptional administrative support, anticipating needs and executing tasks with precision and professionalism. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality service and exceeding expectations.”
If you are just starting out in your career, it’s better to write a resume objective that focuses on transferable skills relevant to the role.
Skills
Create a skills section for your executive assistant resume so hiring managers can see if your skill set matches the requirements of the role.
An executive administrative assistant resume should have a separate section for your job-relevant skills in a bulleted list.
As our sample executive assistant resume skills section shows, it’s best to include both hard skills (i.e., budgeting, Microsoft Office and file management) and soft skills (i.e., communication, strategic planning and adaptability).
Work history
As our executive assistant sample resume shows, your resume must include a work history section, even if this is your first professional job.
In reverse-chronological order, display your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them.
Include three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list. For example:
- Implemented a new calendar management system that reduced scheduling conflicts by 30% and increased efficiency in managing appointments and meetings.
- Negotiated vendor contracts and implemented cost-saving measures in travel arrangements, resulting in a 15% reduction in travel expenses over the fiscal year.
- Implemented standardized meeting agendas and preparation processes, resulting in a 20% increase in meeting efficiency and productivity.
Education
A resume for an executive assistant job must also include an education section. In reverse-chronological order, show the name of the schools and the years that you graduated using bullet points.
If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes or training you’ve taken since graduating. If you came from an apprenticeship, then list it here. See how to list education on a resume for guidance and examples.
Many entry-level executive assistant positions require candidates to have a high school diploma or GED. This level of education provides the basic skills and knowledge necessary for administrative roles.
Some employers may prefer candidates with an associate’s degree in business administration, office management or a related field. An associate’s degree provides a more comprehensive understanding of administrative concepts and may enhance job prospects.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action words for your resume
Use action words and numbers to make your descriptions compelling.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an executive assistant resume:
- Assist
- Organize
- Help
- Prepare
- Manage
- Process
- Reconcile
- Provide
- Report
- Verify
- Support
- Interact
- Schedule
- Plan
- Compose
Browse through our library of 800+ resume examples to find an example of an executive assistant resume that matches your style.
Best skills for your resume
Review the job description closely and match the required skills to your skill set.
Executive assistant skills for a resume might include the following:
- Organization
- Administration
- Project Management
- Interpersonal
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Multitasking
- Customer service
- Patience
- Mental agility
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Written communication
- Microsoft Office
- Business operations
- Work ethic
- Budgeting
- Time management
- Inventory management
- Friendliness
Need the perfect resume for an executive assistant job now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes!
Certifications for your resume
Executive assistants can enhance their qualifications and marketability by obtaining relevant certifications that demonstrate their expertise in administrative skills, office technology and professional development.
Here are some certifications that executive assistants might consider including on their resume:
- Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- Certified Professional Secretary (CPS)
- Certified Executive Administrative Professional (CEAP)
- Certified Professional Secretary/Administrative Assistant (CPS/AA)
When including certifications on a resume, executive assistants should ensure that they are relevant to the role and industry they are targeting.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
What are the educational requirements for a job as an executive assistant?
The educational requirements for an executive assistant position can vary depending on the employer and the specific demands of the role.
In many cases, a high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum educational requirement. However, employers often prefer candidates with post-secondary education or specialized training in administrative or business-related fields.
See the executive assistant resume samples on this page for examples of how you can effectively display your educational credentials on your resume.
What does an executive assistant resume look like?
An executive assistant resume will look different depending on the format you choose to follow and the specific information you include.
Your resume should have a clear structure, simple formatting, and cohesive design elements. For additional inspiration, see the best executive assistant resume examples on this page.
Emphasize your meticulous attention to detail, as accuracy is crucial in administrative roles. Provide examples of how your keen eye for detail helped prevent errors, maintain data accuracy and ensure the smooth execution of tasks and projects.
Remember to customize your resume for each application by emphasizing the most relevant information based on the job description and requirements. See what a resume should look like for additional tips and tricks.
What makes a strong executive assistant resume?
An executive assistant resume will vary from person to person, but pay attention to these resume writing basics:
- Keep your resume short and to the point. A one-page resume is ideal for those with less than 10 years of experience; for those with more than 10 years of experience, two pages is acceptable.
- Highlight your professionalism, integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive information and interacting with executives, clients and stakeholders.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use a professional font, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Highlight instances where you successfully managed changing priorities, worked under pressure and demonstrated flexibility in accommodating shifting schedules or urgent requests.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
A strong executive assistant resume effectively showcases a combination of key elements that highlight the candidate’s qualifications, skills and experiences in a clear and compelling manner.
What is the best format for an executive assistant resume?
The resume format you choose will depend on your experience and career goals as an executive assistant.
If you have some experience, we recommend the chronological format, which focuses on your work history and career progression.
If you have a few years of experience and want to stress your full array of skills, a combination format works well for highlighting past roles and relevant skills such as scheduling, event coordination and adaptability.
If you’re new to the field, then a functional format is your best bet, as it allows you to focus more on your skills and abilities rather than your work history.
How do you write an executive assistant resume with no experience?
Even without direct experience as an executive assistant, you can still highlight relevant skills, education and any related experiences you may have. Here’s how to craft a compelling executive assistant resume with no experience:
- Highlight transferable skills: Identify transferable skills from your previous experiences, such as part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work or academic projects. Skills such as organization, communication, time management, attention to detail and proficiency in software tools can be relevant for an executive assistant position.
- Focus on education: Highlight your educational background, including any relevant coursework, academic achievements or extracurricular activities that demonstrate skills applicable to the role of an executive assistant. Mention any honors, awards or leadership roles you’ve held during your studies.
- Emphasize soft skills: Soft skills such as professionalism, discretion, adaptability and the ability to work under pressure are highly valued in an executive assistant role. Showcase these skills by providing examples of how you’ve demonstrated them in previous situations, even if they weren’t in a professional setting.
See how to make a resume with no experience for additional tips from career advice experts.
How do I tailor my executive assistant resume?
Tailoring your executive assistant resume involves customizing it to highlight your relevant skills, experiences and achievements that align with the specific job you’re applying for. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Review the job description: Carefully read the job posting to understand the specific requirements and qualifications the employer is seeking in an executive assistant. Take note of keywords and phrases used in the description.
- Highlight your relevant skills: Identify the skills and experiences you possess that match the requirements of the job. These may include organizational skills, communication abilities, proficiency in software tools or project management experience.
- Tailor your work experience: Focus on your past work experiences that are most relevant to the executive assistant role you’re applying for. Highlight accomplishments and responsibilities that showcase your ability to handle administrative tasks, manage schedules, coordinate meetings and support executives effectively.
By tailoring your resume in this way, you’ll increase your chances of standing out as a strong candidate for the position.
Best practices
- Use measurable achievements to describe your executive assistant skills and experience. For example, “Implemented color-coded labeling system for prioritizing and categorizing emails, resulting in a 20% reduction in response time to urgent messages.”
- Use action words to make an impact on your executive assistant resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target executive assistant job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your executive assistant resume.
- Format your executive assistant resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your executive assistant experience and skills.
- Boast that you’re the “best executive assistant ever.” Instead, provide concrete examples of your experience managing emails, filing important documents and scheduling meetings.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that are about something other than restaurant service.
- Forget to proofread. An executive assistant resume with errors is unprofessional. Use our ATS resume checker to scan your resume for 30+ common errors.
Interview tips
Research first.
Researching the employer before an executive assistant interview is essential for demonstrating your interest in the company and preparing to discuss how your skills and experiences align with their needs. Here are some key aspects to research:
- Executive team: Research key executives or leaders within the organization, including the executive(s) you may be supporting. Learn about their backgrounds, roles and priorities to understand how you can best support them in your role as an executive assistant.
- Industry and market trends: Stay informed about the company’s industry, market position and any recent developments or trends that may impact its operations.
- Clients or customers: If applicable, research the company’s clients, customers or target audience. Understand the company’s customer base and any specific industries or sectors it serves.
See our job interview guide for additional tips from career advice experts.
Practice your answers.
Practice is really important. Be sure to practice for your interview by reviewing the most common behavioral interview questions, such as:
- What Two or Three Things Are Most Important to You in Your Job?
- Describe a Time When You Had to Cope With a Stressful Scenario.
- How Would Your Boss Describe You?
Also prepare for job-specific questions, such as:
- How do you handle confidential information and maintain discretion?
- How do you prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines?
- Can you describe a time when you had to handle a difficult situation or manage a challenging personality?
- How do you handle unexpected changes or disruptions to your schedule?
- What software tools or systems are you proficient in using?
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend.
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
After the hiring manager and potential colleagues question you, they will likely offer for you to ask them some questions. Always have at least three for each person you speak with; doing so shows that you’re interested and have been paying close attention.
Some questions you might ask for an executive assistant job are:
- Can you describe a typical day or week in this role?
- What are the top priorities for the executive team or department?
- Can you tell me about the company’s culture and values?
- How does the executive assistant role contribute to the overall success of the company?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or opportunities facing the executive team right now?
Gather references
Have professional references ready during your interview. It comes in handy, especially if the hiring manager offers you the job on the spot. Make a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your executive assistant abilities.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your administrative career
- Administrative Assistant Cover Letter
- Clerical Assistant Cover Letter
- Data Entry Clerk
- Data Entry Specialist Cover Letter
- Executive Assistant Cover Letter
- Office Administrator Cover Letter
- Office Assistant Cover Letter
- Office Clerk Cover Letter
- Office Manager Cover Letter
- Personal Assistant Cover Letter
- Practice Manager Cover Letter
- President Cover Letter
- Receptionist Cover Letter
- Store Administrative Assistant Cover Letter
CV examples for the next step in your administrative career
How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. Article. Executive Assistant Overview
- Harvard Business Review. Article. Low-Kramen, Bonnie. Is “Executive Assistant” The Right Career for You?
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Rate this article
Executive Assistant Resume Example
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
More Articles by Nilda Melissa Diaz, CPRW