How to write an administrative assistant resume
Admin resumes read the same because they list the same duties. Scope and improvements are what set yours apart.
Show who and how much you supported — three executives, forty meetings a week — name your tools, and highlight the processes you made better. That turns a duty list into evidence you keep an office running.
What recruiters look for
Skills worth highlighting
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords for a administrative assistant resume
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against the job posting. Weave these terms in where they are genuinely true — never pad with skills you don't have.
Bullet points, before and after
The pattern is the same every time: start with an action, add the detail, land on a result. Here it is on real administrative assistant lines.
Before
Answered phones and scheduled meetings.
After
Managed calendars for 3 executives, coordinating ~40 meetings a week across time zones with zero double-bookings.
Before
Did office paperwork.
After
Cut expense-report turnaround 50% by moving the team to a standardized template and workflow.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A plain duty list with no scope or scale
- Not naming the software an office runs on
- No process improvements — only maintenance
- Missing the numbers (people supported, meeting volume)
How to structure it
Summary, then a skills/tools line. Experience with scope and improvements in the bullets, then education. Keep it to one page and easy to scan.
Frequently asked questions
I am entry-level with no admin title. Can I still apply?
Yes. Draw on any role where you scheduled, organized, or handled logistics — retail, hospitality, campus jobs. Frame those with the same scope-and-tools approach.
How do I stand out from other admin applicants?
Scope and improvements. "Supported 3 execs and cut expense turnaround 50%" beats a list of duties every admin shares.
More resume guides
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