How to make an Executive Assistant Resume
Every successful sample resume needs to start somewhere. The first essential step we'll have to take in the writing process is to establish a proper foundation for your professional executive assistant resume.
There are two things to keep in mind when starting an application. Establishing a successful layout and structure is very important for making your resume stand out.
The layout of the Executive Assistant Resume
When you think about a successful resume, you're not going to imagine an application that only has paragraphs of text on a white piece of paper; instead, you'll probably visualize a resume that makes its content appear logically and beautifully.
A very powerful way to make your resume content appear effective is by establishing a proper layout on your application page.
Making a proper layout requires giving your resume some type of template that the reader will be able to understand.
We recommend giving your resume a template with several different sections for the content. For example, you'll be able to write about your work experience in the experience section while discussing your education in the education part of the application.
In order to make your resume appear as strong as possible, try to incorporate each section into your application.
Here are all the executive assistant resume template sections we'll be covering in this article:
- The Contact Information
- The Professional Summary or Professional Objective
- The Job Description (Work Experience Section)
- The Education Section
- The Skills Section
- Other Information Regarding Awards, Honors, and Certificates
The structure of an Executive Assistant Resume
Once you've figured out the resume template and all the resume sections, it's going to be time to switch your focus to the actual text and content of your application.
In order to effectively show how proficient you are at handling administrative tasks and confidential correspondence, the resume text has to appear as impactful and comprehensive as possible.
Here's how you do it:
- The most common way of structuring a resume is by implementing a reverse chronological format. This will mean that all of the information you'll be including will be written from oldest to newest. The most recent job you've held will appear at the top of the experience section.
- Another great way to solidify resume content is by separating large texts of information with bullet points.
- Additionally, we recommend starting your work history and other sections with action verbs. Sentences containing information about your administrative experience should start with action words like organized, spearheaded, analyzed, etc.
Start with the contact information of the Executive Assistant Resume
In order for hiring managers to know who to call back for the executive assistant job interview, the application needs to have your contact details laid out clearly.
Including a proper contact information section in your resume is a definite must. This vital part of your resume works as a way to provide contact details to the reader.
Afterward, write your job title, physical address, work phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile (or any other work-related website).
Example of a good / bad contact information for Executive Assistant
CORRECTExecutive Assistant
Shreveport, LA
MikaylaBancroft@gmail.com318-870-2021
The header below is ineffective because you can’t see the name clearly and it becomes confusing to discern the information in this section
INCORRECTMikayla Bancroft
Executive Assistant
7995 Oakmore Avanue
Shreveport, LA
MikaylaBancroft@rhyta.com318-870-2021
Is a photo required in the Executive Assistant Resume?
Approximately 80% of companies don't require or value a professional photo on a job application so we don’t recommend you include a photo either.
Indeed, for an executive assistant role, the resume has to focus on the effectiveness of the content, work history, and skills to be considered for the position. Many employers don't consider a photo section as a game-changer.
We recommend sticking to filling out the resume with relevant, professional work experience information and only consider including a photo if there is enough space left over on the single page.
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Professional summary for Executive Assistant
As an executive assistant, you'll be applying to many different jobs. Some roles will require you to play an integral role in working with the employees.
Most of the time, it can be quite difficult to get potential employers and human resources to notice you.
It's best to combine all of the relevant information into one section in your resume if you would like the hiring manager to pay attention to you. The professional resume summary part or the resume objective part of your resume can be included here!
The resume summary is the better option for a senior executive assistant resume. Candidates that have a few years of experience under their belt can write about their top achievements, skills, and business practices.
The resume objective is more suited to entry-level candidates. If you don't have a lot of stand-out work experience, you should write about your career goals, top skills, and ways you can benefit the hiring company.
Summary Example
CORRECTTrustworthy and motivated executive assistant with 5 years' experience in small group office environments. Excellent at multitasking, with particular expertise in managing a multi-line phone system, meeting agendas, maintaining records, and dealing with a large volume of business inquiries.
Objective Examples
CORRECTProfessional Executive Assistant and office manager. Knowledgeable about operations and regulations. Adept at calendar management and appointment scheduling. Detail-oriented, punctual, and hardworking. Looking for an organization that values teamwork.
Work Experience in the Executive Assistant Resume
No resume is ever fully complete or successful without it properly showing the candidate's professional work experience history.
If you want the hiring manager to fully understand your potential and ability to benefit the company, you're going to have to implement an effectively written experience section.
The experience section is the most valuable and largest part of your application. Here, you'll have to discuss your previous work history.
However, it's not only about listing down how you handled calendar management, conference calls, or organized travel arrangements.
In order to get more interviews, your work experience needs to be clearly written and structured.
Describe your professional experiences on your Executive Assistant Resume
To write a truly effective resume sample, your resume needs a strongly written experience section. Here's a couple of essential pointers to get you started.
Don't forget about the reverse chronological format! The newest job description has to be at the top of the section.
Here's a pro tip: always start each job description with the job title you've held. You can write the name of the company and dates worked below the job title.
Afterward, don't forget about the bullet point! Make sure to use bullet points to list key achievements and responsibilities you've experienced in your previous jobs.
You should start each bullet point with an action verb to make the job description more impactful.
Examples of professional experience for Executive Assistant
CORRECTSound Warehouse
03/2016 - Present
- Prepared trip arrangements, including hotel reservations, flights, and rental cars, for attendees of conferences.
- Compiled the meeting agenda database and typed minutes to distribute to department heads, the vice president and executives.
- Kept executives briefed on operations by recording meetings, keeping files current, and collecting data and reports from different teams.
Education in the Executive Assistant Resume
In recent memory, most companies looking for candidates for an executive assistant role will require some type of higher education or degree.
An effective way to showcase your educational background is by implementing an education section into your application.
It is quite important to get this section right. You don't want anyone thinking that you don't possess a solid academic background.
Should you start with education or work experience for an Executive Assistant Resume?
A lot of candidates and applicants that just started the process of structuring a resume will often wonder which option is better - should you start with education or work experience?
The answer might surprise you because it really depends on the specific candidate.
If the applicant is an experienced executive assistant, who's worked in the industry for a few years, then the highlight of the application should be the work experience. Someone like this should write the experience section first on their resume.
On the other hand, candidates with little to no experience should include their education section first.
How to properly list your education in an Executive Assistant Resume?
As we've mentioned earlier, getting this section right is pretty important. Therefore, as a writer, you need to keep a few things in mind to make the education section shiny and good-looking.
You can write an education section that will grab the attention of employers by following some of these tips:
- Consider starting with your most recent degree. When you write the education section of your resume, you should begin with your highest degree earned. You should apply the reverse chronological ordering to the education section as well!
- List the name, address, year of enrollment and graduation, and degree received from the university.
- Only GPAs above 3.6 should only be included.
- Make a list of every relevant course you have done that might be relevant to the job you're applying for using bullet points.
Example of the education section of an Executive Assistant Resume
CORRECTBACHELORS OF COMMERCE IN FINANCE CONCENTRATION
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
2011 - 2015
-
- GPA 3.67
Skills to put in the Executive Assistant Resume
It is crucial that your executive assistant resume sample showcases your relevant skills successfully.
In case you haven't fully talked about some of your soft skills or hard skills in the other sections, there is a part of the resume where you can list down all your relevant skills down and highlight them to the employer.
This section is called the skills section of the application. Here, you'll be able to list the abilities and skills that you want the employer to notice and see!
