CV example
Administrative assistant CV example
Administrative work keeps everything running, but it is easy to describe as a list of duties. This example shows an assistant who makes their reliability visible with volumes, time saved and systems they improved.
Below you'll find a full example CV (also called a résumé), summaries for different experience levels, the skills and keywords employers search for, stronger bullet points, and the interview questions to prepare for.
Administrative assistant CV summary examples
Your summary is the first thing a recruiter reads. Two or three sentences: who you are, your strongest evidence, and what you want next. Here is the example CV's summary, plus versions for other levels.
Example CV
Organised administrative assistant with 4 years supporting busy offices and senior managers. I manage diaries, documents and office systems so everyone else can focus on their work.
Entry level
Reliable school leaver with retail and volunteer experience, confident with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Typing speed of 60 words per minute and a strong eye for detail.
Executive assistant
Executive assistant with 9 years supporting CEOs and boards. Manage complex international travel, board papers and confidential communications.
Skills to put on a administrative assistant CV
Hard skills
- Diary and calendar management
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Document management and filing
- Minute taking
- Basic bookkeeping or invoice processing
- Travel and event coordination
- Typing speed and accuracy
Soft skills
- Organisation
- Discretion
- Anticipating needs
- Friendly, professional communication
Show soft skills through your bullet points rather than listing them on the CV itself.
Keywords recruiters and ATS look for
Many employers screen CVs with an applicant tracking system (ATS) that matches words from the job ad. These come up often in administrative assistant postings. Use the ones that are true for you, in the same wording as the job you're applying for. To compare your CV with a specific job ad, use the free CV keyword checker, or have Litjob tailor your CV to the job description for you.
- administrative assistant
- office administration
- diary management
- calendar management
- Microsoft Office
- data entry
- scheduling
- minute taking
- record keeping
- customer service
- travel arrangements
- invoicing
For live figures, see the skills most requested in Operations and admin job ads, updated weekly from thousands of postings.
Bullet points: before and after
Strong bullet points say what you did, how big it was and what changed. Compare:
WeakAnswered phones and emails.
StrongerManaged a shared inbox of 200 emails a day, replying to routine queries within 4 hours.
WeakOrganised meetings.
StrongerScheduled 40 meetings a week across 3 time zones without double bookings.
WeakDid filing.
StrongerDigitised 5 years of paper records, freeing a storage room and speeding up audits.
WeakOrdered office supplies.
StrongerSwitched office suppliers and saved 15% on annual supply costs.
Only use numbers you can explain in an interview. An honest estimate (“about 30%”) is better than a made-up exact figure.
Tips for writing a administrative assistant CV
Turn duties into achievements
Ask what was better because you were there: faster, cheaper, more organised. Then say so with a number.
List software by name
Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, Google Workspace or a booking system. Employers filter for specific tools.
Show who you supported
Supporting a team of 5 is different from supporting a director or a whole office. Make the scope clear.
Make your CV flawless
Administrative roles test attention to detail. Consistent formatting and zero typos are part of your application.
Common administrative assistant interview questions
Your CV gets you the interview, and interviewers will ask about what's on it. Prepare for these:
- How do you prioritise when several people need things urgently?
- Explain how you check deadlines and importance, and how you communicate delays.
- Tell me about a time you handled confidential information.
- Show discretion without revealing details.
- Which tools do you use to stay organised?
- Name real tools and a simple system you rely on.
- Tell me about a process you improved.
- Small wins count: a filing system, template or checklist that saved time.