Your organizational skills include tracking multiple schedules, setting up meetings, and keeping tabs on inventory. You’re an indispensable entry-level executive assistant who makes the office run silky smooth.
You’ve got the chops to help high-level executives save time and money, but how do you translate your impressive skillset onto a single-page resume?
We’ve got you covered! Our entry-level executive assistant resume templates and ai cover letter writer helped thousands of assistants get a headstart in their new careers. Here’s how to build a winning resume and land that job you’re after.
What Matters Most: Your Administrative Skills & Assistant Experience
You have the ability to organize a successful trip and the discipline to keep expenses within a very strict budget. You do all that while answering calls and handling correspondence, so let’s throw multitasking into the mix.
Those vital skills, along with your other qualities, are why you’re a great fit for the role of executive assistant. Still, listing “creativity” as the top skill on your resume is not the best way to go—even if “thinking outside the box” is in the job description.
Avoid using generic and overly vague descriptions and try to focus on technical abilities, such as being a pro at Microsoft Excel or Expensify; be specific.
9 best entry-level executive assistant skills
- Microsoft Office
- Scheduling
- Database Management
- Budgeting
- Google Workspace
- Inventory Oversight
- Confidentiality
- Email Management
- Travel Arrangements
Sample entry-level executive assistant work experience bullet points
Employers are interested in what you can do, but talking about your reporting abilities and skillful correspondence management doesn’t tell the whole story—work experience matters too.
However, listing your limited past experience can be challenging when you’re applying for an entry-level role. So make any references to experience more impactful by including metrics.
“Arranged weekly business trips for 14 members of executive management while staying 21% under budget” is much more effective than just saying that you performed travel arrangements.
Here are more examples:
- Managed and screened an average of 97 calls per hour to an 8-line phone system, ensuring accurate transfers
- Organized 3 major company events per year, including travel, accommodation, and dining, reducing travel expenses by 12%
- Managed and coordinated the schedules of 4 executives, complete with organizing staff meetings across 9 departments
- Streamlined office inventory management by using Excel spreadsheets, recording 200+ types of supplies and managing timely re-fills
Top 5 Tips for Your Entry-Level Executive Assistant
- Look for common ground
- If you don’t have previous experience as an executive assistant, mention jobs such as receptionist, office clerk, personal assistant, or office coordinator. You can also emphasize roles relevant to the industry you’re applying for. If it’s a restaurant chain, talk about your past in hospitality or catering.
- Avoid cookie-cutter resumes
- It might be challenging to fill out your resume for an entry-level position, so edit it to match the job description. If you’re applying to be an assistant to several executives, emphasize your ability to multitask, stay on top of several schedules, and successfully organize meetings.
- Show off your confidence
- Assisting a team of senior managers requires a great deal of assertiveness. You can showcase this in your resume by discussing times when you’ve shown leadership, such as coordinating a project.
- Don’t forget software
- Show recruiters that you’ve got a whole toolkit in your arsenal. Mention your skills in Microsoft Office, Asana, Google Workspaces, Clockify, and Teams to tick some necessary boxes.
- Pick the right soft skills
- Technical skills are important in a resume, but your people skills are key as an executive assistant. Make them relevant and avoid being generic. Instead of “team player,” mention stakeholder relationship management and discretion.
You may only need a GED or high school diploma for an entry-level executive assistant. However, an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree is great to mention, especially if it’s in business, management, or a field relevant to the company.
Lack of experience isn’t necessarily an obstacle in an entry-level role, especially if you present things in a favorable light. If you’ve led any community projects, mention them to emphasize your organizational qualities.
Not every job asks for a cover letter, but it never hurts to attach one. However, make sure, when writing an effective cover letter, that it’s tailored to the job. If the advert calls for knowledge of MS Office, talk about reporting and email management.
Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs. He started his career in data fulfilling the dream of little kids everywhere: working for an insurance company. He then moved on to work in edtech for a company called Chegg before venturing out to start BeamJobs. Things have come a long way after countless “learnings” (fancy word for mistakes), and BeamJobs has now helped 2.5M+ people create their perfect resume. Stephen and BeamJobs have been featured on awesome sites like Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, Baltimore Sun, the Daily Press, Zendesk, HubSpot, and loads more.
