| Because of the competitive nature of job | | | | administrative job positions. The list should contain |
| markets, a single application for an administrative | | | | no more than 8 short lines. If you are entering an |
| assistant position can draw hundreds of applicants. | | | | administrative position for the first time, then |
| As a result, employers typically scan resumes in | | | | your key skills should include relevant transferable |
| mere seconds, usually about thirty seconds. For | | | | skills such as attention to detail, organizational skills |
| this reason, your administrative assistant CV must | | | | and ability to work accurately under pressure. |
| have all the right features that will encourage the | | | | Your key skills summary should typically include |
| reader to read through your resume. Typically, | | | | the following: |
| badly written CVs end up in the bin so it is vital to | | | | - A methodical approach to work |
| avoid the pitfalls when writing your own | | | | - Your organizational skills |
| administrative assistant resume. | | | | - Your ability to work proactively within a team |
| You should write your administrative assistant CV | | | | setting |
| in 2 pages. This should be sufficient for you to | | | | - Your ability to work effectively on your own |
| highlight relevant administrative skills, expertise, | | | | initiative |
| experience and qualifications. If you have been in | | | | - Good communication and interpersonal skills |
| an administrative position for a considerable period | | | | - Sound computer skills and competent typing |
| of time and have taken up positions with | | | | ability |
| increasing responsibility, you may require more | | | | - Your attention to detail and ability to work |
| than 2 pages to fully document your career. This | | | | accurately |
| is acceptable so long as the information is | | | | - Ability to work to deadlines and work |
| relevant. | | | | effectively under pressure |
| When compiling your administrative assistant CV, | | | | If you are entering an administrative post with no |
| keep the layout and format simple so that the | | | | previous experience, perhaps because you are a |
| presentation is easy on the eye. Your CV should | | | | recent graduate, then you should add details of |
| be written in black with Arial or Times Roman | | | | your education and training before your work |
| font and size 10 or 12 for the content. Your | | | | experience, highlighting areas that are directly |
| heading should be written in size 14 or 16 and the | | | | applicable to your remit in administration such as |
| document should be consistent both in layout, | | | | English, numerical qualifications and computer |
| font style and size. | | | | literacy certifications. If on the other hand you |
| It is important that the reader understand your | | | | have amassed previous experience as an |
| career goal quickly from your resume. You should | | | | administrator, then your professional work |
| therefore start your CV with a persuasive profile | | | | experience should precede your education and |
| briefly detailing your background in administration | | | | qualifications. When presenting your work |
| and your objective. Your professional profile | | | | experience, try to describe the skills you used in |
| should be kept to a short paragraph of no more | | | | your remits and how the position helped you hone |
| than 3 or 4 sentences. Your introductory | | | | those skills further, along with other skills you |
| professional profile statement should be followed | | | | acquired within the post. |
| by a bulleted list of your key skills relevant to | | | | |