How to create a job-winning administrative resume

As an administrative professional, you fulfill all kinds of clerical tasks that are fundamental for any smoothly-running business.

Managing communication, handling emails, solving various office-related issues, organizing meetings, or arranging events might be only a few of your daily duties.

If there’s anything that could possibly stop you from landing your dream job, it is an underperforming administrative resume.

Use this ultimate guide to craft an effective CV that will impress even the most demanding hiring managers.

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1. Format properly your administrative resume

Let your resume speak out loud about your organization skills. Make it easy to skim and easy to navigate.

The following tips will help you draft your CV sections in a professional way:

• Set 0.5-1 inch margins on all sides. Check for more on margins and how to get them right.
• Use a reverse-chronological order describing your most recent work experiences first. Focus on the most recent relevant roles you have held in the past 10-15 years.
• Employ a two-column layout. Not only will you keep your page count low, but you will also make it look neat and simple. Whilst the left side can serve your contact details, skills and extra sections, the right column may feature your professional summary, work experience and education.
• Use negative space between individual sections, and avoid using large chunks of text. It will give your resume breathing room.
• Choose a professional and simple typeface such as Georgia, Calibri or Cambria. Do not overdo your resume with stylish fonts that would deflect a hiring manager’s attention from the content.
• Save your CV as a PDF document, but remember to check for requirements in the job posting in question. Some employers may explicitly ask for a Word document.

Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.

2. Create a captivating administrative professional summary for your resume

Think of a professional profile as a blurb that encompasses your relevant work experience, best achievements and exceptional administrative skills. 

Pay extra attention to the following tips, and you will easily create a mind-blowing professional summary for your CV.

• Customize your professional profile and use keywords from the job posting in question.
• Be relevant and concise.
• Quantify your greatest achievements. If you, for instance, helped your former employer reduce expenses, let the hiring manager know about the numbers. They often speak louder than words.
• Showcase your brilliant administrative skills.

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3. The most effective skills to put on your administrative resume 

As with all your resume sections, your skill-set should be tailored to the job you are applying for.

You may first want to brainstorm your best technical and interpersonal competencies that have moulded you into a great administrative professional.

Before drafting your resume skills section, refer back to the job posting, and look for the matching skills. Mention them at the top of your soft and hard skills lists.

The following administrative competences will help you compile appealing soft and hard skill-sets for your resume.

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4. Strike the right balance in your administrative work experience section

As an administrative professional, you know how to pay attention to detail like no one. Well, maybe about the same way as the hiring manager who scans resumes for the desired keywords.

In order to make your work history effective and captivating, incorporate in your CV the most relevant keywords from the job posting, and link them with the biggest measurable achievements of yours.

Make sure that you put your quantified accomplishments under the spotlight, and avoid simply naming a handful of your daily duties.

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5. Add academic achievements to your education section

If you aim at getting ahead of other administrative professionals, you may want to stand out pretty much in every resume section.

Not just your professional profile and work experience can be decisive in the eyes of the hiring manager. You can perfectly make headway with your education section if you just put it right.

Spice it up with your academic achievements, areas of interest or relevant coursework.

6. Include extra sections in your administrative resume

Think of important learning opportunities you’ve had on your path to become an administrative professional. What courses have you attended, what certifications have you been awarded, and what activities have made you a great organizer, communicator and people person?

Select the most relevant accomplishments, certifications or interests that can spruce your resume up, and impress your potential employer.

• Interests
• Volunteering Activities
• Professional Development
• Training
• Conferences
• Language Skills
• Qualifications
• Awards
• Projects
• Accomplishments