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Executive Assistant CV Tips

Written by: Ethan Cumming
Published on: 6 Jan 2020

Executive Assistant CV

  • An Executive Assistant needs to be highly organised and able to prioritise and communicate effectively. Therefore, when applying for EA jobs, your CV needs to demonstrate these skills.

    If you are actively searching for Executive Assistant jobs, then updating and enhancing your CV should be at the top of your to-do list. In this article, we give some essential top tips on how to make your Executive Assistant CV the best it can be.

    Structuring your Executive Assistant CV

    The structure of your CV is very important, especially when applying for administrative positions where organisation and prioritisation are key. A clear, concise CV will help recruiters and employers to process your information more effectively which is helpful when they will likely be looking at a large number of applications.

    Below is a guide as to how you should lay out your EA CV to maximise your chances of success:

 

  • 1. Personal Details

    You should include all your personal information at the top of the first page of your CV. Make sure to add your full name, home address, email address and phone number - and that all these details are up to date. If you like, you can also add the URL of your LinkedIn page or an additional phone number which gives employers an alternative means to contact you about suitable Executive Assistant jobs.

  • 2. Professional Profile

    The professional profile or personal statement is a short summary of your key skills, career history and achievements. It should also outline what you are looking for in your next Executive Assistant role and any future career ambitions you may have. Remember to keep it concise (i.e. four to five sentences), as this is just a brief overview and you will have the opportunity to go into more detail later on. View the personal statement as a way to highlight your key attributes and aspirations to sell yourself to a recruiter.

    The professional profile for an Executive Assistant might read something like this:

    A highly motivated and dedicated Executive Assistant with over 3 years’ experience of providing administrative support to C-Suite executives. Possesses exceptional time management and organisational skills and a consistent ability to plan and coordinate busy schedules. A first-class communicator with experience of maintaining and improving customer relations and solving problems, which has increased overall efficiency. Currently seeking a role in the financial sector which offers the opportunity to develop professionally and personally.

  • 3. Employment History

    Your career history is the most important section of an EA CV – employers want to see strong, valuable experience which has allowed you to develop as a high calibre Executive Assistant. You should outline your responsibilities, skills and achievements in relevant areas such as organisation, scheduling, multitasking, communication and management. It is important to demonstrate a broad range of Executive Assistant skills to employers as EA positions are highly varied by nature. This means covering everything from diary management to liaising with senior stakeholders.

    In terms of layout, adopting a reverse chronological order is best practice for structuring this section of your Executive Assistant CV. Starting with your current or most recent position, you should include the job title, the employer name and the duration of the role.

    Below the title of the position, list your executive assistant responsibilities and achievements in bullet points, making use of quantifiable evidence where possible. For example:

    Executive Assistant - XYZ Ltd, 2016 - present

    • Supported three executives and managed a team of four junior assistants
    • Effectively organised a total of X events which led to growth of the business by X%…
    • Enhanced efficiency by implementing systems to reduce expenses by £X…

     

    Note: If you don’t have many examples of numerical evidence, think about which parts of your professional experience that you are most proud of and would impress potential employers.

    Below are some examples of useful action verbs to include on your EA CV:

    Assist               Arrange

    Coordinate       Ensure

    Maintain           Manage

    Oversee           Prepare

    Record             Schedule

     

  • 4. Education and Qualifications

    In this section, you should give details of your academic achievements to date, as well as any relevant qualifications that might support or enhance your Executive Assistant skills. Though certain qualifications (including a degree or masters in business) are beneficial, most employers are usually open-minded as long as your skills and experience are strong.

    As with your work experience, list your professional qualifications and other educational achievements in reverse chronological order.

    Example:

    Institute of Administrators and Executive Assistants: Level 4, 2015

    Souters: Executive PA Course, 2011

    University of Anytown: Business Management - 2:1, 2003 - 2006

    Anytown High School: A-levels - Business Studies (A), Spanish (B) and History (B), 2001-2003

    10 GCSEs – grades A-C, 2001

  • 5. What about the extra stuff?

    Many jobseekers wonder whether to include interests or non-academic awards in their CV. If you have something that makes you stand out, by all means, include it! It’s even better if you demonstrate how your interests and achievements enhance your Executive Assistant skills.

    However, as mentioned above, it is the skills and experience relevant to the job that employers value most when hiring Executive Assistants.

  • Final Pointers

    Your Executive Assistant CV should ideally be no more than two sides of A4. It is important to keep all information accurate, concise and most importantly, consistent.

    When applying for different roles, it is highly beneficial to tailor your CV to each particular opportunity. One of the easiest ways to maximise your chances of success is to read each Executive Assistant job description carefully, pick out keywords and use those keywords in your CV and cover letter, backing up claims with examples. By actively proving that you match the job criteria, you are bound to impress employers.

    Executive Assistant jobs on SecsintheCity

    We hope that you’ve found these EA CV tips helpful, and we wish you luck on your job hunt! If you’d like to find our more about EA roles, read our Executive Assistant job description article or start applying for the latest Executive Assistant jobs on SecsintheCity today?

    Need an extra boost? SecsintheCity partner with Top CV, who offer a free professional CV review service with an expert consultant.