Executive Assistant: Free Template, Tips & Guide

Executive Assistants do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for their companies. Now is the time to put yourself and your resume in the spotlight. Let us help you make a resume that is as detailed and organized as your memos with our template.

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Harrison Howe
Written by
Harrison Howe
Career Writer
Updated on July 14, 2022

Behind every successful CEO is an executive assistant who works tirelessly to schedule and confirm appointments, plan meetings, answer messages, file documents, coordinate activities, and manage day-to-day office responsibilities.

Ready to be an unsung hero?

Before you can step into the role of providing administrative support to any chief, you’ll need to wow hiring managers and potential employers with a detailed executive assistant resume.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that more than 324,000 executive assistant jobs will open annually between 2020 and 2030 due to shifts in labor forces and retiring workers; that works out to be just over 6,400 openings per state, so it could become competitive for those seeking to fill these roles.

Thus, it would take the right resume for an executive assistant to grab the attention of an employer. Once you can communicate the details that employers are looking for, your resume could move to the top of the inbox!

Whether you’re creating a CEO executive assistant resume with years of experience or an entry level executive assistant resume, you should consider:

  • How should I format my resume?
  • What are the best details to add to my education section?
  • Which are the best executive assistant resume skills to list?

There’s also an executive assistant summary or resume objective to consider.

But no worries: with our free online resume builder it’s easy to make sure you’re putting in all the information you need to create a great executive assistant resume.

Here, we’ll provide details about the right executive assistant resume format, provide executive assistant resume tips, and present resume examples so you’re assured to get all the help you need to come away with your best executive assistant resume.

You can also expect to review executive assistant summary examples, accomplishments and achievements examples, and other information that you could add in other sections to turn a good resume into a great resume.

In short, we’ll assist you to create a resume you can be proud of, so soon you’ll be assisting top executives in running a successful business operation.

Sample Executive Assistant Resume

Check out this sample executive assistant resume you might use as a guide in processing your own document:

Executive Assistant Resume Sample

Resume Example
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[Jennifer Marlowe]

[Executive Assistant]

[88 Northland Street, OH 45205   |   513-555-1204   |   jennmarlo1990@gmail.com]

Summary

Proficient, dedicated Executive Assistant with 5+ years of experience supporting the CEO of an established 110-employee company, handling everything from scheduling meetings to preparing board presentations. Extremely organized and detail-oriented, with strong communication, multitasking, and time management skills. Ability to meet long-term goals leading to company success. Expert in Microsoft Office Suite and Zoom. 120+ WPM typist.

Experience

Executive Assistant

08/2015 to Current

Fever Productions, Cincinnati, OH

  • Scheduled and documented internal and client meetings.
  • Coordinated daily use of four executive boardrooms, setting meeting schedules, creating meeting agendas, placing catering orders, and generating calendar invitations.
  • Managed monthly reconciliation reports, budget reports, and financial reports.
  • Coordinated travel arrangements, including reserving flights and hotels, arranging car transportation, and managing calendar of events.
  • Reviewed and finalized executive expense reports.
  • Maintained and updated list of more than 500 external contacts for CEO.
  • Collaborated with vendors to resolve invoice errors as needed.
  • Maintained all electronic accounts payable files and documentation to ensure compliance with company and general policies and accounting practices.

Administrative Assistant

01/2013 to 07/2015

Venus Flytrap Printworks, Cincinnati, OH

  • Performed front desk tasks, directing 40+ phone calls, fielding inquiries, and greeting visitors.
  • Maintained and updated company directory.
  • Oversaw office supply inventory, placed orders for re-stocking.
  • Organized monthly vendor meetings.
  • Generated and distributed materials for weekly client meetings.
  • Filed expense reports, purchase orders, and financial statements.

Education

Associate of Applied Business (Administrative Assistant), 2012

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College – Cincinnati, OH

Technical Skills

  • Microsoft Office
  • Photoshop
  • Google Drive
  • Zoom and Slack

Relevant Skills

  • Organizational skills
  • Communication skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving
  • Scheduling and time management
  • Fluent in Spanish

Executive Assistant Resume Format

You cannot state as part of your executive assistant resume skills that you are organized and detail-oriented—two important abilities for any executive assistant—and then submit a resume to a hiring manager that is unorganized and improperly formatted.

According to Ladder Inc.’s 2018 Eye-Tracking Study, recruiters spend only 7.4 seconds skimming a resume. Your format is what they are going to notice first, so it’s imperative that you get it right.

Your very first administrator decision should be: “I am going to format my resume correctly!” You’re assured to get your executive assistant resume format down right when you use our easy and free resume templates.

Simple always works best, so go for a simple layout, bold heading titles, and bulleted resume personal assistant skills, achievements, and accomplishments.

A professional summary or career objective, reverse-chronological work history, education, and skills are crucial details that should be prioritized on your executive assistant resume.

Formatting your best executive assistant resume is simply the first step in taking that seat outside any company CEO’s office.

Executive Assistant Resume Summary or Objective

Remember that 7.4 seconds that most recruiters and hiring managers spend perusing a resume? 

The professional summary or career objective are where they are going to spend some of those precious seconds, so here is where you can entice potential employers to further read your executive assistant resume.

Basically, the summary or objective are where you’ll grab attention; these few sentences could dictate how the rest of your resume review will go. This is why it’s so imperative to prioritize this part of your resume!

Executive Assistant Resume Summary Examples

If you have executive assistant or administrative assistant experience on your side, you’ll go with a professional summary to kick off your resume.

Right ✅

Accomplished Executive Assistant with 10+ years of administrative experience supporting executives and corporate managers in fast-paced business environments. Proven ability to manage various schedules and projects, coordinate complex calendars, create meeting agendas, and maintain effective communications across multiple departments. Strong planning, organizational, multitasking, and time management skills. Experienced in Microsoft Office and ability to type 80+ WPM.

Any CEO would jump at the chance to work alongside an executive assistant like this!

Wrong ❌

Experienced Executive Assistant with ability to provide support to corporate leaders. Strong communication and organizational skills and ability to remain focused on various tasks. Good typist and computer skills.

That summary likely will not open any eyes, or any doors. With a summary like this, a potential employer may spend even LESS than 7.4 seconds on your resume.

Entry Level Executive Assistant Resume Objective Examples

What to do if you’re not exactly Joan Holloway (Mad Men) or Pam Beesley (The Office)?

You can still grab the attention of the person reviewing your resume with a strong objective statement.

Like this:

Right ✅

Detail-oriented, deadline-driven individual seeking to fill the role of an Executive Assistant in a fast-paced corporate environment to provide full administrative support and ensure smooth company operations. Experienced in planning and organizing multiple projects, preparing reports, and maintaining databases. Proven organizational, time management, and communication skills. Familiarity with office systems and tools. Ability to type 120 WPM.

Executive assistant resume keywords such as “planning”, “organizational”, and “time management” would surely help your statement stand out.

Wrong ❌

Enthusiastic entry-level Executive Assistant seeking challenging position in an office setting. Fast learner, good typist, team player. Knowledgeable about various software applications.

This example does not exactly instill confidence or demonstrate even a vague familiarity with executive assistant duties and responsibilities. 

Remember, you’re selling yourself with this objective statement, so be sure not to sell yourself short!

💡 TOP tip

Tailor your executive assistant resume to match what a particular company is seeking. Gather details from the job posting. It can even be helpful to find out more about the company’s CEO.

Document Your Executive Assistant Experience

For this part of your executive assistant resume, you’ll be tasked with presenting your experience in a way that details your abilities, highlights your capabilities, and underscores your skillset.

Be sure to emphasize the specific systems you are expert in, which tasks you mastered, and any accomplishments, such as setting up a particular system that saved the company money or streamlining a specific process that saved time.

Of course, list most recent job first, and use bullet points to describe your experience under each employer.

Right ✅

Executive Assistant

05/2017 to Current

Carlson-Travis Manufacturing, Montgomery, OH

  • Provided high level support to two senior executives
  • Managed chief itineraries and meeting agendas
  • Created presentations for all company team meetings
  • Scheduled interior and client meetings, completed and distributed minutes of meetings
  • Organized travel arrangements (booked flights, reserved hotels, arranged transportation)
  • Set up and maintained data management systems
  • Generated and managed list of 400+ client contacts
  • Implemented time saving system for producing and finalizing expense reports, saving the company $11,000 annually

Wrong ❌

Executive Assistant

05/2017 to Current

Carlson-Travis Manufacturing, Montgomery, OH

  • Managed all executive calendars
  • Provided project support
  • Maintained client list
  • Formulated all interdepartmental correspondence

The first portrays you as an employee who can take on Herculean tasks, while the latter hardly puts you in the bantam weight class.

But what if I have no executive assistant experience, you ask?

Well, the experience you DO have might be closer than you think. Ever managed or assisted in the management of a project, no matter how small? Then you’ve assisted someone, be it an CEO, assistant manager, department head—anyone, really.

Have some background in data entry or IT? You’re familiar with databases and various applications. Ever handled receptionist duties at even a small company? Then you’ve fielded calls and complaints, managed inquiries, and maybe even did some filing.

Entry-Level Executive Assistant Resume: Experience Section

OK, so you’re not Betty Brant, working under the often-impossible and overly-demanding J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle, but you DO have work experience, right?

Let’s take a look at how you can turn almost any job experience into experience for an executive assistant position.

Right ✅

Receptionist

02/2020 – Current

Tarlek Veterinary Hospital, Norwood, OH

  • Answered phones, handled client inquiries
  • Scheduled appointments
  • Generated client invoices
  • Assisted clients with resolving billing issues
  • Handled all accounts receivable duties, including batching invoices, processing payments, making bank deposits
  • Maintained and updated company website
  • Introduced new vendor payment system, reducing errors by 8% and overdue payments by 5%

Wrong ❌

Receptionist

02/2020 – Current

Tarlek Veterinary Hospital, Norwood, OH

  • Answered phones
  • Made appointments
  • Completed invoice payments
  • Filed client and vendor paperwork

Whether you have experience or not, there’s a way to get hiring managers interested in any resume for an executive assistant. Our online resume builder can help you create a high level executive assistant resume no matter your professional background.

How to Write Your Education Section for an Executive Assistant Resume

While experience speaks volumes, your education has a voice, too. 

If you’ve earned a diploma, certificate, or degree, let potential employers know about it, especially if it’s in a relevant area. 

Even if you have oodles of experience, you can still add your education information. Just keep it short and to the point: name of school, type of degree awarded, and dates.

Like this:

Right ✅

Associate of Applied Science – Administrative Assistant

Northwest Technical College – Bemidji, MN – 2019

If you don’t have even a single oodle of experience, you can expand the Education section to include information that reflects your level of knowledge and the depth of your studies to prepare you for an executive assistant role.

Here’s how an inexperienced candidate might do up their Education section for an executive assistant to CEO resume:

Right ✅

Associate of Applied Science – Administrative Assistant

Northwest Technical College – Bemidji, MN – 2019

Phi Theta Kappa

GPA: 4.9

Relevant coursework: Keyboarding I and II; Business Office Management; Desktop Publishing; Business Communications; Computerized Business Applications; Customer Relations Management

💡 top tip

Not yet earned your degree or certificate? You can still add your Education section; simply put “in progess” in place of a date(s).

Best Executive Assistant Resume Skills

Melba J. Duncan, founder and CEO of the consulting firm Duncan Leadership Institute, once said about executive assistants: “In many instances, executive assistants are working without specific direction on a blank page on which they script the intent, design the structure, manage the team, and accept responsibility for the outcome. These are the people who pull things together, keep them moving, and make them happen.”

Sounds like someone who has to pull together more than a few soft and hard skills, doesn’t it?

💡 TOP tip

Since you’ll want your executive assistant resume to speak directly to each individual CEO you are approaching, it’s best to gather your skills for resume from job postings and tailor the list to each company to which you are applying.

It’s effective for separate your skills into a soft skills list and hard skills list. Like this:

Soft Skills

Time Management

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Problem Solving

Teamwork

Data Entry

Problem Solving

Customer Service

Hard Skills

QuickBooks

Database Management

Calendar Management

Microsoft Office

Research and Analysis

Event Planning

Report Generation

Proficiency with photocopiers and scanners

With tech skills more in demand than ever, you could choose to separate technical skills into yet a third column.

Not sure how to add a skills section to your resume? Let us show you how with our examples!

Adding Other Sections for an Executive Assistant Resume

“Other” sections on your resume can really help you stand out from the potentially hundreds of other executive assistant hopefuls who applied to the same position.

Have you taken any additional coursework that might have helped you further develop technical or other skills? Have you volunteered? Are you a member of a relevant professional association? Do you speak other languages fluently?

This is all information that a CEO would be interested in seeing and would help to underscore your work history and education.

You could also add an Awards and Achievement section if you received a corporate award or were recognized for an action that saved the company money or time.

Additional sections could have the heading “Other”, “Awards and Achievements”, or “Additional Information.”

Key Takeaway

Armed with your detailed executive assistant resume, you’re now ready to help some overworked, overwhelmed CEO shoulder the burden and successfully run their business operations.

Simply gather all the info about your experience, education, skills, and any additional details you wish to add and start filling in one of our free helpful templates, downloadable in Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

Remember to:

  • Create a strong career objective or professional summary.
  • Add in all your current and past job duties, even if they are not related to executive assistant work.
  • Display your education, including degree (already awarded or pending), dates, and institution attended.
  • List hard, soft, and technical skills that show you are ready and able to take on all the responsibilities of an executive assistant.
  • Note any other helpful information about yourself, such as volunteering, additional studies, hobbies/interests, awards, or achievements.

Before you can work for a CEO, you first must be the CEO of yourself: take honest stock of your educational and professional background, generate the type of resume that puts you in the forefront of the hiring process, and soon you’ll be taking a seat at any corporate leader’s right hand.

Free Resume Templates

Using resume templates that are proven to work will help you to move your career search forward. Start and customize as many resumes as you need with our free resume builder