Being an Executive Assistant (EA) requires a rare mix of organizational ability, discretion, and technical know-how. Hiring managers are looking for someone who can anticipate needs, juggle multiple priorities, and use modern tools with confidence. Your resume is the first chance to prove you’re that person. Here’s how to get it right.
One page is best if you have under 5 years of experience.
Two pages max for those with longer, diverse careers (for example, supporting multiple executives or working across industries).
Don’t add fluff. Every line should either highlight a skill, responsibility, or achievement that matters to the EA role.
Reverse-chronological resumes work best. Employers want to see your most recent assistant or office management experience first.
Use a hybrid format (skills + work history) if you’re transitioning into an EA role from another type of administrative or project-based work.
Avoid purely functional resumes — they often raise red flags for recruiters.
Instead of just listing duties like “answered phones” or “scheduled meetings,” show results and scope:
Scale: “Managed calendars for 3 C-level executives across multiple time zones.”
Efficiency: “Introduced new expense-tracking system that reduced reimbursement turnaround by 30%.”
Discretion: “Coordinated confidential HR and board materials with 100% accuracy.”
Executive Assistants are expected to blend soft skills with technical expertise. So they should prioritize:
Communication & Writing: Clear, professional, and adaptable across executives, clients, and teams.
Organization & Prioritization: Calendar management, travel coordination, and deadline tracking.
Problem-Solving: Anticipating issues, negotiating vendor solutions, or adjusting last-minute changes.
Confidentiality & Trustworthiness: A must for handling sensitive information.
Adaptability: Ability to pivot quickly in fast-moving environments.
Modern EAs are tech power users. Include the platforms and apps you’ve mastered, such as:
Calendar & Scheduling: Outlook, Google Calendar, Calendly
Productivity: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace
Project & Task Management: Asana, Trello, Monday.com
Communication: Slack, Zoom, Teams
Finance/Admin: Concur, Expensify, QuickBooks
Travel Tools: Concur Travel, Egencia, TripIt
List these in a “Technical Skills” section or weave them into job descriptions.
A high school diploma or equivalent is often the minimum requirement, but many employers prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Certifications can make you stand out:
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE)
Project Management certifications (if relevant)
Ongoing learning counts too — short courses in business writing, project management, or software tools show initiative.
Use clean formatting with clear headings and bullet points.
Tailor your resume to the job description — highlight what matches the executive team’s needs.
Proofread carefully. Precision is part of the EA role, and typos undermine that impression.
An Executive Assistant’s resume should be crisp, results-oriented, and show mastery of both people skills and modern office technology. Think of it as your first “support project” — show you can anticipate what the employer values most.