Administrative Assistant Resume Skills and Keywords

What skills should I put on an administrative assistant resume?

The top skills to put on an administrative assistant resume are Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint), along with administrative knowledge, computers and electronics, and English language. Employers also look for dependability, attention to detail and cooperation, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Administrative knowledge
• Computers and Electronics knowledge
• English Language knowledge
• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Cooperation

What software should administrative assistants know?

Administrative assistant job postings most often ask for Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint). Many administrative assistants also use database management, video conferencing and ERP software; which products matter depends on the employer, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office

What hard skills do employers want in administrative assistants?

Administrative assistants need administrative knowledge far more than most workers, and computers and electronics, English language, and writing more than most. Name these in your resume summary and prove each one with a bullet that shows you using it.

• Administrative · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Computers and Electronics · Needed more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language · Needed more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Writing · Needed more than in most jobs
  Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Service Orientation · Needed more than in most jobs
  Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Speaking · Needed more than in most jobs
  Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.

What soft skills do administrative assistants need?

The most important soft skills for administrative assistants are dependability, attention to detail and cooperation. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.

1. Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
2. Attention to Detail: A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
3. Cooperation: A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.

What keywords should an administrative assistant resume include?

An administrative assistant resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For administrative assistants, common keywords include Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint); Administrative Assistant (Admin Assistant); and Administrative Clerk. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.

How do I write administrative assistant resume bullet points?

Start each administrative assistant bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Created, maintained, and entered information into databases,” then end it with a measurable result: what changed, by how much, and for whom. These starters come from the job’s most important tasks.

What are other job titles for an administrative assistant?

Other job titles for an administrative assistant include Administrative Assistant (Admin Assistant), Administrative Clerk, Administrative Secretary (Admin Secretary), Administrative Specialist (Admin Specialist) and Administrative Support Assistant (ASA). Government job data groups them as “Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.

• Administrative Assistant (Admin Assistant)
• Administrative Clerk
• Administrative Secretary (Admin Secretary)
• Administrative Specialist (Admin Specialist)
• Administrative Support Assistant (ASA)
• Administrative Technician
• Department Secretary
• Office Assistant
• Secretary
• Staff Assistant
• Administrative Associate
• Administrative Coordinator
• Administrative Liaison
• Administrative Resources Associate
• Administrative Support Specialist
• Alumni Secretary
• Appointment Scheduler
• Clerical Secretary
• Clerk Secretary
• Escrow Assistant

What education do administrative assistants need?

Most administrative assistants need a high school diploma or equivalent to get hired. New hires typically get short-term on-the-job training. No prior work experience is usually required. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in administrative knowledge, computers and electronics, and English language. In a federal survey, 50% of administrative assistants said the job requires a high school diploma and 22% an associate's degree.

How much do administrative assistants make?

Administrative assistants earn a median salary of $47,540 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $33,280, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $66,350. Employment is projected to shrink 6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 163,900 openings a year.

Openings still come up as people retire or move on, but in a shrinking field, skills that carry over to other jobs matter more on your resume.

What’s changing in this field

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects these trends to shape hiring. If your experience touches any of them, say so.

• Productivity change - share decreases as technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) systems, assists workers with routine back office functions, such as preparing documents, scheduling, and notetaking.

What other jobs can administrative assistants do?

Administrative assistants’ skills carry over best to jobs as executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants; office clerks, general; and administrative services managers, which use the most similar skills and day-to-day work.