Resume skills · Office and Administrative Support Occupations
Executive Assistant Resume Skills and Keywords
The software, skills and bullet points that belong on an executive assistant resume, from U.S. Department of Labor data.
Updated November 6, 2026 · How we build these pages
What skills should I put on an executive assistant resume?
The top skills to put on an executive assistant resume are Zoom; Microsoft SharePoint; and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint), along with administrative knowledge, service orientation and writing. Employers also look for dependability, attention to detail and cooperation, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed.
- Zoom
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Administrative knowledge
- Service Orientation
- Writing
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
What software should executive assistants know?
Executive assistant job postings most often ask for Zoom; Microsoft SharePoint; SAP Concur; Google Workspace; and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint). Many executive assistants also use ERP, video conferencing, and web page creation and editing software; which products matter depends on the employer, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.
- Zoom
- Microsoft SharePoint
- SAP Concur
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Office
| Type of work | Tools executive assistants use |
|---|---|
| ERP (enterprise resource planning) | SAP, Oracle PeopleSoft, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Oracle PeopleSoft Financials |
| Video conferencing | Cisco Webex, Google Meet, LogMeIn GoToMeeting, Web conferencing software |
| Web page creation and editing | Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Sites, Adobe Contribute, ProQuest RefWorks RefShare |
| Cloud-based data access and sharing | Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox |
| Network conferencing | LogMeIn GoToWebinar, Slido interaction software |
| Human resources | Human resource management software (HRMS), Questek Humanis, Workflow International Deskflow Enterprise |
What hard skills do employers want in executive assistants?
Executive assistants need administrative knowledge far more than most workers, and service orientation, writing and reading comprehension 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 jobsKnowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
- Service Orientation · Needed more than in most jobsActively looking for ways to help people.
- Writing · Needed more than in most jobsCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Reading Comprehension · Needed more than in most jobsUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- English Language · Needed more than in most jobsKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
- Active Listening · Needed more than in most jobsGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.
What soft skills do executive assistants need?
The most important soft skills for executive assistants are dependability, attention to detail and cooperation. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.
- Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
- Attention to Detail: A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
- Cooperation: A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
What keywords should an executive assistant resume include?
An executive assistant resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For executive assistants, common keywords include Zoom; Microsoft SharePoint; Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint); Administrative Aide; and Administrative Assistant. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.
Screening software and recruiters look for the tool names in the posting. Paste your resume to see which executive assistant tools it mentions. Nothing leaves your browser.
How do I write executive assistant resume bullet points?
Start each executive assistant bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Made travel arrangements for executives,” 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.
Bullet starters from an executive assistant’s core tasks
- Managed and maintained executives' schedules
- Made travel arrangements for executives
- Prepared invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software
- Coordinated and directed office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives
- Answered phone calls and directed calls to appropriate parties or took messages
- Prepared responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries
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- Opened, sorted, and distributed incoming correspondence, including faxes and email
- Greeted visitors and determined whether they should be given access to specific individuals
- Prepared agendas and made arrangements, such as coordinating catering for luncheons, for committee, board, and other meetings
- Conducted research, compiled data, and prepared papers for consideration and presentation by executives, committees, and boards of directors
- Performed general office duties, such as ordering supplies, maintaining records management database systems, and performing basic bookkeeping work
- Filed and retrieved corporate documents, records, and reports
- Read and analyzed incoming memos, submissions, and reports to determine their significance and plan their distribution
- Provided clerical support to other departments
- Attended meetings to record minutes
Resume summary starter
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
What are other job titles for an executive assistant?
Other job titles for an executive assistant include Administrative Aide, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Associate, Administrative Coordinator and Administrative Secretary. Government job data groups them as “Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.
- Administrative Aide
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Associate
- Administrative Coordinator
- Administrative Secretary
- Administrative Specialist
- Executive Administrative Assistant
- Executive Secretary
- Office Assistant
- Administrative Liaison
- Administrative Office Assistant
- Administrative Office Specialist
- Administrative Officer
- Administrative Services Assistant
- Administrative Support Specialist
- Clerical Specialist
- Confidential Secretary
- Congressional Apprentice
- Congressional Staffer
- Corporate Secretary
What education do executive assistants need?
Most executive assistants need a high school diploma or equivalent to get hired, plus less than 5 years of experience in a related job. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in administrative knowledge and English language. In a federal survey, 34% of executive assistants said the job requires an associate's degree and 24% a high school diploma.
How much do executive assistants make?
Executive assistants earn a median salary of $76,590 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $50,560, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $109,850. Employment is projected to hold steady from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 43,300 openings a year.
Median yearly pay, May 2025
$76,590
80% earn $50,560 to $109,850
Expected job growth, 2025–35
0%
All jobs: +3.5%
Job openings per year
43,300
459,910 people work in this job
Typical education to get hired
High school diploma or equivalent
Plus less than 5 years of related experience
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 firms increase the use of computer software, enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to automate routine back-office functions, such as document preparation.
Turn this list into a tailored executive assistant resume
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Try the AI Resume Builder freeWhere this data comes from
- Software, skills, traits, tasks, titles and education survey: O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor), occupation 43-6011.00.
- Pay and employment: Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (OEWS), May 2025, occupation 43-6011.
- Job growth, openings and typical education: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by MyCareerAI. Full attribution and changes