Crafting a compelling administrative assistant cover letter can be a tricky part of your job search. You've found the perfect position, and the application calls for a cover letter, not just a repetition of your resume. It's your chance to share a standout achievement, giving it life beyond bullet points. Striking the balance between professionalism and a fresh, unique voice—without stepping into clichés—is essential, all while keeping it to one succinct page. Let's guide you through creating a cover letter that opens doors.
- Introduce your profile to catch recruiters' attention;
- Use professional templates and examples to make sure your administrative assistant cover letter follows the best industry standards;
- Settle on your most story-worthy achievement to shine a light on what makes your application unique;
- Write a administrative assistant cover letter, even when you lack professional experience.
Ready to start with the basics: upload your resume to Enhancv's AI, below, to see the administrative assistant cover letter it would write for you.
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Administrative assistant cover letter example
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New York, NY
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- Customization: The cover letter is tailored for an Administrative Assistant role, emphasizing the applicant's relevant experience and achievements, such as leading initiatives to improve scheduling and task management systems.
- Demonstration of Results: It showcases quantifiable success by mentioning a specific instance where the applicant's actions led to a 20% productivity increase, which is compelling evidence of their potential impact on the company.
- Company Research: The letter reflects the applicant's awareness of the company's values by mentioning its commitment to quality and innovation, suggesting that the candidate has done their homework and is genuinely interested in the company’s culture and goals.
- Call to Action: The cover letter concludes with a proactive call to action, inviting the hiring manager to schedule an interview, which demonstrates the applicant's keenness to move forward in the application process.
The format of your administrative assistant cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your administrative assistant cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your administrative assistant cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your administrative assistant cover letter:
- Use the same font in your administrative assistant cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your administrative assistant cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your administrative assistant cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a administrative assistant cover letter
- Header: This includes your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information, necessary for ensuring the recruiter can easily get in touch with you.
- Greeting: Tailor this to the hiring manager if possible, as personalization can demonstrate your attention to detail—a crucial skill for an administrative assistant.
- Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the administrative assistant role, highlighting your organizational skills and readiness to support the workplace efficiently.
- Body: In one or two paragraphs, detail your relevant experience, skills in managing office tasks, proficiency in software used for administration, and any specific achievements or accolades that underline your suitability for the role.
- Closing: Reiterate your interest in the position, thank the reader for their time, offer any additional attachments like references, and provide a call to action, such as a request for an interview, showcasing proactive communication skills.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Exceptional organizational skills: Necessary for managing schedules, coordinating meetings, and handling multiple tasks effectively.
- Strong communication abilities: Crucial for drafting correspondence, engaging with clients, and conveying information clearly to other team members.
- Proficiency in office technology: Knowledge of office software, such as Microsoft Office Suite and email management, for efficient completion of tasks.
- Attention to detail: Vital for accurate data entry, proofreading documents, and maintaining records without errors.
- Time management expertise: Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage the executive's calendar efficiently.
- Proactive problem-solving: The capacity to anticipate potential issues and take initiative to resolve them, minimizing disruptions to daily operations.
Kick off your administrative assistant cover letter: the salutation or greeting
When writing your administrative assistant cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.
And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them. Personally.
So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.
If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your administrative assistant cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").
A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [First Name Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title],
- Dear [Department Name] Team,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
- Dear Sir or Madam,
The administrative assistant cover letter introduction: focusing on your unique value, with a creative twist
You are not the only one wondering how to start your administrative assistant cover letter. Those first two sentences introduce your profile and should be memorable.
No pressure.
When beginning your administrative assistant cover letter, immediately point out the unique value of working with you. In other words, what you promise to bring to the role by using your past track record of success.
Start your administrative assistant cover letter with a creative twist by telling a joke or stating something relatable. Select this type of introduction only if it aligns with the company culture.
What comes next: your administrative assistant cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your administrative assistant cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.
Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.
That's one big no-no.
Remember that when writing your administrative assistant cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.
So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.
Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.
Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.
Finishing off your administrative assistant cover letter with what matters most
So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your administrative assistant cover letter for the role and recruiter.
Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.
And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.
End your administrative assistant cover letter with the future in mind.
So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.
You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).
No experience administrative assistant cover letter: making the most out of your profile
Candidates who happen to have no professional experience use their administrative assistant cover letter to stand out.
Instead of focusing on a professional achievement, aim to quantify all the relevant, transferrable skills from your life experience.
Once again, the best practice to do so would be to select an accomplishment - from your whole career history.
Another option would be to plan out your career goals and objectives: how do you see yourself growing, as a professional, in the next five years, thanks to this opportunity?
Be precise and concise about your dreams, and align them with the company vision.
Key takeaways
Summarizing the most important aspects in writing your administrative assistant cover letter, remember to:
- Create a personalized administrative assistant cover letter for each role you apply for, that includes the recruiter's name in the salutation;
- Format your administrative assistant cover letter with single-spacing, one-inch margins, and a modern, yet ATS-friendly font;
- Always start off your administrative assistant cover letter with two sentences that reflect what is most important about your application;
- Your administrative assistant cover letter body should feature your biggest accomplishments and the job-relevant skills it has taught you;
- Instead of opting for the "Sincerely yours" ending, close your administrative assistant cover letter with a nod to the future with what you aim to achieve in this potential role.
Administrative Assistant cover letter examples
Explore additional administrative assistant cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
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