Crafting a CV that succinctly showcases your diverse skill set while standing out to employers is a significant challenge for any personal assistant. Our guide offers tailored advice to help you highlight your unique experiences and effectively communicate your value proposition to potential employers.
Learn how to create your next personal assistant CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for personal assistant
Explore additional personal assistant cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior Personal Assistant
- Content Presentation - The CV's concise and structured layout facilitates easy navigation, allowing readers to quickly identify key details such as career achievements, education, and skill sets. This clarity ensures that hiring managers can efficiently assess Max Wright’s qualifications and potential value to the organization.
- Career Trajectory - Max Wright exhibits a progressive career trajectory, having advanced from a Personal Assistant at Deloitte to an Executive Assistant at Capgemini. This path reflects a steady accumulation of responsibilities and expertise, showcasing growth within reputable organizations across related industries.
- Achievements and Business Relevance - The CV effectively highlights Max's accomplishments, emphasizing not only numerical outcomes but also their business impact. For instance, the 30% reduction in meeting conflicts and the 15% savings in travel expenses are not only quantified but positioned as improvements that enhance overall organizational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Junior Personal Assistant
- Content presentation ensures clarity and conciseness - This CV is structured in a way that allows key points and achievements to be communicated clearly and concisely. With each section succinctly highlighting experiences, skills, and education, it enables easy navigation and understanding for the reader, making important information readily accessible.
- Career trajectory demonstrates consistent growth - The candidate's career path shows a clear progression from an Administrative Intern to an Executive Assistant at notable companies within the beauty industry. This trajectory signifies strong professional development and recognition in increasingly responsible roles—culminating in a significant leadership position at L'Oreal.
- Showcases adaptability and cross-functional experience - Each role in the CV highlights the candidate's ability to adapt to various responsibilities and environments. Their previous positions have required not only administrative skills but also involvement in diverse functions like client relations, budget tracking, and vendor negotiations, illustrating their flexibility and well-rounded expertise.
Bilingual Personal Assistant
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is structured logically, starting with personal attributes and then clearly progressing through experience, education, skills, and additional relevant sections. Each experience entry highlights key achievements concisely, showcasing contributions clearly that a potential employer can quickly absorb.
- Demonstrable Career Growth - Finley's career trajectory shows steady progression in responsibility and skill enhancement. From coordinating office administration to managing customer and enrollment-related functions, there's a clear growth path. Each role builds upon the last, moving from an Office Administrator to roles directly involving client interaction and system improvements.
- Impactful Achievements - The CV highlights significant achievements that demonstrate Finley's ability to impact business operations positively. From increasing enrollments by 20% to substantially improving audit compliance, these accomplishments are quantified and indicate a strong contribution to organizational goals, which is essential for an administrative role.
By Role
Personal Assistant to CEO
- Strong career progression - George Johnson has shown impressive growth in his roles, advancing from an Administrative Coordinator to Executive Assistant within prestigious financial institutions. This demonstrates not only his ability to handle increased responsibilities but also his trustworthiness in managing sensitive tasks.
- Effective multi-industry application - The skills George acquired in the finance industry with companies like Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group are complemented by his early experience at John Lewis Partnership. His capacity to adapt and excel in varied organizational cultures further underlines his versatile administrative capabilities.
- Emphasis on quantitative achievements - Throughout the CV, George highlights his ability to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and productivity. Achievements like reducing scheduling conflicts by 25% and improving email response times by 20% showcase his proactive approach in making tangible contributions to organizational success.
Personal Assistant to Director
- Clear Career Progression - Sophia Brooks' CV illustrates a robust career trajectory, showcasing consistent advancements from an Administrative Coordinator at Thales Group to an Executive Assistant to the CEO at QinetiQ. This progression demonstrates her ability to take on greater responsibilities and her career growth within strategic management roles over the years.
- Emphasis on Operational Efficiency - The CV highlights key achievements in enhancing operational efficiency, such as implementing systems that boost security by 40% and introduce cost-effective travel strategies saving £30,000 annually. These metrics indicate her strong impact on business operations, not just in cost-saving but also in increasing productivity and security.
- Soft Skills and Leadership Abilities - Through mentoring a team of junior assistants and leading cross-departmental projects, her CV emphasizes her capacity for leadership and team-building. Her ability to enhance team productivity by 15% and achieve a high task completion rate reflects her strong interpersonal and leadership skills, crucial for an Executive Assistant role.
Legal Personal Assistant
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV impressively balances content clarity and structure, pulling together a comprehensive overview of the candidate's credentials. Each section is meticulously organized, providing an easy-to-navigate format that emphasizes key achievements, roles, and skills systematically. The use of concise bullet points for experience showcases the candidate's ability to succinctly present critical information, enhancing readability and impact.
- Demonstrated Career Growth and Industry Expertise - Finley Robinson's professional journey illustrates a clear upward trajectory, demonstrating significant progression within the administrative and legal industries. Their roles have consistently increased in responsibility, from Office Administrator to Executive Assistant, highlighting growth in leadership capabilities and expertise across different legal firms. This reflects a dynamic career path marked by adaptability and dedication to personal and professional growth.
- Achievements Highlighting Business Impact - The CV stands out through the candidate's quantifiable accomplishments, emphasizing the business relevance of their contributions. Reductions in file processing times, improvements in client satisfaction, and decrease in scheduling conflicts illustrate the candidate's effectiveness in operational efficiency. These achievements underscore an ability to implement strategic improvements that not only elevate internal processes but also enhance client relations, underpinning the company’s success in a competitive market.
Medical Personal Assistant
- Concise and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized, with sections clearly labeled and information presented in a concise manner. Bullet points highlight key achievements, making it easy for readers to quickly grasp relevant qualifications and experiences. This clarity enhances the readability and impact of the document.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - Jacob's career progression from a Healthcare Analyst to a Senior Project Manager demonstrates substantial growth and advancement in the healthcare sector. This upward movement showcases his ability to take on more complex responsibilities and lead larger teams, reflecting his capacity for leadership and development within the industry.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV emphasizes accomplishments that are not only quantifiable but also significant in terms of business impact, such as improving patient processing efficiency by 35% and reducing project delivery times by 50%. These achievements demonstrate his effectiveness in driving cost savings and operational improvements, highlighting his value to potential employers.
Virtual Personal Assistant
- Effective Structure and Conciseness - The CV is meticulously organized with clear headers for each section, allowing for easy navigation and quick comprehension by potential employers. Key skills, experiences, and achievements are presented succinctly, ensuring that the most important information is readily accessible without overwhelming details.
- Impressive Career Progression - Finley Robinson has demonstrated a strong career trajectory from a Switchboard Operator to a Virtual Personal Assistant, showcasing professional growth within customer service roles. The transition from technical call management to a client-facing virtual assistant position highlights adaptability and ambition, indicating Robinson's ability to thrive in evolving roles.
- Innovative Use of Tools and Methodologies - The CV emphasizes Robinson's expertise in deploying bespoke software systems and tools for process improvement, such as creating a call routing system that reduced errors by 30%. This industry-specific technical depth reflects a solid understanding of how technology can enhance customer service efficiency and accuracy.
Personal Assistant in Public Relations
- Exceptional Content Clarity and Structure - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, starting with a concise summary that succinctly outlines Olivia Turner's career highlights. Each section is structurally sound, offering a chronological progression through job experiences that include bullet points for quick readability and clarity.
- Strategic Career Progression - The career trajectory in Olivia Turner's CV illustrates a well-considered path with distinct growth from an Office Coordinator to a Personal Assistant. This showcases her steady progression in the industry, emphasizing her ability to take on increasing responsibilities and her commitment to professional development.
- Impactful Achievements with Industry-Relevant Metrics - The CV showcases significant achievements that have a direct impact on business efficiency and employee satisfaction. Examples include improving organizational efficiency by 30% and increasing employee satisfaction scores by 15%, demonstrating a clear alignment between her contributions and business goals.
Personal Assistant in Human Resources
- Concise and Structured Presentation - The CV excels in presenting information clearly and concisely, with well-organized sections that make it easy for a reader to quickly grasp Daisy Shaw’s professional journey. The use of bullet points for detailing roles and achievements adds clarity and allows for easy scanning.
- Clear Career Progression - Daisy Shaw’s career trajectory showcases a notable advancement from Administrative Assistant to Personal Assistant, highlighting growth within the educational and HR sectors. The pace of career progression, with a promotion achieved in under two years, underscores her commitment to professional development and capability in taking on increased responsibility.
- Demonstrated Leadership and Impact - The achievements listed have a significant business impact, such as a 40% reduction in document processing time and the successful coordination of events with 500+ participants. These accomplishments show her ability to lead effectively, improve processes, and contribute meaningfully to organizational success.
Personal Assistant in Finance
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is structured clearly, allowing for quick comprehension of key information. Sections such as experience and achievements are well-organized, presenting the candidate's professional journey and impact with concise and targeted bullet points, which ensure clarity and enhance the reader's ability to gauge the candidate's capabilities quickly.
- Strong Career Trajectory - Moving from an Administrative Coordinator at KPMG to a Senior Personal Assistant at Goldman Sachs, Jack Taylor demonstrates noteworthy career growth. This progressive climb indicates a well-developed skill set and a consistent increase in responsibility, showcasing an upward trajectory within high-profile financial institutions, which adds to the candidate's industry credibility.
- Robust Technical Skills - The CV highlights industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as a proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, and advanced Excel functions, which are critical in the finance sector. Additionally, it underscores CRM management experience, reflecting Jack's ability to enhance organizational processes and indicates a strong technical aptitude beyond administrative duties.
Personal Assistant in Real Estate
- Structured for impact and clarity - The CV employs a logical structure, starting with an engaging summary and progressing through professional experiences with clearly defined sections. It uses bullet points effectively to present accomplishments concisely, ensuring key outcomes and competencies are easy to absorb.
- Career trajectory shows growth and sector expertise - Theodore Green's career progression from Administrative Officer to Personal Assistant reflects a focused career path in real estate. Each role highlights a deepening involvement in the industry, showcasing a climb through increasing responsibilities and complexities within top real estate firms.
- Industry-specific achievements underline business impact - The document emphasizes achievements like reducing document processing times and enhancing scheduling efficiency, which are highly relevant to real estate operations. These efforts are presented not just as numbers but as significant business impacts that highlight the candidate's contribution to organizational efficiency and client satisfaction.
Personal Assistant in Fashion
- Clear structure and organization - The CV is neatly structured, with each section clearly demarcated and logically ordered. Information is presented concisely, allowing the reader to quickly grasp essential details about the candidate's career journey and skills.
- Progression within luxury retail industry - The candidate's career trajectory displays a clear progression, with increasing levels of responsibility. Starting as an Administrative Coordinator at Selfridges, they advanced to an Executive Assistant position at Burberry, ultimately reaching a Senior Personal Assistant role at Gucci, reflecting growth in expertise and leadership.
- Adaptability and cross-functional experience - Throughout their career, Isla King demonstrated the ability to adapt to different roles and environments, collaborating with PR teams for event planning and leading internal communication process redesigns. This showcases cross-functional experience that is valuable in dynamic business settings.
Personal Shopping Assistant
- Progression and Versatility in Hospitality Roles - Scarlett's career illustrates a clear trajectory from a Holiday Cottage Cleaner to a Housekeeping Supervisor, showcasing growth within the hospitality industry. Her rise demonstrates her ability to take on increased responsibilities and her capability in managing teams effectively.
- Focusing on Operational Excellence and Cost Efficiency - Scarlett's initiatives in implementing a new inventory system to reduce waste and cost reveal her capability to enhance operational efficiency. These changes not only saved costs but also supported environmental sustainability by reducing unnecessary waste.
- Diverse Skill Set Tailored to Hospitality - The CV highlights Scarlett's diverse range of skills, such as customer service, inventory management, and health and safety compliance. These are complemented by her technical certifications in advanced cleaning techniques and team leadership, evidencing her commitment to professional development and expertise in her field.
Personal Assistant in Hospitality
- Logical Structure and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized, with distinct sections that are easy to navigate. Each section is clearly labeled, and bullet points are used in the experience section to present information concisely, making it easy for employers to quickly grasp Isla King's qualifications and achievements.
- Strong Career Progression - Isla’s career trajectory demonstrates significant growth within the caregiving field. Starting as a Support Worker and moving up to a Senior Care Assistant, her CV reflects a steady and relevant advancement, showing increasing responsibilities and leadership roles that align well with her title and expertise in personalized care and mobility support.
- Measurement of Achievements and Impact - The CV effectively uses quantifiable metrics to underscore the impact of Isla’s contributions. Achievements such as enhancing resident satisfaction scores, improving team performance, and increasing resident participation are supported by specific percentage improvements, illustrating the tangible benefits of her work. This not only highlights competence but also showcases the business relevance of her efforts.
Personal Assistant in Event Management
- Content Presentation Mastery - The CV is well-structured and concise, ensuring clarity with distinct sections that highlight the candidate's diverse skill set and experiences. The use of bullet points enhances readability, allowing hiring managers to quickly comprehend achievements and details relevant to the role.
- Strategic Career Progression - Isla King's career trajectory shows a clear progression from Personal Assistant roles to Executive Assistant and Office Manager positions, indicating a pattern of growth and increased responsibility. Her movement across renowned companies reflects adaptability and ambition within the business administration field.
- Comprehensive Achievement Impact - The CV highlights notable achievements with tangible business impacts, such as a 15% increase in productivity and a 20% reduction in operational costs. These results demonstrate Isla King's ability to contribute significantly to business efficiency and effectiveness, showcasing her value as a strategic team player.
Personal Assistant in Media
- Career Growth Demonstrated - Theodore Green displays a clear and consistent upward trajectory in his career. From a Marketing Assistant role to becoming a Social Media Manager, he has shown progressive development and increasing responsibility in digital marketing and content creation fields.
- Emphasis on Community Engagement - A unique highlight of his CV is the focus on community engagement and interaction. Theodore not only emphasizes growing audience numbers but also fostering vibrant online communities through strategic campaigns and personal interactions, indicating a deep understanding of audience needs beyond simple metrics.
- Strategic Expertise in Social Media Platforms - His experience with platforms like TikTok and Instagram is presented with an emphasis on strategic impact rather than just operational use. This showcases his ability to not only understand these tools but use them to create measurable business impacts such as increasing brand recognition and visibility.
Personal Assistant in Technology
- Structured Content Presentation - William Hall's CV is impeccably structured, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. The use of headers, bullet points, and sections ensures that key information is easily accessible and digestible, which is crucial in capturing the attention of recruiters quickly.
- Career Trajectory and Growth - The career trajectory outlined on the CV demonstrates consistent growth, moving from an Administrative Assistant to a Contract Administrator, showcasing progressive responsibility and leadership. This upward movement within related sectors highlights a commitment to professional development and expertise honing in administrative technology roles.
- Holistic Approach to Skill Development - The CV emphasizes not only technical skills like PeopleSoft and advanced IT abilities but also highlights William's soft skills such as communication and diary management. This suggests a well-rounded professional capable of both technical execution and interpersonal dealings, valuable in dynamically changing environments.
Personal Assistant in Education
- Clear and Concise Structure - The CV stands out for its well-organized presentation, making it easy to navigate and comprehend. Each section, from experience to education, is clearly delineated, allowing readers to quickly find the relevant information. Bullet points are used effectively to convey key responsibilities and achievements in a succinct manner, which aids in maintaining the reader's attention.
- Consistency in Career Growth - Grace Bailey exhibits a consistent upward trajectory in her career, demonstrating her capability to take on increasing responsibilities. Starting as an Administrative Assistant, advancing to Office Manager, and currently serving as an Executive Assistant at a reputable institution, her career path reflects strong professional development and the capability to thrive in complex environments.
- Impactful Achievements with Quantifiable Results - The CV highlights numerous accomplishments with concrete results, such as reducing expenses by 10%, increasing satisfaction rates by 40%, and saving £20,000 annually. These metrics not only underscore her effectiveness in improving processes and implementing cost-saving initiatives but also emphasize her value in driving significant positive change within her organizations.
Formatting your personal assistant CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional personal assistant CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :
- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional personal assistant CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a personal assistant CV
- Contact Information is vital for easy communication.
- A Professional Summary showcases your expertise quickly.
- Key Skills highlight your relevant personal assistant attributes.
- Work Experience demonstrates your reliability and experience.
- Education and Qualifications establish your foundational knowledge.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your organisational skills by highlighting experiences where you've successfully managed schedules, coordinated events, or handled complex itineraries, as these are fundamental to a Personal Assistant’s role.
- Showcase your communication abilities by mentioning instances where you've effectively liaised between different levels of staff or negotiated on your employer's behalf, reflecting your intermediary prowess.
- Demonstrate your discretion and trustworthiness by explaining situations in which you've handled confidential information or been entrusted with sensitive tasks, essential in a Personal Assistant's position.
- Highlight your adaptability and problem-solving skills by sharing examples of when you've navigated unexpected challenges or adapted to new technologies and systems, showcasing the flexibility required of a Personal Assistant.
- Detail your proficiency in relevant software and tools, such as Microsoft Office, calendar management, and communication platforms, to show you have the technical skills needed for modern Personal Assistant roles.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your personal assistant CV header
Right at the very top of your personal assistant CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for personal assistant:
- Executive Assistant to CEO | Strategic Planning & Event Management | Prince2 Certified | 8 Years' Experience
- Personal Assistant | Advanced IT Skills | Diary Management Specialist | Bilingual (FR/EN) | 5+ Years' Expertise
- Senior Personal Assistant | International Travel Coordination | Fluent in Spanish | 10 Years in C-Level Support
- Junior Personal Assistant | Degree in Business Administration | Adept at Social Media | 2 Years' Professional Assistance
- Senior Executive Assistant | Project Management Professional | Financial Reporting | 12 Years of Dynamic Support
- Personal Assistant to Director | Expertise in Minute Taking | Certified in MS Office | 7 Years' Dedicated Service
Opting between a personal assistant CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your personal assistant CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a personal assistant job:
- Seasoned personal assistant with over 10 years of experience, adept at managing schedules, coordinating international travel, and handling confidential tasks with discretion. Proven track record in improving office systems to enhance productivity in fast-paced environments.
- Dynamic executive assistant, bringing 8 years of experience in supporting high-level executives in the finance sector. Expert at calendar management, event planning, and leading project coordination efforts, resulting in increased efficiency and cost-saving.
- Experienced marketing manager transitioning to personal assistant roles, offering a wealth of experience in team leadership and strategic planning. Skilled at leveraging communication abilities to build strong relationships with stakeholders and ensure seamless operation management.
- Highly-motivated software developer making a career shift into personal assistance, eager to apply analytical skills and technical knowledge to support executive tasks. Experience in managing complex projects and deadlines translates to exceptional organisational capabilities.
- Eager to dive into a personal assistant career, bringing a fresh perspective and an earnest desire to learn. Committed to utilizing exceptional communication skills and a quick-learning aptitude to effectively support management tasks and streamline office operations.
- Aspiring to embark on a personal assistant journey, armed with a passion for organizational excellence and peerless commitment. Poised to harness adeptness in multitasking and a proactive approach to fulfil diverse administrative duties in a challenging environment.
Best practices for writing your personal assistant CV experience section
If your profile matches the job requirements, the CV experience is the section which recruiters will spend the most time studying. Within your experience bullets, include not merely your career history, but, rather, your skills and outcomes from each individual role. Your best experience section should promote your profile by:
- including specific details and hard numbers as proof of your past success;
- listing your experience in the functional-based or hybrid format (by focusing on the skills), if you happen to have less professional, relevant expertise;
- showcasing your growth by organising your roles, starting with the latest and (hopefully) most senior one;
- staring off each experience bullet with a verb, following up with skills that match the job description, and the outcomes of your responsibility.
Add keywords from the job advert in your experience section, like the professional CV examples:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a complex diary for a senior executive, successfully juggling multiple appointments and rescheduling conflicts with minimal disruption to the executive's workflow.
- Handled confidential correspondence with the utmost discretion, ensuring sensitive information was securely managed and communications were directed appropriately.
- Coordinated international travel arrangements, including flights, accommodations, and itineraries, ensuring a seamless experience for the executive and any accompanying staff.
- Developed a system for tracking and reconciling expenses, producing accurate and timely monthly reports that helped maintain a transparent budget.
- Facilitated efficient internal communication by acting as the first point of contact for the executive, filtering enquiries and escalating issues as necessary.
- Organised successful events and meetings, managing logistics from venue selection to catering and technical setup, often receiving commendation for attention to detail.
- Implemented new digital tools and software to improve personal and team productivity, including CRM systems and shared calendars.
- Oversaw the maintenance of office equipment and supplies, reducing downtime and ensuring the executive's workspace was always prepared for business activities.
- Collaborated with diverse teams, showing a high degree of emotional intelligence and cultural awareness when interacting with both staff and external partners.
Executive Personal Assistant
Executive Personal Assistant
Charterhouse Holdings PLC
03/2016-11/2018
- Managed complex calendar arrangements for a high-profile CEO, scheduling over 200+ appointments and ensuring a seamless daily itinerary.
- Spearheaded the organisation of international travel arrangements, including visas, accommodations, and itineraries, improving travel efficiency by 30%.
- Oversaw confidential company documents, handling upwards of 50 sensitive contracts per month with meticulous attention to detail.
Senior Personal Assistant
Senior Personal Assistant
Capita PLC
01/2013-06/2015
- Coordinated and executed exclusive events for up to 100 attendees, enhancing brand visibility and engagement among VIP clientele.
- Implemented a new digital filing system for administrative records, increasing document retrieval times by 40%
- Administered the financial bookkeeping for household expenses, accurately managing a monthly budget of approximately £10,000.
Personal Executive Assistant
Personal Executive Assistant
Savills PLC
07/2009-09/2012
- Provided direct support to the Managing Director, facilitating the efficient completion of strategic projects ahead of target deadlines.
- Negotiated with vendors to lower office supply costs, achieving a yearly saving of £5,000 for the department.
- Developed and maintained an internal communications strategy resulting in a 15% improvement in cross-departmental workflow efficiency.
Chief Personal Assistant
Chief Personal Assistant
Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd
12/2018-06/2021
- Acted as a first point of contact for stakeholders, relaying critical information and fostering key relationships that led to 5 major partnership deals.
- Managed to reduce scheduling conflicts by 25% through the introduction of an integrated digital scheduling platform for executive team members.
- Conducted weekly analyses of business expenditure versus budget, identifying trends that contributed to a 10% cost reduction in Q4 2020.
Corporate Personal Assistant
Corporate Personal Assistant
Deloitte LLP
04/2011-12/2014
- Liaised with international clients, improving communication response time by 50% through proactive management of queries.
- Updated and maintained a database of over 5000 contacts, ensuring accurate and accessible data for business operations.
- Led a project to digitize historical records, effectively reducing physical storage needs by 70%.
Private Personal Assistant
Private Personal Assistant
Knight Frank LLP
08/2012-02/2016
- Managed the personal portfolio of the principal, facilitating key investments and property management tasks.
- Coordinated philanthropic initiatives for the principal, raising over £100,000 for various charitable causes within a year.
- Orchestrated family arrangements and complex travel itineraries for the principal's multi-continental family visits.
Personal Assistant to Director
Personal Assistant to Director
GlaxoSmithKline PLC
10/2019-Ongoing
- Cultivated essential supportive practices around the Director's needs, achieving a 20% improvement in their productivity levels.
- Streamlined internal reporting processes, drastically reducing the time taken to produce reports from 3 hours to 1 hour.
- Guided the transition to remote work settings by implementing virtual tools, maintaining 100% business continuity during the pandemic.
Personal Assistant to C-Suite Executive
Personal Assistant to C-Suite Executive
J Sainsbury PLC
02/2016-08/2018
- Crafted detailed presentations for board meetings, which were instrumental in securing a £2.5 million investment from stakeholders.
- Introduced a cutting-edge task management system, raising team productivity by 35% through efficient task tracking.
- Supervised the revamping of the executive office space, completing the project 10% under budget and two weeks ahead of deadline.
What to add in your personal assistant CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Key personal assistant CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your personal assistant CV:
HARD SKILLS
Diary management
Travel coordination
Email handling
Minute taking
Data entry
Microsoft Office proficiency
Expense report management
Research skills
File management
Basic accounting
SOFT SKILLS
Communication
Organisation
Time management
Discretion
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Attention to detail
Multi-tasking
Teamwork
Interpersonal skills
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Listing your university education and certificates on your personal assistant CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional personal assistant CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
