Administrative Assistant CV Keywords: Skills & ATS Terms to Include

Admin roles attract many applicants with similar experience. ATS filters rely on software names and core duties, so list the tools you use daily and quantify the volume of work you handle.

Not sure which of these your CV is missing? Upload it with a administrative assistant job description and get your ATS score and missing keywords free.

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Administrative Assistant hard skills

Core competencies recruiters and ATS filters search for.

Diary managementCalendar managementMinute takingData entryDocument managementTravel bookingInvoice processingOffice managementRecord keepingReport preparationEvent coordinationFiling systems

Administrative Assistant tools & software

Use the exact product names from the job ad.

Microsoft WordMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookPowerPointMicrosoft TeamsGoogle WorkspaceSharePointXeroSageZoom

Administrative Assistant certifications & qualifications

Write the full name and the acronym, with the year.

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)Level 3 Business AdministrationTyping speed (WPM) certificateILM Level 3 (for office managers)

Administrative Assistant soft skills

Show these through achievements rather than listing them alone.

OrganisationDiscretionMultitaskingWritten communicationReliabilityProactivity

Administrative Assistant action verbs

Start each bullet with one of these instead of "Responsible for".

CoordinatedManagedOrganisedProcessedScheduledStreamlinedMaintainedPreparedSupportedIntroduced

Weak vs strong administrative assistant CV bullets

Managed the director's diary.

Managed diaries for 3 directors, coordinating 40+ meetings a week across 4 time zones.

Processed invoices.

Processed 250 supplier invoices a month in Xero and introduced a tracker that cut late payments by 70%.

Examples are illustrative. Only use figures you can back up in an interview.

ATS tip for administrative assistant CVs

Name the software versions employers ask for ("Microsoft Excel — pivot tables, VLOOKUP") rather than "good IT skills", which ATS cannot match.

How to use these keywords

  1. Start from the job description, not this list. Keywords that appear in the ad matter most.
  2. Only include skills you genuinely have. You will be asked about them.
  3. Put the most important keywords in both your Skills section and your experience bullets.
  4. Use the employer's exact wording (e.g. "Microsoft Word", not a synonym).
  5. Keep formatting simple: single column, standard headings, no text inside images.

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