Administrator CV Examples & UK Templates

Not minding your own business can be a good thing if it helps an organisation and the people working there thrive. As an administrator, you make sure that the wheels of the business keep on turning, no matter what bumps there are in the road. 

But how can you prove your worth? Your administrator CV must capture the whole gamut of employer expectations you are equipped to meet. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. 

CV guide for an administrator CV

Boost your chances of getting hired with resume.io. Our guides and CV examples cover over 170 professions, and our CV builder makes it easier than ever to create a compelling CV. Show off your admin skills and let the hiring manager know you’re the perfect fit for the job.

This CV guide and corresponding administrator CV example will cover the following:

• How to write an administrator CV
• Choosing the right CV format for administrators
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your admin experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right CV design/layout
• What the administrator job market looks like, and what salary you can expect

How to write an administrator CV

What virtually all applications have in common, regardless of occupation, applies to your administrator CV too. As you will see from our CV example, it should be organised to include these essential components, ideally on one page:

• The CV header
• The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The CV skills section
• The education section

We’ll be taking a closer look at each section later. But first, we can’t emphasise enough that you need to create a customised version of your CV every time you apply for a different administrator position. Here are some strategies to help you stand out: 

• Adapt your CV. Few administrator jobs are exactly alike, and identical requirements — as outlined verbatim for more than one advertised position — would be rare. Addressing the employer’s specific needs conveys that you’re an excellent fit for this position.
• Showcase your administrative wins. Tangible results boost your credibility. Shine a light on any administrative systems or processes you have improved, leadership responsiblities, or any awards received for strong performance.
• Get past the ATS. Using the right keywords wherever possible in your CV will improve its chances of being read by a human if parsed through an Applicant Tracking System.

Choosing the right CV format for an administrator

Job applicants in all fields can choose from three possible formats to organise their CV information. For the majority, the most familiar reverse chronological order, emphasising work experience, is the best option. It’s also what prospective employers prefer. It’s the most straightforward way to review your job history, listed under employer headings.

For those whose work history does not follow a linear pattern — for example, freelancers or others working independently as consultants — a functional resume (or skills-based CV) approach may be suitable. Relevant qualifications are presented in relation to transferable skills. The hybrid CV layout is another option that balances both chronological and functional elements. 

If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at the wide selection of CV templates in our CV builder and choose one that suits you. We also have plenty of CV examples using each format as well. 

When it comes to the look of your CV, you should always opt for a simple layout. The aim is to make sure that the hiring manager can quickly and easily find the information they need.

Include your contact information

You need to make sure that the hiring manager can easily reach you. Your CV header contains your basic contact details so that they can do just that. 

Here’s what you’ll need to include when you get started: 

• Full name & title. Add your first and last name, plus the job title of ‘Administrator’
• Professional email address. Be sure to use a clean, suitable email address. Avoid any nicknames or jazzy words here.
• Phone number. Add your mobile number. However, you should make sure that the answer phone message is acceptable.
• Location. Contrary to popular belief, you no longer need to include your whole address. Instead, just add your city or town and county or country.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn is up to date, you can also include it in this section.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: Adding this detail could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: You don’t need to include private details, such as whether you have children, your marital status, your NI number, or your passport number.
• Social media. Avoid adding links to social media, such as Instagram and Facebook.

Make use of a summary

Your CV summary is 2-4 sentences. It’s a tightly telling synopsis of your most relevant and relatable qualifications — a ‘why hire me?’ snapshot of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. And yet, it’s not all about you. Rather, this mini-success story should cast prospective employers into the next unwritten chapter. 

Essentially, this statement speaks to the heart of what this employer needs from its next administrator. How do you know what that is? Go back to the posted job ad and read it again. Beyond keywords, look for clues in the language that will help you speak like one of the team.

Get a sense of what the employer expects and values most. See if you pick up on any other vibe — not just about the place and the people, but how you would fit in. Then, for the same purpose, research everything you can find online and in publications.

Your profile’s initial hook should find recruiters compelled to read more. But already, they should have the feeling it would be a big mistake not to shortlist you for an interview. The reaction you’re after: ‘This person really gets it!’

You can use action verbs in the simple past or present tense to grab the reader’s attention. Impactful words include delivered, managed, excelled, succeeded, and created, for example.

Don’t simply repeat information that is elsewhere on your CV. Instead, take the chance to demonstrate your innate value. For example, “Leveraged advanced Microsoft Excel skills to reduce reporting time by 30% through automated templates and data analysis.”

You can find adaptable administrator example summaries below:

Outline your admin experience

Start by outlining your prior roles and then add descriptive bullet points beneath each. Relevance must guide your decisions about what to include or omit from your CV’s employment history section. Be selective in reserving this space for your shiniest work experience highlights. 

Find a way to showcase your past achievements in terms that resonate with your future employer. Everything listed here should give a sense of how bosses and coworkers will benefit from your expertise and finesse when office activities and projects run smoothly. 

Descriptive and dynamic action verbs are integral to your concisely precise language. Keep the focus on contributions, accomplishments and outcomes, as opposed to job duties. 

Talk about what you did, not what you were responsible for. Discuss tangible results that could be replicated in your next administrator role. Incorporate numbers to quantify deliverables to your credit, such as cost savings or efficiency improvements.

With that in mind, here’s what not to do when working on this section: 

• "Significantly reduced reporting turnaround times.”
• “Coordinated meetings and events.”
• “Played a key role in a successful administrative project.”

The above statements could apply to any administrator. So, what is it that makes you special? You can instantly upgrade your bullet points by adding more colour, as follows.

• “Reduced reporting times by 30% by using customised MS Excel templates.”
• “Coordinated over 100 successful events and meetings”
• “Automated repetitive office procedures via ERP software, leading to significant cost savings and improved efficiency.”

Take a look at the administrator employment history CV sample below:

How to write an admin CV with no experience 

Do you lack direct experience in admin? Remember that everyone has to start somewhere. What you lack in employment history, you can make up for in skills and passion. In this case, we recommend using a functional skills-based CV layout instead of the traditional option. 

Here are some of the ways you can catch the reader’s attention: 

• Focus on your drive. What has made you want to go into admin? Are you a pro organiser? Do you love spreadsheets? Whatever the case, talk about it now.
• Talk about your skills. It’s most likely that you have a lot of transferable skills from previous roles. For example, if you have ever worked in a customer-facing role, you will have gained many interpersonal skills. Detail them in your admin CV.
• Include any volunteer work. Have you volunteered before now? If you have, you can include it on your CV to make up for any employment gaps you may have. 
• Software knowledge. Administrators should have a decent grasp of software, such as Microsoft Office Suite. Talk about times when you’ve used these programs in your work. 

Don’t let your lack of experience hold you back. Use the tips we’ve added here to help you to get ahead and grab the reader’s attention.  

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great administrator

Take the employer’s perspective when developing your CV skills list. Think beyond the obvious generic abilities that recruiters will rightfully take for granted in all job applicants. Imagine yourself already hired and consider the types of activities and functions you will be managing. 

Remember too that not everything you accomplish will be in isolation. That means soft skills have an influential place on your CV, alongside the hard skills that are essential to be an outstanding administrator. Think about the strengths that will best enable you to communicate and collaborate in this organisation.

Our CV builder provides a wide range of pre-selected skills to choose from, as well as the option to upload your own and add proficiency levels.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our CV template for administrators.

Listing your skills is one thing—but you also want to provide some context. If possible, you should hint at your key skills elsewhere on your administrator CV. Here’s how: 

• Showcase your communication skills by writing a clear and concise CV. That way, the hiring manager will instantly know you have what it takes. 
• Talk about the software you’ve used for various tasks. For example, you might detail how you’ve used MS Excel to speed up administrative processes.
• Hint at your leadership skills by talking about how you’ve trained new recruits when they joined the business.

Looking for some more skills to include? The job advert is a great place to find extra skills that you can include on your CV specific to the job posting.

Detail your education & relevant administration certifications

Administrators are likely to come from widely different education and training backgrounds. In any case, the education section of your CV should be straightforward. List your most relevant and recent qualifications in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level. 

Here are some of the things you might include: 

• High school education. Only include your high school in the absence of postsecondary graduation.
• Degrees. Business degrees are typical, but some candidates might have graduated in an industry-specific field such as healthcare, education, finance or IT.
• Apprenticeships. If you’ve done any business admin apprenticeships—such as Level 3 Business Administrator or Level 4 Associate Project Manager—list them now.
• Software training. Don’t overlook diploma programs, internships and on-the-job training you’ve completed, along with workshops or online courses. Examples include Excel Specialist Certification or the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) course.
• Professional development courses. These show your commitment to continued learning and networking. For instance, you may have a Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice or a Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management.
• Online learning. There are plenty of other options available for admin courses. You may have used Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera to further your employability.

Let’s take a look at how these may appear on an admin CV:

Pick the right CV layout and design for an admin CV

An orderly layout and eye-pleasing design details will start working in your favour before recruiters dive into your CV content. A clean, polished and clutter-free page automatically looks inviting to read. It sends a reassuring message about your regard for every ‘put-together’ nuance of an administrator’s role in keeping all office activities on track. 

Go leaner with text-dense blocks by amplifying white space on the page. Stick to the default one-inch margins, and ensure line and paragraph spacing is adequate.

Be sure your choices of fonts, text formatting and graphic touches enhance readability. The goal is to attract attention, not distract. Take a look at our CV examples for more inspiration. 

Admin text-only CV example

Admin job market and outlook

The administration job market is under threat. According to a report from HR Magazine, administrator roles are expected to decline by 2035. This may be due to the rise in AI technology, which is able to quickly process many high-scale admin tasks. 

If you are hoping to land a job in this sector, you should make sure you’re a cut above the rest. Fewer jobs mean harsher competition. Taking the time to spruce up your CV, upskill, and gain extra qualifications could make all of the difference. 

What type of salary you can expect as an administrator

The average annual salary of an administrator in the UK is £20,752. However, this depends on which sector you work in and your location. 

If you hope to make more, it’s worth looking at ways to expand your range of skills, learn how to use new programs, and take on managerial responsibilities. 

Key takeaways for building an administrator CV

An exceptional administrator CV, that reflects the breadth and depth of your expertise and experience, can give you a competitive edge as a job candidate. Strategically target a new version of your CV to each job application and align it with the employer’s specific needs and expectations.

Aim to make a direct, immediate ‘hire me’ connection with recruiters in your CV summary, reinforced in the work history section and skills list. Want to stand out from the crowd? Consider using a pre-made CV template to produce a high-quality, reader-friendly document that visually sets you apart from other applicants.

The first step is to check out our online CV builder and create an interview-winning CV now.