When applying for a personal assistant role, the hiring manager will be analysing every word. They need a saviour to help lighten their load. Is that you?
HR might have their views on the content of the personal assistant cover letter, but it is the opinion of your future boss that will hold sway. Apart from your professional qualifications, it is hard to know what they are looking for, so our best advice is “be yourself.” They will look beyond the qualifications and professional claims to try to discern what you are like to work with - that matters most to them. Don't give too much information - TMI will sink your application.
Can you handle insane amounts of work? Are you calm in a crisis? Will you just get on with the job when things are normal but have the courage to speak up when issues arise? Rising to a challenge is near the top of the job requirements — you shouldn’t need your boss to rescue you. If you facilitate their success, you will learn a lot along the way.
You are not a glorified gatekeeper. You get to know your boss and you’ll handle a lot of the stuff that would swamp them. You love talking with a wide range of colleagues, from varying seniorities and functions.
All the above is impossible to convey in a CV. The free-flowing nature of a personal assistant cover letter, on the other hand, is the perfect medium to describe just what a difference you are going to make to your future bosses working life. In this writing guide, we explore:
- How to write a PA cover letter to complement your CV
- How to structure the letter to convey the right messages
- Avoiding mistakes that may harm your application.
Here’s are some other admin cover letters may be worth considering:
Best format for a personal assistant cover letter
The personal assistant cover letter should follow a set format. Each of the following cover letter sections will include part of your career story:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
The comprehensive cover letter guide shares lots of detailed advice about every aspect of writing a cover letter. The smallest details matter when you are a personal assistant, so give some thought to the minutiae of the cover letter. What font do you want to use? What size should it be? How long should the cover letter be? What design would you choose?
This personal assistant cover letter sample is worth consideration:
Dear Mrs Rizzoli
Working as a personal assistant within a financial services firm demands polished communication skills, process-led organizational skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
I know that Harberson Bank values innovative thinking and I certainly value this working philosophy having started my career at Forebury. When you work in a boutique provider with a long list of blue-chip clients, you have to learn to approach your work differently.
In my previous role as personal assistant to the Forebury Finance Director, I was responsible for managing schedules, making travel arrangements, handling correspondence, and providing administrative support.
One of my key tasks was to prepare all necessary documents and information for Mrs Brayson prior to meetings. I took evening classes in finance to help with my understanding, which enhanced my minute taking and allowed me to discuss the content of the meeting on a different level. I was also trusted to conduct research before many meetings.
I know the importance of building a strong working relationship and trust between executives and personal assistants. The delicate nature of financial services deals means that you need to be comfortable with confidential information – I have never had any data protection or privacy issue.
After moving to Manchester, I am keen to continue my professional development in a dynamic environment such as Harberson. I would welcome the opportunity of an interview to outline how my skills may be of use.
Sincerely,
Ana Cordero
Cover letter header
Sharing your contact information in the cover letter header might sound like basic advice, but you would be surprised at how many people assume that this should only be on their CVs. You never know when the hiring manager might decide to invite you to an interview. Include your full name, email, and mobile phone number. There is no need to include details of social media – if they want to, they will find you.
There is no need to include your full home address — there are potential data protection issues here. You will be asked to provide it at the offer stage. Including an “inside address” of the employer is also old-fashioned, not to mention a waste of precious space.
Cover letter greeting
The level of formality of a greeting for any cover letter is assumed. Start with “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Surname” and you can’t go wrong. Try to find out the name of the hiring manager — the personal touch makes all the difference in a PA’s role.
Your detective powers will be required on a regular basis in the role, so don’t be lazy in this situation. The name of the hiring manager will often be included in the job description, but if in doubt give reception a call to check it. Oh, and make sure that you spell it correctly. Attention to detail matters for any personal assistant.
Cover letter introduction
The introduction of the personal assistant cover letter should outline your motivations for the role. Be clear about how you go about your work and let the hiring manager make up their own mind about you. A good decision for them is likely to be a good decision for you, but they have the unilateral power of choice at this stage.
Share what sets you apart. What is it like to work with you? Everyone has a different approach at work, so be as open and honest as possible. This is not a typical sales pitch. The relationship has to work, so open your heart and hope that they will want to find out more. If the hiring manager feels that this is a journey of mutual discovery, they will be more honest about the role and you can both make a fully informed decision.
Make sure that you share relevant examples within the cover letter introduction. Talk about similar industries that you have worked in, or projects that you have assisted. Your future boss will hope that you won't have a huge learning curve ahead of you. Equally, it is important to show that you are eager to learn new skills - you will be able to grow alongside your boss if you can help them to rise up the corporate ranks.
Dear Mrs Rizzoli
Working as a personal assistant within a financial services firm demands polished communication skills, process-led organizational skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters should focus on your specific accomplishments in your previous roles. Do not simply parrot the duties from the job description. When did you come to the rescue? Do you thrive under pressure? Which parts of the role do you enjoy most? Include personal stories with warmth and personality.
Personal assistants significantly benefit not only their boss but also the wider organisation. Your cover letter should highlight this value, demonstrating how your problem-solving reduces your boss's worries. Top assistants are selfless and generous, often saying “no” to others to streamline their boss's workday and aid focus. Use examples in your cover letter to show how you enhance the boss’s relationships and lighten their load.
Begin the stories that you wish to continue at the interview. You are in control over what you share, so make sure that it is the sort of thing that you will be doing in your future role. You will need to take the time to tailor every PA cover letter, but it will be worth it.
I know that Harberson Bank values innovative thinking and I certainly value this working philosophy having started my career at Forebury. When you work in a boutique provider with a long list of blue-chip clients, you have to learn to approach your work differently.
In my previous role as personal assistant to the Forebury Finance Director, I was responsible for managing schedules, making travel arrangements, handling correspondence, and providing administrative support.
One of my key tasks was to prepare all necessary documents and information for Mrs Brayson prior to meetings. I took evening classes in finance to help with my understanding, which enhanced my minute taking and allowed me to discuss the content of the meeting on a different level. I was also trusted to conduct research before many meetings.
I know the importance of building a strong working relationship and trust between executives and personal assistants. The delicate nature of financial services deals means that you need to be comfortable with confidential information – I have never had any data protection or privacy issue.
How to close a personal assistant cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The conclusion of a personal assistant cover letter should end with one last hint that you could be exactly the person that the hiring manager is looking for.
Let them know why you are keen on the role and share your curiosity about finding out more during a potential interview. More to the point, you are keen to meet them and see how you would get on. This call-to-action acts as a spur for them to get in touch and arrange next steps. Try to adopt a hopeful tone — you can’t possibly know what they are looking for, so you cannot afford to be sure of your chances.
After moving to Manchester, I am keen to continue my professional development in a dynamic environment such as Harberson. I would welcome the opportunity of an interview to outline how my skills may be of use.
Sincerely,
Ana Cordero
Personal assistant cover letter with no experience
Are you new to the working world? If you’re starting your career, writing a persuasive cover letter may be what it takes to land you an interview. Since you lack real-world experience, focus on the skills that you are bringing to the table. What is your USP? Consider the ways that you can make the boss’ job easier and shine the spotlight on them.
You will likely have worked with plenty of people before - share your transferable personal assistant skills by telling a couple of stories around how you have helped senior mangers previously. It is important that you show an appreciation of what the job entails.
Avoiding basic mistakes in a PA application letter
- Double down on punctuation and grammar. When you are writing a few carefully constructed sentences, there is no excuse for spelling or grammatical slip-ups.
- Keep it professional but friendly. Much has been written in this guide about the importance of relationship skills, but there must always be a professional edge.
- Don’t just talk about yourself. Your job is measured by your impact on those around you. Discuss how you improved the lives of your previous bosses.
Key takeaways
- Write a personal assistant cover letter that outlines who you are in detail.
- Share examples that fit the job description to make a compelling case.
- Motivations matter. There needs to be a personal connection, so share as much personality as possible to enable the hiring manager to make a decision.
