If you’re a calm, cool head that keeps everything organised behind the scenes, then becoming a personal assistant might be the right choice for you. There was a time when the role of personal assistant was better known as “secretary”, but the job has changed a lot in the last few decades. What hasn’t changed is that many managers still need someone to help them to navigate a range of tasks. That’s where you come in!
So how do you show you’re the right person for the job through your CV? Resume.io is here to help with a range of CV examples. In this personal assistant CV example and writing guide we’ll cover the following topics:
- What does a personal assistant do?
- How to write a personal assistant CV (tips and tricks)
- The best format for your personal assistant CV
- Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional CV layout and design hints.
What does a personal assistant do?
A personal assistant is an indispensable asset to a busy manager. They do a lot of the tasks needed to keep their boss’ job running smoothly. Here are a few of the tasks you can expect to do as a personal assistant:
- Organising your manager’s calendar
- Coordinating travel arrangements
- Screening communications such as calls and emails
- Making sure visitors are comfortable
How to write a personal assistant CV
A personal assistant’s CV should be simple and clear. After all, it’s your first chance to show the organised communication skills you would bring to the role. Start with these essential CV components:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
Choosing the best CV format for a personal assistant
The best CV format might depend on the industry where you’re applying to become a personal assistant. Regardless of the industry, it’s still your organisation and attention to detail that will be important. So the standard reverse chronological format is recommended.
If you don’t have much professional history to include yet, then you might want to consider a functional CV format. This format allows you to focus more on your education and skills.
CV summary example
The CV summary is your chance to capture the hiring manager’s attention and keep them reading. Use these 3-5 sentences to highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to this personal assistant position. Don’t forget to mention if you have specialist skills in a certain industry such as medical or legal.
Dynamic and reliable personal assistant with 8+ years of experience organising schedules, travel and administrative tasks to optimise productivity. Excellent interpersonal communication skills with a passion for working with people.
Get inspiration from summaries in industries that are relevant to yours by checking out our accountant CV sample, receptionist CV sample, or our graphic designer CV sample.
Employment history sample
Ideally, the employment history section will be the longest section of your personal assistant CV. The hiring manager wants to see clear examples of relevant experience that would make you an indispensable right hand person to your new manager.
Add a clear subheading for each role that includes your job title, employer name, dates worked and location. Remember to show off your top class attention to detail by making it neat!
Under each position’s subheading, write 3-5 bullet points detailing your important duties. Try to describe what you did and why you did it well, rather than just listing what you were responsible for. Add numbers or statistics wherever possible to quantify how you exceeded your goals. Check out our adaptable personal assistant CV sample below for inspiration on how to do this.
Personal Assistant at Anderson Group, London
January 2016 - March 2022
- Served as personal assistant to the director of this busy architectural firm.
- Helped to ensure office productivity by optimising front desk procedures.
- Managed director's office calendar and client bookings to make sure there was no overlap with personal time.
- Greeted visitors, clients and contractors ahead of scheduled meetings.
- Responded to emails quickly and provided necessary information to ease director's workload.
- Answered calls, connected indviduals and recorded messages as needed.
- Assisted with ad hoc/team projects as needed.
Receptionist at Sheffield Club, London
February 2014 - January 2016
- Served as a friendly and helpful first point of contact in this busy social club.
- Worked proactively to ensure guest satisfaction and the smooth running of the front office department.
- Offered information and concierge services to guests.
- Answered phones, directed calls and dealt with inquiries promptly and efficiently.
- Handled bookings for suites and meeting rooms.
- Distributed all incoming mail to appropriate staff.
- Provided tours to new guests and visitors.
- Maintained high standards of cleanliness and organisation in the reception area.
CV skills example
For a role like a personal assistant who is expected to be a swiss army knife of skills, it’s important not to overlook this section. Aim to include a mix of hard skills and soft skills. The latter can be really important for a job like a personal assistant where the way you communicate is so important. Below you’ll find our CV example for a personal assistant’s skills section.
- Ability to Multitask
- Fast Learner
- Ability to Work in a Team
- Computer Skills
- Effective Time Management
- Customer Service
- Knowledge of Office Technology
Hard skills are technical skills, while soft skills are more about your personality traits. Lean into your soft skills or other transferable skills if you don’t have much experience yet.
Personal assistant CV education example
There isn’t necessarily a formal training you need to complete to become a personal assistant. While a business-related degree or diploma can help, it’s often not obligatory. Just list your secondary education and high education degree, if you have one, in reverse chronological order. See the education section from our CV example below.
This is also the section where you can show off any education accolades such as awards, certificates, or relevant training.
DipHE, University of London
September 2012 - May 2014
CV layout and design
Don’t underestimate the power of a professionally presented CV. A simple layout that illustrates your knack for efficiency is the best way to go. However, it’s worth taking a moment to research if the job you’re applying for is in a domain with industry-specific CV standards.
You can start your research into industry-specific CV standards with our range of CV templates.
Key takeaways for a personal assistant CV
- A well prepared personal assistant CV is the first place to show off your attention to detail and organisation.
- Offer quantifiable examples of your experience in your employment history.
- Specific experience isn’t always necessary, so be ready to lean into your soft skills if needed.
- Check out our adaptable personal assistant CV sample to make sure yours looks the part.
