Create an Administrative Resume
in 5 Simple Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Administrative Resume

LiveCareer helps job seekers find the right way to word their resumes for jobs in the administrative field. Our Resume Builder provides industry-specific content and prewritten text created by certified resume writers. With our guidance, resume writing is faster and easier than ever.

If your goal is an administrative role, you need to use action words to show off your organizational, time management, and customer service skills. Here are some examples that our Resume Builder might recommend to job seekers who are writing an administrative resume:

  • Performed general office duties, including answering multiline phones, routing telephone calls or messages to appropriate staff, and greeting visitors.
  • Scanned files and eliminated outdated records.
  • Created reports, correspondence, and spreadsheets with Microsoft Office programs.
  • Greeted arriving members professionally.
  • Managed travel itineraries and logistics for accommodations for 65+ employees.
  • Established efficient workflow processes, monitored daily productivity, and implemented modifications to improve overall effectiveness of personnel and activities.

8 Do’s and Don’ts for Writing an Administrative Resume

  • Do point out your experience with computer software and technology. Administrative workers should be capable in most productivity software, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. They should also know scheduling software, such as Outlook or Google Calendar. Organizational tools or apps such as Dropbox or Evernote are also essential in the administrative job-seeker’s arsenal of skills.
  • Do include details about problem-solving. An administrative resume should provide examples of high-level problem-solving, such as managing office supply orders and inventory. Other workers in this field demonstrate problem-solving skills by being a key contact in an office and answering questions from other employees.
  • Do emphasize your interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are important to recruiters for jobs in this field. In fact, 71 percent of hiring managers and HR professionals say they’re more likely to select a candidate based on their emotional intelligence than on their IQ.
  • Do give information about your organizational abilities. Administrative assistants, data clerks, receptionists, and many other job titles in this field rely on organization to succeed. Your resume should have plenty of details about your ability to organize, such as experience creating filing systems, making travel arrangements, organizing events, or managing executive calendars.
  • Don’t forget to customize the resume for the specific administrative position. Administrative jobs are available across all industries, so it’s important to make your resume specific to the industry and company, not just to the job title. For example, working in real estate requires a specific skill set, including scheduling showings, coordinating with agents, and communicating with potential buyers and lenders. Positions in other administrative fields will need to emphasize different skills.
  • Don’t miss an opportunity to show off your attention to detail. Attention to detail in administrative jobs is a must. Don’t mess up by making careless errors on your resume. Even if you have an impressive work history, grammar and spelling errors make it evident that your attention to detail is lacking.
  • Don’t sell yourself short on your accomplishments. Candidates for administrative jobs should tout their accomplishments to stand out in this competitive field. Show off your productivity skills by noting your lightning-fast typing speed and ability to use a multiline phone system.
  • Don’t forget the enthusiasm. Because personality and friendliness matter in this field, feel free to show a little bit of yourself in your resume. Your professional summary at the top of your resume should convey your ambition and dedication to supporting staff members.

Consider These Skills for Your Administrative Resume

One challenge for job seekers in the administrative field is tackling the applicant tracking system (ATS). Because administrative jobs exist across industries, the ATS, a system that automatically reviews resumes for specific keywords and phrases related to the role, is something candidates will likely encounter, especially at larger companies.

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder makes it easy for candidates to optimize their administrative resume for an ATS by suggesting specific details recruiters seek. Here are examples of some of the skills that our builder might recommend to help an administrative resume pass an ATS:

  • Personable and friendly with staff and customers.
  • Expertise with Microsoft Office suite.
  • Positive attitude.
  • Accurate and quick with data entry.
  • Customer service skills.
  • Strong writing and correspondence skills.
  • Self-starter.
  • Skilled with updating business social media pages.
  • Understanding of digital filing systems.
  • Ability to manage an appointment calendar.
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Administrative Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level

Data-Entry Keyers

This data entry job seeker doesn’t have much professional experience, with only work as a retail cashier and a few months as an intern. For that reason, the candidate focuses more on her comprehensive skills and qualifications by using a functional resume template.

This job seeker puts desirable administrative skills at the forefront of her resume, such as organization, attention to detail, and technical skills. She also shines with an effective summary statement that shows off her teamwork skills, positive attitude, and conflict-resolution expertise.

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Mid-Career

Executive Administrative Assistant

This job seeker, who is applying for an executive administrative assistant role, has several years of experience. She emphasizes both her valuable skills and experience by using a combination resume. The candidate’s work history shows a steady career progression from starting as an administrative assistant to being an executive administrative assistant in her most recent job.

This resume gives a thorough overview of how the applicant has brought value to her past roles and paints a picture of a worker who is self-sufficient and gets results when working with executives.

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Executive-Level

Office Manager

In this resume, the key focus is on the applicant’s many years of experience. He demonstrates his leadership skills and ability to get results while managing a busy office. The candidate also lists his college degree in business administration, an important credential for some upper-level administrative roles. His work history details an increasing level of responsibility and a steady career trajectory, making a chronological resume format the best choice here.

This applicant uses quantifiable data, especially important in handling payroll, managing employees, and training new personnel. By using these metrics on his resume, he demonstrates readiness for his next challenge in an administrative role.

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More Administrative Resume Samples

Find resume examples for your desired administrative career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Administrative Jobs

Popular Administrative Job Titles and Number of Workers

Administrative Assistant3,786,800
Office Clerk3,158,500
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1,707,700
Information Clerk1,484,300
Receptionist1,101,500
02.5mm5mm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Popular Industries That Employ Administrative
Staff and Number of Workers

Hospitals911,596
Banks and Finance710,774
Insurance Companies692,642
Grocery Stores616,232
Retail Department and Discount Stores597,792

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

Highest and Lowest Pay by
Industry for Administrative Workers

Highest

Software Publishing$75,181
Pipeline Transportation$70,185
Oil and Gas Extraction$66,940
0K50K100K

Lowest

Bowling Centers$13,207
Beauty Salons$13,373
Nail Salons$15,466

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

Job Outlook by Job Title 2018–2028

Receptionist5% growth
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks4% decline
Administrative Assistant7% decline
Information Clerkno change
Office Clerk4% decline

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Pay for Popular Job Titles

Receptionist$29,140
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,240
Administrative Assistant$38,880
Information Clerk$34,520
Office Clerk$32,730
0K30K60K

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Race and Ethnicity Data for Administrative Workers

White77.1%
Hispanic or Latino16.9%
Black14.4%
Asian4.6%
050%100%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Gender Makeup of Administrative Jobs

Female71%
Male29%
050%100%

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

College Degree Majors for Administrative Workers

Total 3.51M

Business31.2
Social Sciences7.96
Education6.88
Communications6.65
Psychology5.59
Visual & Performing Arts5.02
Health4.5
English3.6
Biology2.88
Protective Services2.85
Engineering2.82
Computer / Information Sciences2.63
History2.01
Liberal Arts & Humanities2
Interdisciplinary Studies1.77
Public Admin / Social Service1.51
Parks & Recreation1.22
Human Sciences1.1
Language & Linguistics1.03
Math & Statistics1
Physical Sciences0.87
Agriculture0.84
Natural Resources0.75
Theology0.6
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

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