Personal Assistant Resume Samples [+ 2 Examples]

Overview

A Personal Assistant — frequently shortened to PA — works with senior management or other executives to provide administrative support on a typically one-to-one basis. A good personal assistant resume is essential to help you stand out from the other applicants and secure one of these varied and desirable roles.

In this article, we'll teach you how to write a killer personal assistant resume by sharing:

• Eye-catching and easy-to-read personal assistant resume templates
• Personal assistant resume samples that make an impact
• How to write a strong personal assistant resume objective
• How to list your personal assistant resume skills, education, and work history

By the end, you'll know exactly how to write a PA resume that gets the attention of hiring managers.

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What is a Personal Assistant?

A personal assistant is similar to an executive or office assistant. The role is varied and involves supporting a manager or executive in a range of administrative capacities. Put simply, you help someone manage their appointments, admin, calls, correspondence, and more, so they can free up their time and do their core or specialist tasks.

One of the main characteristics of a personal assistant job is that you usually assist one person only. The exact duties of the job will depend on the industry or the individual you are helping.

Some PA jobs will require that you help with personal tasks, like shopping, travel arrangements, and running errands. In other positions, you may be delegated projects to do on your boss's behalf.

Personal assistants can be found in all walks of life. Some jobs involve supporting business executives, while other PA roles involve assisting entrepreneurs, celebrities, or any busy professional that needs help with administrative tasks.

Personal Assistant Resume Sample

Maureen W. Washington Summary Reliable, enthusiastic Personal Assistant with strong organizational skills. 5+ years experience assisting Film Producers in daily tasks, responding to correspondence, and scheduling meetings. Other duties include processing expenses, organizing meetings, and providing in-depth research Work Experience Personal Assistant to Film Producer, Zebra Films | June 2016 - Present

• Scheduled meetings with creatives, taking and recording notes
• Read scripts, providing detailed coverages, and followed up with writers and agents
• Researched locations, market fit, and budgets for potential projects
• Screened calls, emails, and other communications
• Took notes and dictation, punching them up and sending them to clients as PDFs
• Coordinated fundraising process, interviewing personnel and ensuring smooth running of the production office
• Helped to secure over $500,000 in funding for a project by cultivating close relationships with investors

Education BA in Event Management, New York State University, NY January 2013 - May 2017

Skills

• Administration
• Prioritizing workload
• Communication
• Judgment
• Research
• Problem-solving
• Google Docs and Google Sheets

Experienced Personal Assistant Resume

Mary Sanders Summary Seasoned, detail-oriented personal assistant with 10+ years of experience. Proven track record of providing first-class support at the executive level. Maintain a high level of organization for our Sales director, scheduling meetings and diary, travel arrangements, and preparing reports for monthly meetings. Committed, hardworking, and proficient in Microsoft Office. Work Experience Personal Assistant to Sales Director, Global Software | June 2015 - Present

• Maintained document and database systems, including assisting the cloud migration process
• Handled travel and accommodation, car rentals, and entertainment
• Prepared reports for executive meetings
• Screened calls, emails, and other communications
• Identified cost-saving opportunities that reduced expenses by 15%

Personal Assistant to Event Coordinator, The Ritz Hotel | August 2012 - June 2015

• Handled all calls, emails, and inquires
• Established close relationships with suppliers and vendors, reducing costs by 5%
• Developed a document filing system that increased efficiency by 50%
• Organized meetings and managed a hectic schedule
• Researched new trends and compiled reports

Education BA in Business, New York State University, NY January 2013 - May 2017

Skills

• Working under pressure
• Multitasking
• Time management
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Microsoft Office

Entry Level Personal Assistant Resume Example

Adam Stephens Objective Enthusiastic, organized, and hardworking individual with considerable experience in office admin and clerical duties. Highly familiar with Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Quick and adaptable learner looking for first opportunity. Bilingual (English & Spanish) Work Experience Intern, Tulsa Property | June 2021 - Present

• Worked on reception; screening and patching through calls to various departments and management
• Received, sorted, and distributed mail to all members of staff
• Posted property ads and liaised with interest parties, and set up meetings and appointments
• Responded to emails and dealt with all inquiries
• Filed and indexed records; prepared credit and criminal background checks

Education BA in Business, Oklahoma State January 2016 - June 2021

• 3.5 GPA
• Head of the Spanish Club

Skills

• Database management
• Social media and other communication tools
• Microsoft Office
• Excellent people skills
• Self-starter
• Quick learner

What Should I Put on my Personal Assistant Resume?

A personal assistant resume should include, in this order:

• Your name and contact details
• A resume summary or objective
• Relevant work experience
• Education
• Personal assistant skills

These five sections will allow you to make a good impression with hiring managers.

How to Write Your Personal Assistant Resume Summary or Objective

A good personal assistant resume summary should be a short, punchy paragraph that demonstrates who you are and why you’re a good candidate for the advertised position. You should include any relevant skills and work experience.

A personal resume objective is similar but takes into account that you don't have work experience to fall back on. If you are switching careers or applying for an entry-level position, you'll need to emphasize your educational achievements or transferable skills.

A resume summary or objective should appear at the top of your resume, just below the contact details. It's said that hiring managers will scan your resume for about 6 seconds. That doesn't give you a lot of time to make a good impression.

So ensure you thoroughly read the job description and write a personalized summary or objective that touches on the job requirements. Additionally, where possible, back up any claims with data. For example, if you’ve managed to save the company significant sums of money by switching suppliers, list the amount of percentage.

Here are a few examples to give you an idea of what hiring managers respond to.

Personal Assistant Resume Sample - Summary

Diligent, discreet, and detail-oriented Personal Assistant with 6+ years experience. Track record of providing seamless support to my director, including managing appointments, communication, scheduling, and travel. Trusted with various administrative projects that included finding and recommending a vendor for a contract worth $1m per year.

Related: Our guide on how to write a resume summary.

Personal Assistant Resume with No Experience - Objective Example

Dedicated and hardworking Business graduate with excellent written and verbal communication. Experience with scheduling and travel planning honed while volunteering at Greenpeace. Seeking a Personal Assistant position to the CEO at Grant Logistics to apply my organizational and problem-solving skills. Proficient in Word and Excel.

How to List Your Job Description on a Personal Assistant Resume

Listing your work experience is just like every other aspect of writing a personal assistant resume: clarity is key. Hiring managers are on the lookout for candidates that fit a particular profile. That profile could be about experience, your work approach, or achievements in a specific niche.

For example, a PA for a finance company will be expected to understand the industry. Financial concepts and regulatory compliance issues can be hard to get your head around. If the hiring manager wants a candidate that hits the ground running, they will want assurances that you have experience in the field.

The best way to list your work experience is reverse-chronologically. So, start with your most recent or current position and work back. Ensure that you include:

• Your specific role at the company
• The company names and location
• Dates worked
• List your typical duties and achievements

Your work experience section is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your competence, knowledge, and expertise. Again, customizing this section for each application is advisable.

If the job post asks for specific things — e.g., knowledge of certain software, experience with specific duties — look back at your work experience and find ways to emphasize anything relevant.

Here are some personal assistant resume examples that deal with presenting work experience.

Personal Assistant Resume Sample - Work Experience

Private Personal Assistant, Mark David | June 2015 - Present

• Prepared personal tax return information at the direction of Mr. Davis' accountant
• Researched and getting quotes for car, home, travel insurance
• Paid household bills, utilities, credit cards, and subscriptions
• Booked restaurants, theater tickets, and other forms of entertainment
• Posted job advertisements, reviewed resumes, and assisted with interviewing candidates
• Managed diary and scheduling appointments
• Event management, including birthdays and a 300-person wedding

Entry Level Personal Assistant Resume Experience Example

Temporary Junior Administrative Assistant to CEO, Cycol Logisitcs | February 2021 - Present

• Organized meetings and schedules, informing participants and reserving conference space
• Welcomed guests at reception
• Typed and printed hardcopy documents for meetings
• Answered and screened calls, replied to emails, and dealt with all other correspondence
• Coordinated conference calls, events, travel arrangements, and booking hotels
• Tracked and processed expenses
• Networked with other assistants both inside and outside our organization

Personal Assistant Resume Job Description Sample

Personal Assistant, Forte & Associates | June 2020 - August 2021

• Planned and organized meetings, preparing meeting materials and taking notes
• Drafted communications
• Monitored emails and correspondence and drafted replies
• Organized and maintained partners' diaries, making appointments and keeping everything running on schedule
• Liaised with clients and other partners on behalf of direct manager
• Prepared for trials by cataloging evidence and paperwork
• Organized briefs, appeals, and pleas
• Actied as first point of contact when partners were unavailable

PA Resume Example

Personal Assistant, XYZ Corp | June 2020 - Present

• Coordinated team building events; locatied and secured venues, managed payments, and coordinated attendance
• Updated social media content, automated post timing, and responded to comments
• Managed email, calls, and other correspondence
• Greeted vendors, VIPs, interview candidates, and other visitors at reception
• Performed research for managers and compiled other information

Personal Assistant Resume Skills

Personal assistants need a mix of hard and soft skills. Many of the key attributes will be related to a specific position, while others will be more general.

For example, a good blend will include some administrative, communication, financial, technology, and personal skills.

Top 20 Personal Assistant Resume Skills in 2022

1. Administration
2. Schedule Maintenance
3. Travel Planning & Arrangement
4. Project Management
5. Correspondence
6. Email Inbox Management
7. Networking
8. Written Communication
9. Inquiry Handling
10. Screening Calls
11. Accounting
12. Budgeting
13. Sourcing Goods
14. Microsoft Office
15. Database Entry and Management
16. Report Writing
17. Discretion
18. Time Management
19. Multi-tasking
20. Interpersonal skills

How to List Education on Your Personal Assistant Resume

Listing your education on a personal assistant resume is relatively straightforward. You need to record:

• The school or university
• Graduation date
• Course name or details where applicable.

Here are a few examples:

Personal Assistant Resume Education Sample

Education New York Community College, NY | August 2014 - May 2018 Associate Degree in Business Administration and Management

Personal Assistant Resume with No Experience Education Example

Education College of Southern Nevada | August 2017 - May 2021 BA in Event Management

How to Become a Personal Assistant

There are several routes you can take to become a personal assistant. Some people start out in a clerical or administrative position in a company and work their way up. Administrative assistant or secretarial roles are common stepping stone positions.

Another popular path is to do an accredited personal assistant certificate or diploma. These programs can take as little as a few months or a year and provide you with relevant skills for the job.

What Should You Study to Become a Personal Assistant?

While personal assistants don't need a degree, qualifications can help in many situations. Depending on the industry, specific knowledge of training will be an advantage.

A degree in business or economics is an excellent general qualification that will assure a hiring manager that you are a good candidate. Additionally, qualifications in engineering or other STEM subjects might prepare you for roles in more specialized industries.

But remember, you won't always need a degree. Experience and past achievements are worth a lot as a personal assistant. So don't shy away from sending your personal assistant resume forward for a job unless it's a strict requirement.

Final Thoughts

Personal assistants need to be organized, professional, and great at communicating. A well-structured and easy-to-read personal assistant resume can assure a hiring manager that you are a worthy candidate. Use our personal assistant resume template to ensure your information is presented clearly. Also, remember to read the job posting thoroughly to match any keywords or concepts that the employer requires.