Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

Writing an administrative assistant cover letter? An administrative assistant is a professional responsible for assisting with administrative tasks within a business or company. The administrative assistant provides support to supervisors, managers, executives, and other employees. The administrative tasks include distributing information around the office, answering phones, taking notes or memos, and maintaining filing systems.

An administrative assistant has various job titles. Including admin assistant, executive assistant, executive administrative assistant, office manager, and administrative support. And senior administrative assistant, legal secretary (in a law office), medical secretary (in a medical office or hospital) executive secretary, and virtual assistant.

Before writing a cover letter for an administrative assistant role, it’s important to review common job duties and responsibilities. This will help write an effective cover letter. A letter that displays experience in the administrative assistant role. Or familiarity with the requirements.

Job duties and responsibilities

Job duties and responsibilities for an administrative assistant include:

  • Assist senior managers with work environment changes, disciplines, and improvements.
  • Work closely with senior management to oversee all aspects of the work environment.
  • Assist with travel arrangements, scheduling meetings, rescheduling meetings, and other appointment tasks.
  • Greet and assist office visitors.
  • Use computer skills to generate reports.
  • Answer phones, make appointments, and schedule support calls.
  • Work closely with other executive administrative assistants.
  • Assist with administrative duties as assigned.

Michael Page describes administrative assistants being valued for their these skills. “Organized approach, communication skills, personable phone manner, team ethic, time management, honesty, discretion, and computer literacy.” And while Robert Half, a leading recruiting agency describes administrative assistants as needing these five key skills. “Industry knowledge, expertise in software and social media, artful articulation, budget perceptiveness, and ability to display grace under pressure.”

As an administrative assistant, extensive experience isn’t required. A great cover letter will speak to work experience related to the administrative duties. Or clerical duties that the job description refers to. For example, having previous front desk experience can help the hiring manager read about in both the cover letter and resume. If the candidate has no prior work experience, they should write about the administrative assistant position's relevant skills.

How to Write an Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

When writing an administrative assistant cover letter, it can help approach the letter using quantitative figures or career accomplishments. Use relevant work experiences that display transferable skills or soft skills desired by the prospective employer. The letter should get written in active voice style writing. Grammarly.com defines active voice style writing as having “a strong, direct, and clear tone.”

Telling stories in a cover letter is far more engaging than listing skills. A job applicant can display hard skills, soft skills, and transferable skills more effectively through storytelling. Read through the job description of the administrative assistant role. Determine what hard and soft skills are required. Then consider a previous work experience that displays the competencies that the potential employer is looking for. For example, organizational skills and work experience examples of organizational skills were used to drive a business result.

Tip: There is no such thing as a “perfect cover letter.” Only a “good cover letter” that displays to a hiring manager key administrative skills required for the job. Always use a unique cover letter for each job application. Think through each specific job requirement displayed in the job advertisement. And use a relevant work example to display the abundance of having that key skill.

The administrative job function inside a business helps the company achieve its goals by generating workplace efficiency. If available, write about the efficiencies and goals that were achieved for a previous employer. Ensure that the accomplishments referred to aren't listed in the career objective or resume summary portion of the resume. To determine which accomplishments to refer to as a job seeker. Look through each qualification and requirement in the job description and perform research on the company culture. This valuable information will make it easier to write an effective letter.

Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

Below is a cover letter sample and cover letter example for an administrative assistant position.

Ryan Jeffrey
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
639-958-8847

May 1st, 2020

Beth Colts
Apple, Inc.
Hiring Manager
[email protected]

Dear Beth:

This role stuck out to me during my job search. I noticed that the role is seeking a professional who has experience working with administrative tasks. And helping executive staff members with cultural development. I enjoy and value developing great internal culture and recognizing how valuable it is to the company's outcomes.

This is something I have experience with. I have assisted both the HR teams and senior executives embrace and change company culture over time. One simple rule that we followed was embracing making mistakes. We hung signs across the office and trained employees regularly on what this meant, so they didn’t feel their job was at risk. We had great success with this. I also handled all regular clerical duties and administrative duties that each department requested (data entry, office management, filing organization, and more).

You can see more details of this success and other examples of what I can bring to the company in my enclosed resume. I’ve included the attached resume for your review. If any other pieces of information are required to fill out the job application, please let me know.

I’d love to interview as soon as next week, if possible. I’m available at your convenience.

Thanks, Beth.
Ryan

Entry-Level Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example (No Experience)

Below is a cover letter sample and cover letter example for an administrative assistant position.

Colt Sagan
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
633-958-8847

May 1st, 2020

Ian Smith
Microsoft, Inc
Hiring Manager
[email protected]

Dear Ian:

The role stuck out to me during my job search. I noticed that the role is looking for a professional who has a passion for filling systems and can organize large quantities of data. And while I don't have any prior administrative assistant working experience, I would like to highlight a few key skills that I believe would be a strong addition to this role.

I'd like to say that I have extensive typing skills, note-taking skills, and have worked closely with project managers. Project managers who needed administrative-like assistance in the past. I can type at roughly 90WPM, with a high degree of accuracy. And I find myself passionate about projects where I'm able to use data, insights, and clerical tasks to get the job done. I don't want to say "I'm a quick learner" like every other candidate. What I would rather say is that I'm very passionate about learning. And I will apply myself.

And while I don't have any prior examples of administrative experience in my resume. You can find a few jobs where I've successfully delivered success in the role. And deliver for my supervisor and manager. I’ve included the attached resume for your review. If any other pieces of information are required to fill out the job application, please let me know.

I’d love to interview as soon as next week, if possible. I’m available at your convenience.

Thanks, Ian.
Ryan

Part-Time Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

Below is a cover letter sample and cover letter example for a part-time administrative assistant position.

Sam Adams
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
333-408-0837

May 1st, 2020

Beth Colts
Apple, Inc.
Hiring Manager
[email protected]

Dear Beth:

This role stuck out to me during my job search. I'm looking for a part-time administrative position, and this role seemed like a great fit for my background. I have extensive experience managing office tasks, clerical duties, and other administrative functions for supervisors, managers, and executives.

I'd like to mention that I have experience helping executive staff members with this. I have assisted both the HR teams, software engineering teams, and senior executives embrace and change company culture over time. One simple rule that we followed was embracing making mistakes. It's okay to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and advance ourselves. We had great success with this message and embracing ways to encourage employees to make "healthy mistakes." I also handled all regular clerical duties and administrative duties that each department requested (data entry, office management, filing organization, and more).

You can see more details of this success and other examples of what I can bring to the company in my enclosed resume. I’ve included the attached resume for your review. If any other pieces of information are required to fill out the job application, please let me know.

I’d love to interview as soon as next week, if possible. I’m available at your convenience.

Thanks, Beth.
Ryan

administrative assistant cover letter example

Administrative Assistant Job Boards

The following job boards are "niche" job boards where an administrative assistant job seeker might go to place an open position. These job boards are perfect places for job seekers to find open positions and continue the job search. Starting with a "niche" job board before applying to a job advertisement on national job boards like Indeed or Monster.com. Often, higher caliber employers with a greater passion for the industry and the position use "niche" job boards.

Top administrative assistant job boards

administrative assistant free cover letter template and download

Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Template

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author: patrick algrim
About the author

Patrick Algrim is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), NCDA Certified Career Counselor (CCC), and general career expert. Patrick has completed the NACE Coaching Certification Program (CCP). And has been published as a career expert on Forbes, Glassdoor, American Express, Reader's Digest, LiveCareer, Zety, Yahoo, Recruiter.com, SparkHire, SHRM.org, Process.st, FairyGodBoss, HRCI.org, St. Edwards University, NC State University, IBTimes.com, Thrive Global, TMCnet.com, Work It Daily, Workology, Career Guide, MyPerfectResume, College Career Life, The HR Digest, WorkWise, Career Cast, Elite Staffing, Women in HR, All About Careers, Upstart HR, The Street, Monster, The Ladders, Introvert Whisperer, and many more. Find him on LinkedIn.

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