So, you’re an administrator – or what we call an Office Rockstar! Undeniably, many still deem administrators as “just” secretaries or customer service representatives. But in reality, professionals in the administrative domains wear many hats and are the backbone of most businesses. They schedule appointments, organise events, manage projects, order supplies, maintain records, and support both customers and employees. No two days are alike for an administrator!

But that is not the most challenging part of the job. The most difficult task for an administrator is to keep up with the constantly changing landscape of the business world. Businesses are always adapting and evolving, which means that administrators need to be able to change with them. One must adapt to new technologies, processes, and ways of doing things. So, if you crave challenge and variety in your career, the administration industry is perfect for you!

In case you’re wondering where to start, the answer by crafting the perfect resume to set you apart from the rest.

You’ve come to the right space if you’re eager to unravel the art of crafting the perfect administration industry resume. The good news is The Perfect Resume team are administration industry resume writing experts, catering for graduates and students through to senior managers with years of experience. So, keep reading for resume tips, tricks, and a before-and-after example that will help you get your dream administrative-focused job.

FUEL TO IMPROVEMENT: AN ADMINISTRATOR’S DISAPPOINTMENT

Administration job pools are always filled with competitive applicants. Many have years of experience in the field, have worked their way up through the ranks, and know the ins and outs of running a successful business. So, how can you set yourself apart from these administration job seekers? The best way is to focus on your resume.

Thus, many administration applicants turn to experts, such as professional resume writers and career coaches, to ensure that the guessing game is eliminated from the resume writing process and present their best selves on paper. This mentality was what Bob, our administration superhero, had.

Bob had worked in the administration industry since the 90s and was looking to take the next step in his career. So, he decided to enlist the help of a resume-writing expert. Unfortunately, he received a resume that looked and read like it had been written by a couch writer or, even worse – a resume template. The CV was full of typographical errors and irrelevant jargon that didn’t reflect Bob’s personality or achievements. “It failed to capture my true value as an administrator.” Needless to say, he was disappointed.

With hesitation, our administration applicant decided to jump on LinkedIn and look for another resume-writing service. This opportunity led him to cross paths with found The Perfect resume team. Our experienced resume reviewers glanced at his resume and instantly figured out so many missing and incorrect factors.

THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ORIGINAL ADMINISTRATION RESUME

Writing an outstanding administration resume is a skill. Like any other talent, it takes time, practice, and feedback to perfect. Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to be a resume-writing expert has the experience or qualifications to back up their claims. It was the case with Bob’s first resume writer.

The resume writing industry is unregulated, meaning anyone can call themselves a resume writer, regardless of their experience or qualifications. For this very reason, doing your research before hiring a resume writer is very significant. The best way to do this is to look for reviews from past clients, check out the writer’s website and social media profiles, and ask for samples of their work. If you don’t take the time to do your research, you could end up with a resume that does more harm than good, just like Bob.

Here are some of the problems our professional resume writers and career coaches found:

• Focused too much on duties instead of accomplishments

Bob’s resume contained position descriptions that didn’t say anything about his skills or achievements. For example, his resume stated that he is “experienced in creating correspondences” but didn’t mention how this has benefited his previous employers. As a result, the resume or CV was full of fluff and didn’t give the reader any insight into the applicant’s essence to the company as an administrator.

• Exposure to age and job-hopping biases

Hiring biases are a real problem in the job market and can often lead to resume discrimination. This is when a resume is judged based on factors that have nothing to do with the applicant’s qualifications or ability to do the job. In Bob’s case, his CV was full of information that could be used to discriminate against him. This dilemma was caused by disclosing dates from over 2 decades ago and revealing that he had 7 roles within 10 years. Sadly, employers often use this information to weed out candidates, even if they’re qualified.

• Colourful but not ATS-friendly

Many applicants neglect the importance of splashing colours to their resume, thinking that a black-and-white document will be more professional. However, this is something that Bob paid attention to. So, he made sure to sprinkle hues on his administration resume or CV. But, the resume template he had was not optimised for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). As a result, his resume would likely get lost in the system and never make it to a human reader. 

• Skills are merely listed instead of demonstrated

Throughout the resume, Bob listed various hard and soft skills relevant to the administrative role. But, he failed to back these claims up with evidence. For example, under the “Technical Skills” and “Other Skills” sections, he wrote that he is “experienced at coordinating events and workshops.” Still, there was no mention of how this ability has impacted his previous employers. As a result, the resume came across as empty and lacking in substance.

• Too many pages

It’s challenging to communicate how awesome you are using 1-2 pages – so many things to say and so little space. Yet, we have to consider our readers. They might not have the time or patience to read a resume that goes on for pages. The Perfect Resume team tried to communicate this to Bob, as his document was nearly 5 pages long. We don’t want to hand in a novel – what we want is a resume that’s short, sweet, and to the point.

FROM MEH TO AMAZING: TRANSFORMING AN  EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT’S CV INTO A JOB-WINNING ADMINISTRATION DOCUMENT

As resume experts, we’ve seen it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And trust us when we say that we’ve seen some pretty ugly resumes in our time. But, even we were surprised when we saw Bob’s resume, which was ‘made by an expert.’ It was chock-full of resume mistakes that would likely cost him the job. So, we took it upon ourselves to transform Bob’s resume from meh to outstanding.

Here’s what The Perfect Resume team did:

• The Perfect Resume team took Bob’s existing resume and gave it a complete makeover. We started by letting him know that he only had 6 seconds to make an excellent first impression and win his potential employer. Impossible? Well, it isn’t! It is something Bob and YOU can achieve by having a colour-infused yet ATS-friend resume template and design. So, we showed him our expert-formulated resume layouts prescribed for administrative professionals. Bob chose a modern, sleek template to help his resume stand out from the rest.
• Our team of professional resume writers and career coaches strategised together and worked on his resume’s content to eliminate the exposure to age and job-hopping bias. We stripped off any information that may give his readers a hint of his age. Additionally, we opted to include the experiences, roles, and responsibilities relevant to the administration positions he is targeting. Doing this helped us close the job-hopping gap, utilise the resume’s limited space to its full potential, and showcase his most valuable contributions. Since we only had 3 pages to work with, we made sure every word counted and chose them carefully.
• We replaced the applicant’s dull position descriptions with powerful statements demonstrating his value to potential employers. We also made sure to back up these claims with metrics and data. Alas, Bob’s resume is now shorter, sweeter, and indeed a winner – everything a resume should be!

BEFORE VS AFTER: THE ART OF PERFECTING AN ADMINISTRATION RESUME

To see is to believe! Below is a before-and-after comparison of our Executive Assistant’s administration resume. Witness how The Perfect Resume team took a disappointed job seeker’s resume and turned it into a resume or CV that will undoubtedly lead to job interviews.

Administration Resume Example (Before)

Administration Resume Example (After)

SECURING YOUR DREAM ADMINISTRATION CAREER IS JUST A CLICK AWAY WITH THE PERFECT RESUME

If you’re a tenured Executive Assistant who feels stuck in your career or an administration training completer who doesn’t know where to start, don’t worry! The Perfect Resume is here to help you craft a job-winning administration resume that will get you closer to your dream career.

Our team of professional resume writers and career coaches have extensive experience in both the business administration and human resources industries. We know what admin recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in a resume, so we can help you highlight your key strengths and accomplishments effectively.

With the help of experts, you can be sure that your administration resume will pass the 6-second test and make it through the applicant tracking system. More importantly, your CV will help you stand out from the competition and land your dream job.

So, what are you waiting for? Make sure to click here and select your current administration industry-focused role or the function you are after. From there, book our resume/CV writing service to get you one step closer to your dream admin career! Don’t be contented reading other people’s success stories – start writing your own today with The Perfect Resume!