Administrative Assistant cover letter example

Administrative assistants perform vital roles in organizations of all sizes. When searching for your next position, your resume can only tell so much. That’s where a cover letter comes in.

An outstanding cover letter can make the difference between a so-so candidate and someone a hiring manager can’t wait to interview. Administrative assistant positions can be competitive, but with this guide and resume.io’s professionally designed tools, you can pass with flying colors.

Administrative assistant full text-only cover letter example

Sections of an administrative assistant cover letter

Crafting a cover letter is like telling your professional story. Each part plays a crucial role in showcasing why you're the ideal administrative assistant candidate:

1. Cover letter header. List your contact details and the date to start off on the right foot.
2. Greeting. Make a personal connection by addressing the hiring manager or recruiter by name.
3. Introduction. Introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm for the administrative assistant position.
4. Body. This is the heart of your letter. Use this space to showcase your experience, skills, and achievements and call out how they align with the company’s needs and values.
5. Conclusion. Wrap things up by summarizing your qualifications and interests, and don’t forget a call to action.
6. Signature. Sign off with a professional goodbye, including your name.

Each section of your cover letter is an integral part of the overall narrative. Aim for a one-page cover letter that describes your expertise while also showing your alignment with the company’s culture and mission. Your resume reflects your qualifications and your cover letter should expand upon that to showcase exactly why you’re a great match. 

If you want more general cover letter advice, check out our article on how to write a cover letter.

Once you’ve crafted a header and addressed the reader, it’s time to captivate them with your introduction.

Introduction of an administrative assistant cover letter

As an administrative assistant, you should start a cover letter by demonstrating your great communication and efficient customer service by introducing yourself in a friendly and attention-grabbing way. 

The cover letter introduction aims to capture the reader’s attention with a strong and interesting sentence that flows into the body of the letter. By starting with a strong opening, you grab the reader's attention and express your enthusiasm for the position. Tailor your content to the specific job and company by researching their values, mission, and culture. 

Use clear and concise language to highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements, and include numbers and statistics whenever possible. This will keep your introduction from being vague or boring. Think about specific achievements you’ve made: did you save hours or overhaul a challenging administrative process? These details will add credibility. 

Administrative assistant cover letter body

In the body of your cover letter, follow a clear template: 

• Highlight your administrative skills and expertise
• Show how you're a perfect fit for the administrative assistant role and the organization’s culture
• Wrap up with a conclusion that packs a punch
• End with an impactful call to action that leaves the hiring manager eager to reach out

First body paragraph: your suitability for the role (skills & experience)

Kick things off with a bang by displaying the key traits and skills that make you a reliable administrative assistant. Think about ways to weave your qualifications into an engaging narrative. 

For instance: 

1. Emphasize administrative expertise. Share how you’ve provided top-notch admin support to past companies. Describe calendars you’ve managed, logistics you’ve booked, file systems you’ve managed, or anything else relevant.
2. Showcase customer service skills. Being a good administrative assistant means having great customer service skills, so share stories that highlight your ability to work with diverse populations and provide a great experience.
3. Detail your technology chops. You can’t do everything on your own, nor should a company expect it! Great admins rely on software and tools, so show off what you can do by explaining the systems and technology that helps you do your job.
4. Flexibility and multitasking. Share how you’ve handled several tasks at once, keeping all the balls in the air. Expert multitasking is essential for admin assistants.
5. Accuracy and attention to detail. Administrative assistants can’t afford to make mistakes. Showcase your commitment to accuracy using numbers to back up your claims.
6. Going above and beyond. Mention times you went out of your way to help customers or team members, or successfully took on bigger responsibilities.

Second body paragraph(s): alignment with the organization

Once you’ve showcased your experience and knowledge, you’ll need to tailor your cover letter to the company itself. Spend some time researching them and reading over the job posting to make sure you fully understand what they need.

Then, show how you align with those goals and objectives. In this example of Siemens Energy, a few key points can be taken from their company overview, including:

• Lasting value for future generations
• Make the difference
• Reduce emissions across the energy landscape

Find ways to incorporate these values into your cover letter. Just remember to keep things moving and include just the right amount of information so that the hiring manager has an interest in talking to you to learn more.

Call to action & conclusion: Finish off strong

Sum up your cover letter by recapping your key points and reiterating your enthusiasm for the position. Imagine they’ve asked, “What value would this person bring to the company?” and answer it here.

A very important aspect of the conclusion is the call to action. This statement invites the hiring manager to get in touch and can even remind them of your contact info if you’d like. Be upbeat and confident without sounding pushy. Don’t forget to thank them for their time and consideration as well. 

Close out the letter with a professional goodbye, using a sign-off like “Sincerely,” “Best” or “Best Regards,” and then sign off with your name.

How to write an administrative assistant cover letter with no experience 

If you’ve never worked as an administrative assistant—whether you’re a student or you’re making a career pivot—your cover letter should focus on transferable skills and your enthusiasm for the role. 

If you’ve held any job before or had higher education, you have transferable skills that apply to an administrative role. Here are a few tips to help:

• Highlight transferable skills. Show how skills you learned elsewhere could be relevant to an admin role. For example, administrative assistants rely on their communication and interpersonal skills frequently. Previous customer service experience can be helpful for an assistant. So can work in data entry, sales, or other assistant work.
• Showcase organizational skills. Have you organized events or managed projects? Even if you’ve done this on a volunteer basis, it’s worth including in an administrative assistant cover letter.
• Call out technical proficiency. Chances are, you’re already familiar with a lot of the software you’d use as an administrative assistant, whether you’re an Excel guru or love playing around with the latest AI tool.
• Share your education. While there’s not a specific degree required to be an administrative assistant, your education is likely a selling point. Mention any relevant degrees, courses, or certificates you’ve earned.

All of these points will help balance out the lack of direct experience, thus illustrating your potential as the company’s next great administrative assistant. 

Key takeaways

An impactful administrative assistant cover letter will highlight your relevant administrative skills, your past work experience, and your passion and talent for the role. You want to convey a high sense of responsibility, strong organizational skills, and efficiency. 

Begin your administrative job search with our cover letter generator and online resume builder, and then elevate it with resume.io.

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