Creating an outstanding personal assistant CV is essential for advancing your career and securing top opportunities in this fast-paced and dynamic field. As a PA, you’re responsible for supporting executives, managing schedules, handling communications, and ensuring efficient operations within an organisation. Your CV should not only highlight your organisational skills and attention to detail but also demonstrate your ability to manage tasks effectively, maintain confidentiality, and provide exceptional administrative support.

Whether you’re revising your current CV or creating your first job application, this guide offers essential tips, templates, and CV examples to help you create a standout CV. We will take you through the key elements of building a successful CV, including:

  • Personal assistant CV samples
  • Personal assistant CV templates
  • The ideal CV format for a personal assistant CV
  • A step-by-step writing guide for a personal assistant role
  • Dos and don’ts for your personal assistant CV
  • Personal assistant frequently asked questions

With the right approach, your CV will grab the attention of hiring managers, showcase your skills, and make you the ideal candidate in the competitive job market for personal assistants.

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    Personal assistant CV sample

    PERSONAL ASSISTANT CV

    James Brownlow
    6 Victory Way
    Edinburgh, EH2 09UH
    07912 345 678
    james.brownlow@example-example.co.uk

    PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

    Creative Personal Assistant offers best-in-class support. Travel arrangement expert focused on budget-conscious options and client satisfaction. Brings polished, professional telephone etiquette and advanced computer abilities.

    WORK HISTORY

    04/2019 – Current
    Ecotrip – Edinburgh
    Personal Assistant

    • Devised and maintained office systems to efficiently deal with paper flow.
    • Communicated client project requirements to vendors and contractors to ensure client satisfaction.
    • Secured travel accommodations for the managing director and scheduled or booked appointments for upcoming events and meetings.

    09/2015 – 03/2019
    Statics Enterprise – Edinburgh
    Personal Assistant

    • Organised personal and professional calendars and supplied reminders of upcoming meetings and events.
    • Created presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
    • Handled incoming and outgoing correspondence, including mail, e-mail and faxes.

    09/2012 – 08/2015
    Travel Corner – Edinburgh
    Assistant

    • Drafted meeting agendas, supplied advance materials and executed follow-ups for meetings and team conferences.
    • Gathered information to create Excel spreadsheets outlining the number of visitors.
    • Wrote reports and correspondence from dictation and handwritten notes.

    SKILLS

    • Verbal communication
    • Strong interpersonal skills
    • Self-directed
    • Conference planning
    • Spreadsheet management
    • Advanced computer skills
    • Perform well in high-demand, fast-paced environments
    • Fast learning
    • Business correspondence
    • Guest relations

    EDUCATION

    Business Support & Business Administration 2008
    Edinburgh College (Sighthill Campus) – Edinburgh

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    Personal assistant CV templates

    A well-structured personal assistant CV is key to showcasing your organisational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks effectively. Our expertly designed CV templates make it easy to highlight your most important achievements, administrative skills, and experience in supporting senior management. With a focus on professionalism and clarity, these templates help you present your qualifications in a way that grabs the attention of hiring managers and sets you apart in a competitive job market.

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    The best format for your personal assistant CV

    When it comes to creating a standout personal assistant CV, the format is key to presenting your skills and experience clearly. The right format ensures that hiring managers can easily navigate your CV and focus on the most relevant details. Depending on your experience level, there are two main formats to consider: reverse chronological and skills-based format.

    Reverse chronological CV format

    The reverse chronological format is the most effective format for individuals with relevant work experience. This format highlights your most recent positions first, allowing recruiters to quickly see your progression and experience in administrative roles. It’s particularly useful for those who have a solid work history and want to showcase their career development in the PA field. This structure is ideal for demonstrating your growth in responsibilities and how you’ve built up your skills over time.

    Key benefits of reverse chronological format:

    • Clearly demonstrates career progression
    • Highlights recent and relevant experience
    • Easy for recruiters to scan quickly
    • The work experience section of a CV is usually examined the most by recruiters 

    Skills-based CV format

    For those with limited work experience, a skills-based CV can be a great alternative. This format focuses on your abilities and transferable skills rather than a detailed work history. This approach allows you to demonstrate your potential, even if you lack extensive job experience by emphasising your relevant skills. It’s especially helpful for individuals changing careers or those just entering the workforce.

    Key benefits of a skills-based format:

    • Focuses on abilities, not just past roles
    • Ideal for those with limited work experience
    • Highlights transferable skills from other sectors

    General formatting tips for your personal assistant CV:

    • Keep it concise: Stick to 1 page, ensuring the CV is easy to read without overwhelming the reader.
    • Use clear headings: For easy navigation, separate your sections with bold headings such as “Personal Statement,” Work Experience,” “Skills,” and “Education,”.
    • Professional font: Use a clean, professional font (like Arial or Calibri) in size 10-12 for readability.
    • Bullet points: Use bullet points to list achievements and responsibilities clearly, avoiding long paragraphs.
    • White space: Ensure your CV has enough space to make it visually appealing and easy to scan.
    • Tailor your CV: Adapt your CV for each job application, emphasising skills and experiences that match the job description.
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    How to write a personal assistant CV

    Writing an impactful personal assistant CV involves more than just listing your previous roles. To truly stand out to potential employers, you need to showcase your skills, experience, and personal qualities in a way that reflects your ability to manage tasks efficiently, support senior management, and contribute to a well-organised workplace. In this section, we’ll guide you through the key steps to create a CV that impresses hiring managers and highlights your suitability for the role.

    Here are the key steps we’ll cover:

    How to format your CV contact section

    The contact section of your personal assistant CV is one of the most important, as it provides employers with the means to contact you. It’s essential to present your contact information clearly and professionally to ensure it’s easy for hiring managers to reach out. Here’s how to format this section effectively:

    • Full Name – both your first and last name
    • Location – either state your city or country (mention if you’re open to relocation)
    • Phone Number – the best number to reach you
    • Email Address – use a professional email address

    Example of a contact section

    Bella Harris
    19A Johnson Road
    Glasgow, G1 4DH
    07912 345 678
    bella.harris@example.co.uk

    How to write your personal assistant personal statement

    Your personal statement is one of the most crucial parts of your CV. It’s your chance to make a positive first impression by summarising your skills, experience, and what you can bring to the role. In this section, you should convey your strengths and show why you’re the ideal candidate. Here’s what to include:

    • Introduction and career background. Begin with a brief overview of your career, highlighting your experience as a personal assistant or experience in similar administrative roles. 
    • Mention your key strengths. Emphasise the qualities that make you a strong personal assistant. These might include your time management, communication, multitasking, and problem-solving abilities. You can also highlight your proficiency in office software, scheduling, and handling confidential information.
    • Include a strong metric (if applicable). While personal assistant roles may not always involve large-scale metrics, you can still incorporate figures to demonstrate your impact. For example, mention how you helped reduce scheduling conflicts by a certain percentage. 
    • Tailor your statement to the role. Customise your personal statement for each role you apply for. Align your experience with the specific requirements and responsibilities outlined in the job description. This shows employers that you are a good fit for the role.

    Example personal statement:

    An experienced personal assistant with over three years of supporting senior executives, I excel at managing complex schedules, coordinating travel, and handling high-priority tasks. I’ve worked in fast-paced environments, ensuring efficiency and organisation, and helped reduce scheduling conflicts by 20% at my last company. I am looking to bring my skills to a dynamic team where I can contribute to effective leadership and office operations.

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    How to showcase your work experience as a personal assistant

    When it comes to your personal assistant CV, work experience is a critical section. This is where you can highlight your skills in managing office operations, supporting executives, and handling various administrative duties. Your goal is to showcase how your experience makes you an effective and reliable personal assistant who can add value to any organisation. Here’s how to format and showcase your work experience effectively:

    Use a reverse chronological format

    Start with your most recent role and work backwards. This format makes it easy for employers to see your career progression. For each job, list the company name, your job title, and the dates you worked there, followed by a list of your key responsibilities and achievements.

    Highlight key responsibilities

    For each role, focus on the core duties that are most relevant to the personal assistant position. These might include:

    • Managing calendars and scheduling appointments
    • Coordinating travel and accommodations
    • Handling communications (emails, phone calls, meetings)
    • Managing confidential information and ensuring data protection

    Be specific and quantify where possible. 

    Showcase your achievements

    Rather than just listing duties, emphasise the impact you had in your role. If you’ve implemented systems that saved time or helped improve efficiency, include those details. Metrics and results are a great way to make your achievements stand out. For instance:

    • “Streamlined office supply ordering process, reducing costs by 15% over six months.”
    • “Successfully organised a 200-person conference, coordinating logistics and managing the event budget.”

    These types of accomplishments show that you don’t just perform tasks—you make a tangible difference to the organisation.

    Tailor your experience to the role

    Customise your work experience for each role you apply for. If the job listing mentions specific skills like “calendar management” or “travel coordination,” make sure those skills are highlighted in your work experience section. 

    Be concise but detailed

    While it’s important to be detailed, keep your descriptions concise and to the point. Use bullet points to ensure the information is easy to read. Focus on your most important achievements and responsibilities, avoiding unnecessary details.

    Example of a CV work experience section:

    Personal Assistant
    ABC Corporation, London
    March 2022 – Present

    • Provide comprehensive administrative support to the CEO and senior management team, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating travel arrangements.
    • Organise and oversee corporate events, including quarterly meetings and team-building activities, ensuring smooth execution from start to finish.
    • Streamlined document management system, resulting in a 20% reduction in time spent searching for files.

    Essential skills for your personal assistant CV

    When reviewing a personal assistant CV, hiring managers seek a clear demonstration of the skills needed to provide seamless support and ensure the smooth operation of the office. Your CV skills section should highlight both technical expertise and interpersonal strengths, showcasing your ability to manage tasks effectively while fostering strong relationships within the organisation.

    It’s crucial to include a combination of hard skills—specific competencies for the role—and soft skills that highlight your communication, organisation, and problem-solving abilities. This balance will position you as a versatile candidate who can efficiently support senior staff while also contributing to the overall success of the company.

    Here are some key skills to consider featuring on your CV:

    Technical skills for a personal assistant CV

    • Calendar and schedule management
    • Office administration and document management
    • Travel coordination and logistics
    • Event planning and meeting organisation
    • Data entry and database management

    Interpersonal skills

    • Effective communication and relationship-building
    • Strong organisational and time-management abilities
    • Problem-solving and critical thinking
    • Confidentiality and discretion
    • Ability to multitask and prioritise under pressure

    Outlining education for a personal assistant CV

    While your work experience and skills are the main focus of your personal assistant CV, your educational background still plays an important role, especially if you’re new to the role or have recently completed relevant studies. The education section should be clear and concise, listing your highest qualifications and any certifications that enhance your suitability for the job.

    If you have significant work experience, your education will likely take a back seat, but it’s still worth mentioning relevant qualifications or training that demonstrate your capabilities. For example, a business administration degree or an office management qualification can add value. On the other hand, if you’re just starting your career, this section becomes more crucial, helping to build your credibility.

    Here’s how to structure the education section:

    • Qualification (e.g. BA in Business Administration, Diploma in Office Management)
    • Institution name
    • Year of graduation or years attended
    • Additional information (Include any certifications or courses that are relevant, such as Project Management or Microsoft Office Specialist.

    Example of an education cv section:

    Education

    Certification in Office Management
    London School of Business | 2023

    BA in Business Administration
    University of Manchester | 2019 – 2022

    Dos and don’ts for a personal assistant CV

    Do

    • DO tailor your CV for each position

      Customise your CV for every role you apply to. By researching the company’s needs and values, you can adjust your CV to reflect how your skills and experience meet their specific requirements. A tailored CV shows that you’ve taken the time to understand the role and are genuinely interested in the position.

    • DO emphasise relevant technical skills

      Many PA roles require proficiency with office software, communication tools, and project management platforms. Include any technical skills you possess, such as expertise with Microsoft Office, calendar management tools, or CRM systems, and show how these tools have supported your work.

    Don't

    • DON’T make your CV too lengthy

      While it’s important to showcase your experience and skills, aim to keep your CV concise. Ideally, it should fit within one to two pages. Be selective about what you include, focusing on the most relevant experiences that align with the job you’re applying for.

    • DON’T exaggerate your responsibilities or achievements

      While it’s important to highlight your skills, be honest about your role and contributions. Overstating your responsibilities can backfire if you’re asked to elaborate during an interview and can’t provide solid examples or evidence.

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    Your personal assistant CV questions answered

    What if I have limited experience in administrative roles but want to apply for a personal assistant position?

    If you have limited administrative experience, focus on transferable skills from other jobs or internships. For example, you might highlight any experience with organisation, customer service, event coordination, or time management. Emphasising soft skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, and communication can also demonstrate your potential as a personal assistant.

    How can I ensure my personal assistant CV is ATS-friendly?

    To ensure your CV gets past applicant tracking systems (ATS), include keywords from the job description, particularly those related to the tasks and responsibilities listed in the ad. Use standard job titles, such as “Personal Assistant” or “Executive Assistant,” and avoid using too many graphics or unconventional fonts that could confuse the ATS software. Make sure your CV is easy to read, with clear section headings and bullet points for key responsibilities and achievements.

    How can I make my personal assistant CV stand out if I don’t have much experience?

    If you’re new to the personal assistant role or have limited experience, focus on your transferable skills, such as communication, organisation, and time management. Highlight relevant internships, freelance work, or any administrative tasks you’ve performed in past roles. Additionally, emphasise your enthusiasm for the role and your commitment to learning.

    Is it important to include references on my personal assistant CV?

    References are not always necessary on your CV unless specifically requested. Instead, you can include a line stating “References available upon request.” This saves space and keeps your CV focused on your qualifications and experience. However, if you have references who are familiar with your assistant work, you may choose to include them.

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