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Writing the perfect personal assistant CV can be a tricky proposition. It is completely natural to struggle when it comes to choosing which skills or work experience you need to highlight. Fortunately, we have broken down the most sought-after personal assistant skills and duties to ensure that your application is as good as possible.
With our expert CV advice, we will help you identify the most important personal assistant skills that employers are after, from business correspondence to conference planning. Even better, our personal assistant CV example will show you how to put it all into practice.
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Personal assistant UK CV templates
Top off your personal assistant CV with a unique personal statement
We won’t sugar-coat it — when it comes to a personal assistant job, your personal statement is usually the make-or-break factor. Because you have limited space, you need to carefully synthesise the reasons why you are a special candidate. One of the main requirements for a personal assistant position is having a strong personality, so let your personal statement reflect this. It’s best to write your personal statement once you have completed the rest of your application — that way, it’ll be easier to summarise what makes you stand out.
Top tips for your UK personal assistant CV
A good personal assistant will have the right mix of formal qualifications and proven professional experience. These tips will help you identify the most desired personal assistant skills and competencies.
Back it up with examples
You will find that recruiters respond better to CVs that go beyond a plain list of your skill set and previous work experience. This is particularly true when it comes to a personal assistant CV, as your potential employer will be interested in the practicality and real-life utility of your skills. Let’s illustrate with an example. Resourcefulness is a valuable skill for a personal assistant, so include an occasion where you went above and beyond to help a customer.
Make sure your CV is unique
Put yourself in the position of someone recruiting for a personal assistant. For every successful application, they will have discarded dozens of identical CVs, all listing the same skills and accomplishments. How can you stand out? Well, it’s simpler than you think. First, let your personality shine through by detailing concrete occasions where you put the required skills into practice. Then, spend some time researching the business and introduce potential scenarios where your previous experience might be of use.
Keep things professional and organised
Among the duties listed in every personal assistant job description, organisation and prioritising always come first. A messy job application will automatically exclude you as a candidate no matter your achievements and qualifications. Make sure you use a sober, business-like font such as Arial, and that your font sizes and paragraph formatting are consistent throughout the document. Using a pre-made personal assistant CV template will give you a head start.
Go straight to the point
Because of the wide diversity of personal assistant duties, it’s easy to go overboard and fill your CV with unessential details. The last thing you want is for your CV to resemble an encyclopaedia, so just follow this simple rule. If you can’t back something up with factual evidence, don’t include it.
Tailor to specific personal assistant duties
Job descriptions can be a big help when writing your CV. Review the job description and note which skills or duties are mentioned the most. If you’re still unsure, you can even check out other adverts and highlight the most recurrent personal assistant key skills. But wherever possible, try to tailor your CV to the specific job you’re applying for.
Personal assistant skills to include in your CV
The most sought-after personal assistant skills and abilities range from clerical work to interpersonal qualities. These are the essential skills that should always appear in a CV for a personal assistant position:
Personal assistant key skills
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Time management skills
- Organisational skills
- Oral and written communication skills
- Capable of working under pressure
- Good attention to detail
Additional personal assistant job requirements
- Fast typing
- Filing
- Resourcefulness
- IT savviness
- Excellent manners
- Multi-tasking
Top FAQs about your personal assistant CV
What are the job duties of a personal assistant?
The personal assistant duties listed in a job description will be extremely diverse. However, there are a few that will recur throughout every job ad. These include arranging travel, prioritising tasks, screening phone calls, data inputting and filing, briefing presentations, and organising and attending meetings. Of course, you won’t be doing all of these at the same time. In fact, you will find that personal assistant responsibilities and duties vary from day to day. One day, you might be organising diary commitments and liaising with clients and colleagues, with the following day devoted to filing expenses.
What skills are needed to be a personal assistant?
Personal assistant duties call upon a wide range of technical skills and personal qualities. That includes everything from computer literacy, scheduling, and filing to fast typing, flawless punctuality, and the ability to multitask.
What are the top 3 skills for a PA position?
The most sought-after personal assistant skills are good communication skills, excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
How to become a personal assistant?
You don’t need any formal qualifications to be a personal assistant. However, the following competencies may make your job application more attractive to employers:
- A degree or vocational qualification in business support or administration.
- A-Levels, including Maths and English.
- An HND in a subject linked to IT.
How do you write a personal statement for a PA?
Personal assistants are known for their strong personality and commandeering presence. A successful personal statement will find the right balance between standing out and maintaining a sense of professionalism. Go to great lengths to explain why you — and not an applicant with the exact same skill set and experience — are the right person for the job.
Are there any overlooked personal assistant requirements?
Because they are usually asked to be first point of contact, one of the most underrated personal assistant skills is good presence. Rehearse several times before your interview so your body language is up to the task.
How do I write a CV for a personal assistant?
The most important rule for a personal assistant CV? Make sure it’s not yet another faceless document. Carefully tailor every single detail to every particular job description so your potential employer is impressed with your knowledge of the company. If you’re still a bit lost, you can use our personal assistant CV example to shape the structure of your own CV.
Time to build your own personal assistant CV
You’ve seen our UK personal assistant CV sample, now the ball is in your court. With our UK personal assistant CV templates and pre-written content, you’ll be able to put together a professional-looking application in no time. Head to our online builder and customise your CV so it truly stands out.
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