Not sure how to write an admin assistant cover letter that will beat all the others? Learn how in this quick tutorial.
You’ve found the office job that puts all others to shame.
It’s got job responsibilities you’re capable of, benefits you’re fond of, and all at a company you’d be proud of.
You’ve got an admin assistant CV that’ll make the office manager get up on their desk and do an awkward dance at the joy of finding you.
But—
You need a captivating administrative assistant cover letter before you can submit your application. One that talks up your skills, achievements, and background in a way that compels them to read your CV and consider you for the job.
Not to worry.
In this article, you’ll get:
What does a perfect cover letter for an administrative assistant look like? See below—
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Looking for other cover letter examples for office and administrative positions? See:
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Let’s begin with two administrative assistant cover letter examples:
First, see this sample cover letter for administrative assistant written by a candidate with a few years of related professional experience as an office secretary.
Here we have Albert with 2+ years of experience applying for the admin assistant position at Beauregard Hunsting Associates.
Let’s take a look at how Albert wins over the office manager in his cover letter:
Albert Kristiansen
07977 537 745
albert.kristiansen@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/albertkristiansen
August 16, 2019
Jillian Jenkins
Office Manager
Beauregard Hunsting Associates
24 Oakfield Rd
London
N4 4NL
Dear Jillian,
I’ve long had a strong fascination for Beauregard Hunsting, first with the unique name, then later for the quality work you do with NGOs. When I saw the job ad for a new administrative assistant at BHA on Indeed, I knew I had to apply. Having had over 2 years of experience as an office secretary prior to this, I know I have the administrative abilities and organisational skills to help usher BHA into the 2020s.
Inside the job advertisement, it states that you seek someone with an all-around mentality, capable of organising the office workplace, filing documents, planning meetings and events, and liaising with clients, when necessary. As the office secretary at KMD Group, I had similar duties, functioning as the “jack of all trades” and the centre of the office when anyone was in doubt. On top of that, as I mentioned on my CV, I enabled KMD to decrease office and travel expenses by 35%. I am certain I could bring an equivalent standard of efficiency and professionalist to BHA.
I absolutely love the way BHA manages its client base, particularly the part where you offer nonprofit organisations up to a 100% reduction on service fees. It would be an honour and a privilege for me to become the next administrative assistant.
Could we schedule a conversation or a meeting to consider how my administrative skills and past experience can assist Beauregard Hunsting Associates to hit all its targets in the coming months?
Sincerely,
Albert Kristiansen
07977 537 745
albert.kristiansen@gmail.com
Albert’s got one heck of a cover letter here, don’t you think?
But what if you’ve no experience as an admin assistant, secretary, or office assistant? How to write a job-winning entry-level administrative assistant cover letter?
Don’t worry.
Most administrative assistant jobs are entry-level positions anyway, so it doesn’t take years of experience to secure employment.
However, to beat the other candidates, many of whom will have prior work in an office, you’ll have to show the hiring manager you’re their best bet.
Meet another one of our candidates, Alfred. He’s actually Albert’s brother, and he is also applying to the administrative assistant position.
Unlike his brother Albert, Alfred has never had a clerical or secretarial position before.
Instead, Alfred’s got to show that his skills and background more than make up for his lack of experience.
Take a look at Alfred’s sample cover letter for an entry-level admin assistant position:
Alfred Kristiansen
07977 437 790
alfred.kristiansen@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/alfredkristiansen
August 16, 2019
Jillian Jenkins
Office Manager
Beauregard Hunsting Associates
24 Oakfield Rd
London
N4 4NL
Dear Jillian,
I am a detail-oriented university graduate with a knack for organisation, scheduling, and proper documentation. Though I don’t yet have experience managing the day-to-day tasks and functions of a modern office, I have transferable administrative skills from my 2 years as a teacher’s assistant. I know I have the talent and get-it-done spirit to be the perfect candidate for the administrative assistant position at Beauregard Hunsting Associates.
In the job ad, you mentioned that you’re looking for someone with an all-around mentality, capable of organising the office workplace, filing documents, planning meetings and events, and liaising with clients, as needed. I had many of these same tasks during my time as a teacher’s assistant, helping teachers, professors, and lecturers by organising classrooms, setting class and meeting schedules, and filing student paperwork. Taking into account every job responsibility you listed within the job posting, I’m sure I will meet and exceed your expectations should you give me the chance.
I’d love the opportunity to talk further about your objectives and ideas for the office, including the role I may be able to play in the coming years as an admin assistant.
Sincerely,
Alfred Kristiansen
07977 437 790
alfred.kristiansen@gmail.com
And there it is—
A solid sample cover letter for administrative assistants without experience.
Now, let’s walk through the strategy of how to write a cover letter for admin assistant jobs yourself.
Short attention span?
No problem.
We’ve got plenty of fill-in-the-blank cover letter templates for every section of your admin asst cover letter.
Is your administrative assistant CV as solid as your cover letter’s about to be? See a dedicated example here: Admin Assistant CV Sample
Here’s how to write a killer administrative assistant cover letter:
Cover letters need to make a great first impression. For an admin assistant job, it’s got to show you’re professional, skilled at clerical duties, and organised like a bawse.
Here are the rules for formatting cover letters:
Expert Hint: A study found that admin assistants “provide critical office support for modern businesses, yet many do not participate in the continuing education and training required for rapidly changing technologies and new office procedures.” If you can show you’re motivated and love learning, you’ll easily outshine the other candidates.
The most important rule to remember for any administrative assistant cover letter header is that it should match the header of the associated CV.
Then, it’s all business—
In business letter formatting, you put your details first. After leaving a line break, add the date of writing. Next, one more line break before the recipient’s details (company name and address).
Follow this template:
[ Your Full Name]
[ Your Job Title or Branding Statement ] (Optional)
[ Phone Number ]
[ Email Address ]
[ LinkedIn Profile ]
[ Date of Writing ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Title ]
[ Company’s Name ]
[ Company’s Street Address ]
[ City, State, Zip Code ]
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Now we get to the actual writing, the first paragraph on a cover letter for administrative jobs.
Start the cover letter by first addressing the employer by name. This speaks volumes, and they’ll immediately find it compelling them to read further.
Continue by identifying the exact position (administrative assistant) you’re applying for. Then, quickly go over the general details of your office skills, administrative experience, and professional background.
Need a hand?
Use this template by easily filling in the blanks with your information:
Dear [Name of Office Manager]:
When I located the job ad for the [Name of Position as Used in Job Ad] position at [Company Name], I was thrilled, to say the very least. As a [Current or Most Recent Job] with [# of Years] years of on-the-job expertise, I’ve become very skilled in [List a Few Skills, Particularly the Most Relevant to This Position]. I believe that my unique background, past experience, and arsenal of skills make me a top candidate to consider for this job.
Expert Hint: The jobs of secretaries, office assistants, and administrative assistants are projected to decline by 192,000, or 5%, between 2016 and 2026. With a lot fewer jobs to go around, competition will be RuPaul fierce. Don’t go easy on your administrative assistant cover letter if you want a chance at an interview with the office manager.
The administrative assistant cover letter’s second paragraph needs to address the employment needs of this specific job.
Check out the ad and locate the job requirements area. Use that to talk about the demands they have for a new hire, as well as how you’d meet those challenges. Give an example when possible to really ease their minds.
Here’s a fill-in-the-blank sample body paragraph:
In the job ad I came across, it says you are looking for a [Name of Position as Used in Job Ad] with experience in [Specific Job Requirements]. In my current position with [Name of Current or Most Recent Company],I was responsible for [List of Responsibilities & Tasks Utilising Numbers for More Oomph]. On top of that, I had several proud accomplishments, including [One or Two Achievements]. I know that I could help [Company Name] achieve similar results.
Expert Hint: Duties depending on the office, as an admin assistant at a police station will have different duties from one in the corporate world. However, as US News states, “for nearly any administrative assistant, good writing and verbal communication skills are required, as well as experience with word processing and spreadsheets.” Always talk up these fundamentals!
The third paragraph is where we begin to wrap things up.
In this part of the administrative assistant cover letter, use a bit of flattery.
Of course they need to know how skilled and experienced you are, but a compliment or two about the company or job will help them understand better how you’ll fit in on the team.
Emphasise the fact that you want this particular admin assistant job and that you’re not just applying to each one that comes your way.
Use this template if you’re unsure how to go about it:
I love [Company’s Name] and am impressed by its dedication to [Something You Truly Admire About the Office / Company]. These values and your company mission statement definitely match my own principles and beliefs. I would be honoured to join [Company’s Name] in working towards these lofty goals, and I’d be proud to carry on this legacy in my work as an administrative assistant.
Close the cover letter by requesting a face-to-face meeting or a chat by phone.
Reiterate your offer and how you believe you’d be the candidate to beat.
Here’s a sample administrative assistant cover letter closing to use as reference:
Could we schedule a conversation or a meeting to consider how my administrative skills and past experience can help [Company Name] hit all its targets in the coming months?
Sincerely,
[Digital Version of a Handwritten Signature] (optional)
[Your First & Last Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
With ResumeLab’s CV builder you’ll write your CV in a flash. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 18 CV templates and get started now.
Here are some guidelines for writing a cover letter for administrative positions:
Need more cover letter resources? Check these out:
Now you’ve seen our sample cover letter for administrative assistant positions and our guidelines for writing your own. If you have any questions, let’s chat below in the comments. Thanks for reading!
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Christian is a career expert who’s written over 200 in-depth articles since 2017. His advice will guide you through all stages of recruitment processes, job search, as well as CV and cover letter writing. All of his articles are meticulously researched, and that’s what makes thousands of readers visit them each month.
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