Starting your career as a virtual assistant is exciting but putting together a strong resume can be challenging. This article provides proven resume examples. You will also get strategic advice on how to highlight your skills and experiences effectively. With clear guidance and industry-specific tips, you will be prepared to stand out in the competitive entry-level market.
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Here's what we see in the best entry-level virtual assistant resumes.
Show Impact With Numbers: Use metrics to show your impact. Common metrics include
Focus On Relevant Skills And Tools: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are
Highlight Remote Work Experience: If you have remote work experience, highlight it. Sample phrases include
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If you are new to being a virtual assistant, show your education early in your resume. Place it right after your contact information and summary. You want to make it easy for hiring managers to see your academic background quickly. They will look for relevant courses or training you have completed.
Focus on any skills from your education that suit a virtual assistant role. For example, if you studied communication or business administration, highlight this in the education section of your resume. Include any experience with technology, like proficiency in using office software, as this is important for virtual assistants. Your goal is to show you have the foundation to learn quickly and perform well in this role.
Communication is key for virtual assistants. Highlight any experience with email management, customer service, or social media. These skills show you can effectively handle remote communication.
Include details on how you managed communications in previous roles or education, such as leading group projects or managing an inbox during an internship.
You need a resume length that is easy to read and shows your skills quickly. For an entry-level virtual assistant, aim for one page. This length is enough to list your skills, education, and any relevant experience. It makes clear to the hiring manager that you can organize information well.
When creating your resume, focus on including your most recent and relevant work. Make sure these experiences relate directly to virtual assistant tasks, like managing emails, scheduling, or data entry. This directs the hiring manager's attention to what is most important. Remember, a good resume is not about having many pages, but about choosing the right information.
For an entry-level virtual assistant position, list technical skills like proficiency in Microsoft Office, G Suite, and online communication tools. These tools are essential for daily virtual assistant tasks.
Include any experience with project management software like Asana or Trello, even if it’s from school projects. Showing you can handle these tools gives you a competitive edge.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) sort and rank resumes before they reach a hiring manager. To get your virtual assistant resume noticed, you need to understand how these systems work. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly to improve your chances.
First, use a simple layout with clear headings. Complex designs can confuse the ATS. Second, include keywords from the job description. For a virtual assistant role, terms like 'scheduling', 'data entry', and 'customer service' are often sought after. Tailor your resume to each job you apply for with relevant skills and experiences.
To grab attention, your resume should show you're a good fit for the job. Use words from the job posting. This shows you understand what the role needs. It also helps if employers use software to scan resumes for key terms.
As a career coach and hiring manager, take note that showing off your achievements on a resume is much better than just listing your job duties. You need to stand out as a virtual assistant, even at the entry level. Focus on what you accomplished in your previous roles, not just on what your tasks were.
For example, instead of writing "Responsible for managing emails," you could say "Successfully managed a busy executive’s inbox, ensuring all important emails were responded to promptly, which improved communication efficiency by 30%." This shift in focus tells the hiring manager about your effectiveness and impact on the organization.
When you're tailoring your resume for an entry-level virtual assistant role, focus on the hard skills that show you're ready to handle the job's demands. Here's a list of skills you might have that are valuable:
Place these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to find and recognize your abilities. ATS often scans for specific keywords, so including these skills can help your resume pass the first round. Remember, you don't need to have every skill listed. Pick those that match the job you want and that you're good at.
It's also a good idea to show these skills in action. Include them in your work history by describing tasks you've completed or projects you've worked on. For example, you can mention how you efficiently managed email correspondence or organized schedules in a previous role. This helps hiring managers see the practical application of your skills.
If you have had leadership roles or been promoted, it's important to show this on your resume. Even as a beginner, you might have experiences that show your ability to lead or take charge. Here are ways to highlight those moments:
Remember, any example of taking initiative or improving processes can be seen as leadership. Always be honest about your experiences. Use clear, simple language to describe how you've stepped up in the past.
As you draft your resume, remember that numbers speak louder than words. Demonstrating your impact with metrics can help you stand out. Here are some tips for entry-level virtual assistants to include tangible numbers in their resumes.
Even if you're unsure about the exact numbers, estimate them based on the average output you've maintained. Use these numbers to show the value you can bring to your future employer. They illustrate your ability to contribute meaningfully from the start.
When you apply for a virtual assistant role, the size of the company can shape what you highlight on your resume. For small companies and startups, emphasize your flexibility and ability to wear multiple hats. You may be working closely with the CEO of a startup like Buffer or Zapier, so show your readiness to tackle diverse tasks. For example:
For larger corporates like IBM or Oracle, your resume should reflect your ability to specialize and work within a larger team structure. Large companies often value process and stability, so you could include phrases like: