Resume Keywords · Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant Resume Keywords & ATS Skills
Administrative assistant postings are screened for a predictable set of duties: calendar and inbox management, travel and expense processing, meeting coordination, document preparation and support for a team or an executive. ATS matching is literal, so a resume that describes "administrative support" in the abstract can be filtered out before a recruiter reads it. Mirror the posting's wording and name the systems you have actually used — Microsoft 365, Outlook, Excel, Concur, Salesforce or Workday.
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These terms cluster into a few categories. Focus on the groups that match your target job description, and use the exact wording the employer uses.
Office & productivity software
Scheduling & travel
Administrative processes
Business systems & soft skills
Where to place these keywords
Put the tools you know in a short skills line, then prove them in bullets that name the duty and the tool: "coordinated travel and expense reports for a leadership team in Concur". If the posting lists a system you have not used, describe what you do work with instead of claiming the tool.
Administrative Assistant resume keywords FAQ
What keywords do ATS systems look for in an administrative assistant resume?+
Mainly the duty and tool names from the job posting: calendar management, travel and expense, scheduling, data entry and document preparation, plus the specific software — Microsoft 365, Outlook, Excel, Concur, Salesforce or Workday. Use the employer's wording rather than paraphrases like "office support".
Should an administrative assistant resume list software in a skills section?+
Yes, but keep it short and honest, and back it up in the body. A one-line list (Microsoft 365, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, Concur) tells the ATS what to match; a bullet that shows the tool in use tells the recruiter you can actually do the job.
How can I stand out without inventing keywords?+
Quantify the scope of what you supported — the number of people, calendars or travel itineraries you coordinated — using figures you can defend in an interview. Any number on a resume can be questioned, so leave out anything you cannot evidence.
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