Executive Assistant resume keywords
Most executive assistant applications are screened by software before a person reads them: the ATS ranks resumes by how many of the posting's words they contain. The lists below are the terms that show up most in executive assistant job ads. Use the ones that are true for you, with the same spelling the ad uses.
Hard skills and ATS keywords
- Calendar management
- Travel planning
- Board meeting preparation
- Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace
- Expense reporting
- Confidentiality
- Event planning
- Stakeholder communication
- Calendar management
- Travel coordination
- Board meeting preparation
- Expense reporting
- Microsoft Office
- Google Workspace
- Minutes taking
- Confidential correspondence
- Event planning
- Project coordination
Soft skills recruiters look for
- Discretion
- Anticipation
- Organisation
- Composure
- Communication
Soft skills only count when a bullet proves them. "Team player" is ignored; "Supported the CEO and 2 VPs, managing 60+ meetings a week across 5 time zones." shows it.
Action verbs to start your bullets
- Managed
- Coordinated
- Organised
- Prepared
- Streamlined
- Supported
- Planned
- Reduced
How to use these keywords
- Mirror the job ad: if it says "Calendar management", do not write a synonym.
- Put the top 6–8 in a skills section and repeat the key ones inside experience bullets with a number.
- Never list a skill you cannot talk about in an interview.
- Keep the file text-based (no skills inside images or tables), or the ATS cannot read it.
Which ones is your resume missing?
Every posting is different. Paste your resume and the job ad — free ATS Match Score Score your resume free (0-100)
No signup. It lists the keywords from the ad that your resume does not contain.
Need the resume itself? See the executive assistant resume example and generate one free from rough notes.