CV Tips for Admin and Office Support Roles: How to Stand Out in 2025
When applying for Admin and Office Support roles, your CV can either open the door to opportunities or get lost in the pile. Recruiters receive hundreds of CVs for administrative positions, so you need a document that is clear, professional, and optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
In this guide, we’ll cover the best CV tips for administrative assistants, office managers, receptionists, and office support professionals to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.
1. Highlight Core Administrative Skills
Employers hiring for office support and admin roles want to quickly see that you have the right skills. Make sure these are visible in both your skills section and your work experience:
Calendar and diary management
Data entry and record keeping
Email and correspondence management
Document preparation (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Filing (digital and physical)
Customer service and phone handling
Pro tip: Use the same keywords from the job description. For example, if the ad says “diary management”, don’t just write “scheduling” mirror the wording to get past ATS filters.
2. Showcase Office Software and Tools
Modern admin jobs rely heavily on software. Mention the tools you are confident with:
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar)
CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho
Project and scheduling tools such as Trello, Asana, or Calendly
This tells employers you’re ready to step in without heavy training.
3. Use Measurable Achievements, Not Just Tasks
Instead of simply listing duties, show results:
✅ “Managed scheduling for a 15-member team, reducing meeting clashes by 40%.”
✅ “Processed 200+ invoices monthly with 99% accuracy.”
✅ “Improved filing system efficiency, cutting document retrieval time from 10 minutes to 2 minutes.”
Numbers make your CV more powerful and show that you deliver impact, not just effort.
4. Tailor Your CV to Each Job
A generic admin CV won’t work anymore. Each role is slightly different front desk reception, executive assistant, HR support. Before applying, scan the job ad for keywords and make sure they appear naturally in your CV.
Example: If the role emphasizes “confidentiality”, include examples where you handled sensitive information professionally.
5. Emphasize Communication and People Skills
Admin and support professionals are the face of the office. Employers want someone who is approachable, organized, and professional. On your CV, highlight:
Strong written and verbal communication
Problem-solving skills under pressure
Team support and collaboration
6. Keep Your CV Clean and ATS-Friendly
Fancy CV designs may look nice, but many Applicant Tracking Systems can’t read them. To stay safe:
Use a simple, professional font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
Avoid graphics, images, and text boxes.
Stick to reverse chronological format.
Save in both Word and PDF formats.
7. Add Training and Certifications
Extra qualifications can set you apart from other applicants. If you’ve taken courses, list them. Examples include:
Office Administration Diploma
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification
HR or Virtual Assistant training
Project management tools (like Trello, Asana, ClickUp)
Final Thoughts
Creating a CV for admin and office support jobs is all about showing that you are organized, reliable, and ready to keep an office running smoothly. Use strong action verbs, measurable achievements, and ATS-friendly formatting to get noticed.
Remember: employers don’t just want someone who can “do tasks” they want someone who can make the office more efficient and effective. With these CV tips, your application will stand out and position you as the ideal candidate for administrative and office support roles.