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Executive Assistant cover letter example

A chief executive reads an EA's letter for judgement, discretion and a record with board work. This example is from the same executive assistant as our CV example, applying to support another chief executive and board, and it only uses facts from her CV.

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The letter

What each paragraph is doing.

Leila Khoury is made up, and so is Pūkeko Energy, Cambridge. Every fact in the letter comes from Leila's CV, the way a real one should: nothing new, just the parts of the CV this job cares about most.

Leila Khoury

Hamilton · 021 555 0728 · leila.khoury@email.com

Duncan Reid, Chief Executive

Pūkeko Energy, Cambridge

Re: Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Board

Dear Duncan,

I'd like to apply for the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Board role at Pūkeko Energy. I have eleven years supporting senior leaders, the last six as EA to the chief executive and board of Horotiu Dairy Co-operative in Hamilton.

Board work is where I can help from the first month. I coordinate 11 board meetings a year and four committees, and every board pack has gone out on the agreed date for six years running. I take and circulate the minutes within three working days, track actions until they're closed, and work in Diligent Boards.

Day to day, I manage the chief executive's diary and inbox, screening around 150 emails a day and drafting replies for about a third of them, so only what needs a decision reaches the desk. I plan two trips a year to Asian markets with tight connections and full meeting days, and I organised our annual meeting for 400 shareholders across two venues, $8,000 under budget. Before that I spent five years at Kirikiriroa Legal, supporting three partners and preparing court documents to the firm's standards under tight deadlines.

I handle confidential matters with discretion and stay calm when plans change at short notice. I'm a New Zealand citizen with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waikato, and I'd welcome the chance to talk about how I could support you and the board.

Kind regards,

Leila Khoury

  1. 1Names the level straight awayThe first thing a chief executive wants to know is who you support now. "EA to the chief executive and board" answers it in one line.
  2. 2Board work with a hard recordSix years of board packs on time and minutes within three days is the kind of reliability a chief executive can check with a referee.
  3. 3Shows judgement, not just tasksDrafting a third of the replies herself and a meeting under budget show she makes decisions on the executive's behalf, which is what separates an EA from a PA.
  4. 4Discretion and a confident closeIt mentions confidential work without giving any away, and the close offers to support the board as well as the chief executive.

Opening lines

Other ways to open.

The first line decides whether the rest gets read. Each of these names the job and leads with proof. Swap in your own facts.

  • “I'm applying for your Executive Assistant role, bringing eleven years supporting senior leaders, the last six as EA to a chief executive and board.”
  • “Every board pack I've prepared has gone out on the agreed date for six years running, and I'd like to bring that record to your Board Secretary and EA role.”
  • “As an EA who screens around 150 emails a day for a chief executive and drafts replies to about a third, I'm applying for your Executive Assistant to the Managing Director position.”
  • “Having organised an annual meeting for 400 shareholders across two venues, $8,000 under budget, I'm applying for your Executive Assistant and Events role.”
  • “I'm applying for the Senior Personal Assistant role at your firm, with five years supporting law firm partners before moving into board support.”

Common mistakes

What gets executive assistant letters skipped.

  • Not saying who you support now.

    Name the level, such as chief executive or board chair, in the first paragraph. It's the first thing a hiring manager looks for.

  • Proving discretion by sharing details.

    Say you handle confidential matters and describe the type, never names or specifics. The letter itself shows how careful you are.

  • Listing tasks any assistant does.

    Show where you use judgement: replies you draft, problems you deal with before they reach your executive, deadlines you never miss.

Write yours

A letter like this, for every job ad.

Paste a executive assistant job ad into SmartCVs and it writes your cover letter alongside your tailored CV. The free plan gives you 3 job scans a week, each with both.

How cover letters work in SmartCVs
  • Written in the same step as your tailored CV, from your profile and the job ad
  • Three or four paragraphs, in plain, professional language
  • Every fact from your profile: a number your profile doesn't have is dropped before you see it
  • Edit any line, copy it into an application, or download PDF or Word

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Who should an executive assistant address the letter to?

The ad usually names the chief executive or the people and culture team. If you can find the name of the executive you'd support, use it.

Should I mention board portal software?

Yes, if you've used one such as Diligent or BoardPro. Many boards use a portal, and knowing one shortens your training.

Can I move from a PA role to an EA role?

Yes. Lead with the most senior people you've supported and any board, committee or event work, and show the decisions you already make for them.

More cover letter examples

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