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Executive Assistant CV example

An executive assistant is hired for judgement as much as organisation: knowing what matters to the person you support, and keeping everything else off their desk. This executive assistant CV example shows the level of executive, the board work and the trust behind the role, with numbers a chief executive would recognise.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Executive Assistant job ad.

The example

A Executive Assistant CV, start to finish.

Leila Khoury is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Leila Khoury

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive

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

Profile

Executive assistant with eleven years supporting senior leaders, the last six as EA to a chief executive and board. Runs a complex diary, prepares board papers on time every month, and handles confidential matters with discretion. Calm when plans change at short notice, and good at seeing what's coming before it lands.

Skills

Complex diary and inbox management · Board and committee papers · Minute taking · Travel and event planning · Confidential correspondence · Stakeholder liaison · Microsoft 365 and Teams · Diligent Boards · Expense and budget tracking

Experience

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive, Horotiu Dairy Co-operative

Hamilton · 2020 to now

  • Manage the chief executive's diary and inbox, screening around 150 emails a day and drafting replies for about a third of them
  • Coordinate 11 board meetings a year and four committees, sending every board pack on the agreed date for six years running
  • Take and circulate board minutes within three working days, and track actions until they're closed
  • Plan the chief executive's travel, including two trips a year to Asian markets with tight connections and multiple meetings each day
  • Organised the co-operative's annual meeting for 400 shareholders across two venues, coming in $8,000 under budget

Personal Assistant, then Team Administrator, Kirikiriroa Legal

Hamilton · 2015 to 2020

  • Supported three partners with diaries, client correspondence and billing, keeping time entries up to date for monthly invoicing
  • Prepared and formatted court documents and client letters to the firm's standards under tight deadlines
  • Set up a shared calendar and meeting room system that ended double bookings across a team of 25

Education

Bachelor of Arts, English and Psychology, University of Waikato

2014

Other details

Languages
English and Arabic
Driver's licence
Full
Work rights
New Zealand citizen

Referees

Available on request

Leila wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the executive assistant cover letter

Skills and keywords

What executive assistant job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Diary managementEvery EA ad has it. Show the complexity: how many people's diaries, time zones, and how often plans change.
  • Board papersBoard and committee work separates EA roles from PA roles. Say how many meetings a year and whether packs went out on time.
  • Minute takingSay what level of meeting you minute, such as board, executive or committee, and how quickly minutes go out.
  • ConfidentialityEAs see restructures, salaries and legal matters before anyone else. Mention the kind of confidential work you handle without giving details.
  • Stakeholder managementName who you deal with for your executive: board members, shareholders, government officials, key clients.
  • Board portalIf you've used Diligent, BoardPro or a similar board portal, name it. Many boards use one and it shortens training.
  • Event managementAnnual meetings, conferences and offsites come up often. Give the size and whether you met the budget.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Managed the chief executive's diary and inbox, screening around 150 emails a day and drafting replies for about a third
  2. 2Sent every board pack on the agreed date for six years, across 11 board meetings and four committees a year
  3. 3Took and circulated board minutes within three working days and tracked actions until they were closed
  4. 4Organised the annual meeting for 400 shareholders across two venues, $8,000 under budget
  5. 5Planned international travel with tight connections and full meeting schedules, rebooking quickly when flights changed
  6. 6Supported three law firm partners with diaries, correspondence and billing, keeping time entries ready for monthly invoicing
  7. 7Set up a shared meeting room system that ended double bookings for a team of 25
  8. 8Handled confidential papers on a restructure for four months with no information getting out early
  9. 9Built a handover guide that let a temp cover the role for three weeks without calls to the chief executive

Common mistakes

What costs executive assistant CVs interviews.

  • Not saying who you support.

    Name the level: chief executive, board chair, general manager. The level of the executive is the first thing a hiring manager looks for.

  • Listing tasks any assistant does.

    Show the judgement: emails you answer yourself, problems you solve before they reach your executive, papers you chase and check.

  • Leaving out board and governance work.

    If you prepare board packs or take minutes, give the numbers and the deadlines you meet. It moves you into senior EA roles.

  • Giving away confidential details to show trust.

    Describe the type of work, such as a restructure or acquisition, without names or specifics. Discretion on the CV is part of the evidence.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

There's no licence or required qualification for executive assistants in New Zealand, so the CV does the work: the level you support, the board work you manage and the systems you run.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Larger Australian employers often want EAs who can support a board or committees, so say how many meetings a year you prepare for and how quickly your minutes go out. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

FAQ

Questions, answered.

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

What's the difference between a PA and an EA on a CV?

A PA usually supports one or a few people with day-to-day organisation. An EA supports a senior executive and often the board, and makes decisions on their behalf. Use the title you held, and let the bullets show the level.

Should I name the executive I work for?

Give the title, not the name. "EA to the Chief Executive" is enough, and it respects their privacy.

Is a degree needed to become an executive assistant?

No. Many EAs come up from administration or reception roles. A degree can help for some senior roles, but a steady record of supporting senior people matters more.

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