When writing your executive assistant cover letter, focus on how you can provide valuable support to the hiring company’s senior leaders. Also, emphasize your related administrative skills, such as travel booking, report preparation, or inbox and calendar management. This guide offers cover letter examples and tips for landing your next executive assistant position.
Executive Assistant Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write an Executive Assistant Cover Letter
A good executive assistant cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section back to the employer and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples show what to include in your cover letter so it’s optimized for each job application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- Your recipient’s name, title, company, and contact information (when available)
The recipient’s details don’t tell them anything new. But in addition to lending formality, they signal you’ve sent a personalized cover letter, often key to getting your recipient’s attention in the first place.
Example
Zephaniah Hewitt
Executive Assistant | [email protected] | (890) 123-4567 | Austin, TX 09876 | LinkedIn
April 8, 2024
Madina Dodd
Senior Hiring Manager
Dell
(789) 012-3456
[email protected]
2. Salutation
If you can’t find the recipient’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
For traditional job applications, end your salutation line with a colon. But consider a comma instead if you know your recipient or the employer has a casual work culture (sometimes revealed by the job posting). In rare cases, you may also trade out the standard “Dear” for a more casual “Greetings,” “Hello,” “Hi,” or even “Good morning.” Use your discretion and take any cues from the job posting or company website.
Examples
Dear Mr. Klein:
Dear AAA Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Start your letter strong with an example of your making executives’ workday easier. What’s a key way you’ve helped leaders stay focused and organized at one of your past employers? Choose a highlight you can quantify in terms of a clear number, percentage, or dollar amount. Then, connect this to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the role.
Example
Last year, I created a system to expedite communications among leaders at my firm, saving around five work hours per week. I’m excited to generate similar value as an executive assistant at Hooverwood.
4. Body paragraph(s)
Use the main section of your cover letter to explain why this executive assistant job or employer interests you and why you’re a good fit. For instance, maybe it’s one of the many administrative jobs in health care, a sector you’d love to return to. Or perhaps you’ve shown early leadership ability, and the role requires supervising interns or office assistants. Consider quoting any text from the job posting that resonates with you. With a targeted approach, you can show the hiring manager you read their job posting and are responding to it directly.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your administrative skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
As a dedicated assistant with over two years of experience, I’m drawn to the challenge of supporting executives for a global brand like Dell. I would relish the chance to contribute to Dell’s reputation for innovative technology. My recent achievements include:
- Leveraging knowledge of company policy to pre-draft responses to queries, saving each executive around two hours per week
- Earning a client satisfaction rating of 99.8%, with feedback forms citing my professionalism and clear communication style
- Managing, mentoring, and developing a team of five junior admin assistants
5. Call to action
Finally, request an interview and thank the hiring manager for their attention. Consider briefly restating your main work skills and eagerness to support the company’s leaders. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I’d love to discuss my qualifications and industry experience with you further. Please contact me for a convenient meeting time. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Sally Smith
Executive Assistant Cover Letter Tips
1. Emphasize your pertinent traits
Employers like their administrative staff to be efficient, adaptable, organized, and skilled in both verbal and written communication. Consider which of these traits best describe you, then give an example or two of how you’ve shown them in a work setting.
2. Network
Whenever you can, start your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company]’s new executive assistant position.” Even better if you’ve already met your recipient – mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the job fair last week.”
3. Show advanced administrative skills
As part of your letter’s body text, add a short list of bullet points to show how you’ve helped streamline or enhance office operations. For instance, maybe you created an internal communications system that lets department leaders share data more quickly. Or perhaps you found cheaper or better options for booking air travel and event venues.
Example
My recent achievements include:
- Leading, developing, and motivating a team of five junior assistants to increase efficiency by over 30% in 2022
- Introducing a calendar system that reduced appointment errors by 87% in six months
- Negotiating with vendors to save around $5,000 per annual contract
Executive Assistant Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Sally Smith
Executive Assistant | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Oak. St., Austin, Texas 12345 | LinkedIn
April 1, 2024
John Klein
Senior Hiring Manager
AAA Non-Profit Agency
(345) 678-9000
[email protected]
Dr. Mr. Klein,
For the last five years, I’ve helped the CEO of Honor Non-Profit Organization grow the company’s donation revenue by approximately 25% per year while slashing in-house expenses an average of 15% annually. I wish to bring the same forward-thinking problem resolution and critical thinking analysis skills to Charity First Non-Profit as your new executive assistant to CEO John Doe.
I regard Charity First Non-Profit’s philanthropic efforts of funding exceptional local, regional and global causes while remaining transparent to its donors an impressive feat. I believe that my seven years of charitable executive assistant experience has prepared me to excel in this position as a devoted, capable executive assistant that will:
- Manage multiple high-priority projects with ease and efficiency
- Oversee the day-to-day office operations independently and proficiently
- Handle an annual budget of $475,000
- Implement essential changes to donation-generation and company expense reduction that yield an immediate 8% improvement and far-reaching results
I’d love to discuss my qualifications and industry experience with you further. Please contact me for a convenient meeting time. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Sally Smith
Executive Assistant Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a cover letter for an executive assistant with no experience?-
Describe your transferable skills and background in light of the position you’re applying to. If you have administrative experience, focus on any duties pertaining to leadership support. Also, demonstrate the ways you helped improve daily procedures. If you don’t have any related work experience, consider how your education or volunteer work helped prepare you for the role. For example, maybe you did an internship at a similar company or volunteered at a nonprofit with a similar cause or mission.
How long should my cover letter be? -
No more than one page, or around 250 words. Resist the urge to tell your whole career story. Give just enough detail to intrigue hiring managers, so they take a closer look at your resume.
What’s the difference between a resume and a cover letter?-
A resume may display you’re qualified for the job, but a cover letter shows you want it. More than repeating resume points, your cover letter should explain why the job caught your eye or why the organization strikes you as a great fit, setting the stage for a positive interview. In this way, a good cover letter sharpens your application by letting you say directly what your resume can only indicate.
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