Administrator CV example and ATS keywords
Admin jobs attract hundreds of applicants, so employers rely on ATS keyword screening. Show the software you use, the volume of work you handle and how you keep things organised and accurate.
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Keywords employers screen administrator CVs for
Most employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that look for the words in their job advert. Use the ones that are true for you, in your skills section and in your experience. Always check the advert itself too, because each employer words things slightly differently.
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Excel
- Outlook
- Data entry
- Diary management
- Minute taking
- Document management
- Invoicing
- Purchase orders
- CRM
- Filing
- Telephone handling
Qualifications and checks
- Level 2 or 3 Business Administration
- GDPR awareness
- Typing speed (wpm)
Personal qualities
- Organised
- Accurate
- Discreet
- Proactive
- Good communicator
Example administrator personal statement
Your personal statement (or profile) sits at the top of your CV. Keep it to 3 or 4 sentences: who you are, your experience, your strongest skills and what you're looking for. Make it your own: these examples show the shape, not words to copy.
Organised and accurate administrator with strong Microsoft Office skills and experience managing bookings and records as a volunteer at a community centre. Types at 55 wpm, handles information confidentially and enjoys keeping things running smoothly for a busy team.
Office administrator with 6 years supporting teams of up to 40, managing diaries, minutes, invoicing and the company CRM. Advanced Excel user who cut monthly reporting time by a third. Known for accuracy, discretion and staying calm with competing deadlines.
Example experience bullet points
Start each bullet with an action verb and add a number wherever you can. Recruiters remember results, not duties.
- Processed 150+ supplier invoices a month in Sage with a 99% first-time accuracy rate.
- Managed diaries for 3 directors, scheduling meetings and travel across UK sites.
- Took and circulated minutes for weekly management meetings within 24 hours.
- Built an Excel tracker for purchase orders, cutting month-end chasing by 5 hours.
- Updated 2,000 customer records in the CRM during a data clean-up, in line with GDPR.
Mistakes that get administrator CVs rejected
- Writing "good IT skills". Name the software: Excel, Outlook, Sage, Xero, Salesforce, SharePoint.
- No numbers. Say how many invoices, people, records or calls you handled.
- Typos. For an admin role, a single spelling mistake can rule you out, so check carefully.
- Hiding your typing speed or Excel level when the advert asks for them.
How to lay out your administrator CV
- Contact details: name, phone, email, town and (optionally) LinkedIn. No photo or date of birth needed in the UK.
- Personal statement: 3 or 4 sentences, like the examples above.
- Key skills: 6 to 10 skills from the keyword lists that are true for you.
- Experience: most recent job first, with 3 to 5 bullet points each.
- Education and training: qualifications, certificates and checks.
Use one column, standard headings and no tables, text boxes or graphics, so applicant tracking systems can read every word. Save it as a Word file unless the advert asks for a PDF.
Administrator CV questions
What skills should an administrator put on a CV?
Software (Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Outlook, plus any finance or CRM systems), organisation, data entry, diary management, minute taking and communication. Match the advert's wording.
Should I include my typing speed?
Yes, if it's good (around 50 wpm or more), especially when the job mentions data entry or audio typing.
How do I get an admin job with no experience?
Use transferable experience: organising events, handling money in retail, volunteering or coursework. A short course in Excel or business administration also helps.
Get a administrator CV tailored to each job you apply for
Upload your CV once. For every job, Trabo rewrites it with the advert's keywords, using only your real experience, and shows your ATS score.