How To Write A Great Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

Get Results This Year With an Office Assistant Cover Letter

Updated February 27, 20241.1k

Office assistants need to be skilled in a number of different tasks. Here's how to ensure all of those skills shine through in your cover letter. Office Assistant Cover Letter Example

One of the most important parts of applying for an office assistant position is proving your skills to your hiring manager. Office assistant resumes are often full of soft skills, interpersonal skills being the most difficult ones to prove. If you want to write a more effective office assistant cover letter, this cover letter sample is a great starting point.

What To Know About Simple Cover Letter Templates

Office Assistant Cover Letter Example

The best starting point for your cover letter is a cover letter sample that you can build up. Use this office assistant cover letter example to start understanding how to write cover letters for this challenging field.

Dear Mr. Smith,

Over six years ago, I got my first office assistant position, assuming I would have it as a filler job until I could get something “better.” However, I quickly fell in love with the job and decided to stick with it. Over the years, I’ve learned how to excel in an assistant position, improving work efficiency by 23% on average in my last job.

I pride myself on “blending into the background,” doing everything necessary in an office without ever making my presence too obvious. My organizational and problem-solving skills allow me to maintain an effective work environment all by myself, often without ever having to ask someone else for help.

I believe that by taking over some of the administrative tasks within your agency, I could help you improve your efficiency. Let me know when we can sit down and talk about my qualifications further.

Sincerely,

Sindy Morales

This cover letter is built specifically for an office assistant position. It’s very short to provide you with a great starting point for any office assistant cover letter.

Tips for Writing Your Office Assistant Cover Letter Using This Example

Your first step should be to write a great salutation. Avoid generic greetings, like “Dear Hiring Manager” and “To Whom It May Concern.” Instead, start with the hiring manager’s name. This instantly lets the recruiter know that you care about writing a great cover letter and it’s a great starting point to getting a new job. From there, you can follow this cover letter format.

First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a hook and list your best achievements

In your first paragraph, you need a strong hook to capture the recruiter’s attention. Remember, hiring managers often get dozens or even hundreds of job applications for a single job posting. A great cover letter needs to stand out from everyone else. This applicant indicates that she initially thought an office assistant position would just be a filler job until she fell in love with it and started to see it as her career.
Second paragraph: Give more information about how you’re the best fit for the job

Next, you can start giving more information about what makes you qualified for your position, whether that position is as an office manager, an office assistant, an administrative assistant or something else entirely. This applicant directly mentions what makes her unique. She “blends into the background,” getting the necessary jobs done without disturbing workers. If you need extra space to discuss your administrative support skills and how well you fill the job requirements, include bullet points underneath this paragraph.
Third paragraph: Call to action

You pull your cover letter together in the third paragraph with a call to action. Remind the hiring manager what makes you right for this administrative assistant job. This reminds the hiring manager that you meet these job requirements better than other job seekers. Here, the applicant states that she believes she could help the company with its work efficiency. Remember to also sign off with a polite term like “Sincerely.”

FAQ: Office Assistant Cover Letters

Do I really need a cover letter to get an office assistant job?

If a job application doesn’t state that you need to turn in a cover letter, it can be tempting to just avoid doing so. After all, wouldn’t your time be better spent on other elements of your job search? While it might slightly slow down your ability to submit to more job postings, it can increase your chances of finding a job. Adding a cover letter lets a hiring manager see your work ethic and get more information about your work experience. Plus, the ResumeNerd cover letter builder makes it easy to write.

How long should my cover letter be to get an office assistant job?

You should try to keep your cover letter between half a page and three-quarters of a page, which is about 250-350 words. Keep in mind that a hiring manager must work through many of these, so you should only include as much information as necessary to prove that you’re a perfect fit. For every length, you can also find plenty of cover letter templates at ResumeNerd.

Does this cover letter example work if I don’t have a lot of experience?

Office assistants and other office administration jobs are often some of the first that people apply for, so you don’t need much experience to apply for one. In your cover letter emphasize any education you have and your skills, rather than lingering for too long on your experience. If you read many sample cover letters, you can also learn how other people with little experience talk about their past experiences.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.