5 Helpful Tips for Improving your Personal Assistant Resume

As communications and information multiply, it is becoming increasingly necessary for business people to use personal assistants. These jobs can pay well, allow for great flexibility, and even open doors for future promotion. But in the process of finding a position as a personal assistant, what should you be careful of? Here are five tips to make your resume as good as possible.

1. Your PA resumes presentation counts. Pay attention to details.

   Anyone looking for a personal assistant wants you to have good spelling and proper grammar, know how to make a document look good, and pay meticulous attention to detail. Go over everything multiple times and be sure that there aren't any mistakes.
   
   

2. Know the purpose of your resume.

   Resumes shouldn't be static documents, like a public record or a medical chart. Your resume is a proposal in which you sell your skills and past experience. Before submitting your resume, learn as much as you can about the job you are pursuing. Then customize your resume to fit that opportunity perfectly. You want your potential employer to feel like you offer exactly what skills and experience has been looking for.
   
   

3. Don't be afraid to brag a little.

   People don't ask for your resume so that you can show your humility. Think of everything great you've ever done and put it down. Sometimes seeming unrelated accomplishments should be included (ran a marathon, black belt in karate, published a book). One caution - don't include silly details or you might cheapen your appeal.
   
   

4. Use Keywords

   The bad news is that some companies won't even read your resume - they automate the resume sorting process. Even if someone does actually look at it, your resume won't get more than 60 seconds. Use strong, vibrant, action-oriented key words. If you aren't sure what that means, search online for resume keywords and include as many of them as you can.
   
   

5. Send it on time and follow instructions. Impress your organizational skills.

   When offering yourself as a personal assistant, you want to seem highly organized and low-maintenance. Turning in your resume after the deadline or emailing when you should have faxed is a sure way to be eliminated. Show that you will make things easy and exceed expectations - starting with the process of competing for the job.