Personal Assistant CV Example
A personal assistant CV should highlight your ability to anticipate the needs of busy professionals, manage complex schedules, and handle a wide range of personal and professional tasks with discretion.
Recommended template: StructuredPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Specify the seniority and role of the person or people you have supported.
- Highlight your ability to manage both personal and professional tasks seamlessly.
- Include examples of complex arrangements or problem-solving situations you have handled.
- Demonstrate your proactive approach and ability to anticipate needs before being asked.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Personal Assistant CV
A personal assistant CV should convey trust, competence, and adaptability. Unlike general administrative roles, a PA is often deeply embedded in the professional and sometimes personal life of their principal. Employers are looking for someone who combines strong organisational skills with emotional intelligence, discretion, and the ability to think ahead. Your CV should position you as an indispensable support partner.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile that states who you have supported and at what level. Detail each role with context about the principal, the organisation, and your scope of support. Separate responsibilities from achievements and include examples that demonstrate your initiative and discretion. Two pages is appropriate for most experienced PAs.
CV Format
Select a professional, elegant template that reflects the quality of support you provide. Avoid cluttered or overly creative designs. Use consistent formatting and ensure your document looks polished — your CV should be as well-presented as the correspondence you produce for your principal. Save as a PDF.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Personal Assistant
Highly organised personal assistant with seven years of experience supporting senior directors and business owners across the property and hospitality sectors. Expert in diary management, travel coordination, and handling confidential matters with absolute discretion. Recognised for an intuitive ability to anticipate needs, resolve problems before they arise, and maintain a calm and efficient presence even during the busiest periods.
Personal Assistant — Legal Sector
Professional personal assistant with five years of experience in City law firms, supporting managing partners and senior equity partners with diary management, client liaison, and billing administration. Proficient in case management systems, legal document formatting, and coordinating complex schedules across multiple time zones. Known for meticulous attention to detail and unwavering reliability.
Personal Assistant — HNWI
Discreet and resourceful personal assistant with six years of experience providing both personal and professional support to high-net-worth individuals. Experienced in managing household staff, coordinating private travel arrangements, and handling luxury event planning. Combines exceptional organisational skills with the flexibility and tact required to manage the varied demands of private clients.
State the seniority of the individuals you have supported, your years of experience, and the sectors you have worked in. Highlight your key strengths — discretion, diary management, travel coordination — and include one defining achievement. Three to four sentences is ideal.
Key Skills for Your Personal Assistant CV
Personal & Professional Support
Providing seamless assistance with both work-related and personal tasks to enable busy professionals to focus on their priorities.
Diary & Schedule Management
Organising and maintaining complex calendars, resolving conflicts, and ensuring the principal is prepared for every engagement.
Travel Coordination
Booking and managing travel arrangements including flights, accommodation, ground transport, and detailed itineraries.
Expense Management
Processing expense claims, reconciling credit card statements, and maintaining accurate financial records.
Correspondence Drafting
Writing and proofreading emails, letters, reports, and presentations on behalf of the principal.
Event Planning
Organising professional and personal events including dinners, conferences, and celebrations.
Confidentiality
Handling sensitive personal and commercial information with absolute discretion and professionalism.
Microsoft Office Suite
Using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook at an advanced level for document creation and communication management.
Anticipating Needs
Proactively identifying upcoming requirements and taking action before being asked, reducing the principal's administrative burden.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, name the principal's title and describe the organisation briefly. List responsibilities that demonstrate the range and complexity of your support — diary management, travel, correspondence, events, and personal tasks. Include achievements such as successful events, cost savings, or process improvements. Specific examples and figures make your CV more compelling.
Personal Assistant to the Managing Director
Regency Hotels Group
Provided comprehensive personal and professional support to the managing director of a boutique hotel group with six properties across the South East.
Responsibilities
- Managed a demanding diary with up to 12 meetings per day, coordinating with hotel general managers, investors, and external advisers.
- Arranged domestic and international travel including flights, hotels, ground transport, and restaurant reservations for business and personal trips.
- Drafted and proofread correspondence, presentations, and board papers on behalf of the managing director.
- Managed personal tasks including household maintenance coordination, school liaison, and private event organisation.
- Processed monthly expense claims, reconciled credit card statements, and liaised with the finance team on cost approvals.
Achievements
- Organised a private investor dinner for 40 guests at a country estate, managing all logistics including catering, entertainment, and accommodation to outstanding feedback.
- Implemented a digital filing system that replaced six filing cabinets and reduced document retrieval time from 15 minutes to under two minutes.
- Maintained an unbroken record of on-time diary management over a three-year period, with zero missed meetings or double bookings.
Personal Assistant
Crawford & Partners Chartered Surveyors
Supported two senior partners of a commercial property consultancy, managing their professional schedules and client communications.
Responsibilities
- Managed diaries for two partners, scheduling property inspections, client meetings, and networking events across the region.
- Prepared fee proposals, client reports, and property valuation summaries from handwritten notes and dictation recordings.
- Coordinated CPD events for the firm, booking venues, managing registrations, and producing attendee packs.
- Handled telephone calls and email correspondence, acting as the first point of contact for clients and professional contacts.
Achievements
- Increased client meeting scheduling efficiency by introducing an online booking system, eliminating back-and-forth email exchanges.
- Received consistent praise from both partners in annual reviews for reliability, discretion, and proactive problem solving.
Education & Qualifications
List your highest qualification first, followed by any PA-specific training or certifications. Include IT qualifications, language skills, and any professional development courses. First aid and driving licence can also be relevant for PA roles.
Diploma in PA Skills
A specialist qualification covering advanced secretarial, organisational, and communication skills for personal assistants.
Microsoft Office Specialist
Certification demonstrating advanced proficiency in core Microsoft Office applications.
Speed Typing Qualification
A typing qualification demonstrating professional-level speed and accuracy.
Full UK Driving Licence
Useful for PA roles that involve running errands, meeting coordination, or accompanying the principal to events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make my PA CV stand out?
Should I include personal tasks on my PA CV?
What is the difference between a PA and a secretary?
How important is discretion for a personal assistant CV?
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