Executive Assistant CV and Previous Skills Examples

Employment History and Relevant Skills and Experience examples for AO and EO Executive Assistant applications

Civil Service application forms can separate Employment History from Previous Skills and Experience. Employment History is usually a factual timeline. Previous Skills and Experience should map concise evidence against the vacancy requirements.

Return to the Civil Service Executive Assistant Applications hub for the role overview and links to personal statement, behaviour and interview guidance.

How to use the two CV boxes

Employment History

Unless the vacancy asks for more, use Employment History as a plain timeline with employer, role and dates. Do not turn this box into a second personal statement.

~ Department for Public Services | Administrative Officer | March 2024 to present

~ City Advice Service | Customer Service Adviser | June 2021 to February 2024

Relevant Skills and Experience

Use one concise evidence slot for each important advert point. The slot should name the skill, identify where you used it and show your contribution. Full STAR detail belongs in the personal statement or behaviour section.

~ Prioritisation and diary support: Managed meeting requests for two senior managers, checked purpose and deadlines before booking and escalated genuine priority conflicts with the relevant information attached.

Read the vacancy instructions first

Some campaigns ask for duties or achievements in the CV. Others ask for a short skills section or specific criteria. Follow the wording in the vacancy and attachments first.

What good Executive Assistant evidence looks like

• Specific: names the diary, inbox, meeting process, service or stakeholder group involved.
• Concise: gives enough evidence to prove the skill without becoming a full story.
• Relevant: follows the requirements in the advert instead of listing every administrative task you have ever done.
• Grade appropriate: AO evidence shows reliable support and escalation; EO evidence shows stronger judgement and ownership.

Common CV mistakes

• Writing long paragraphs under each criterion.
• Repeating a complete personal statement example in the CV.
• Listing Microsoft Office without showing how the tools were used.
• Using vague labels such as organisation with no real evidence.
• Missing a key essential criterion because several requirements were grouped together.
• Changing previous job titles to make them sound like Civil Service EA roles.