Kia ora and welcome to cvapp.nz’s cover letter guide for administrative assistants! We’ll help you skyrocket your career potential and land your ideal job role. Whether you’re new to job-hunting or a seasoned job-seeker, we’ve got you covered. Read ahead for our top advice on how to create a winning cover letter for potential employers!
Formatting cover letters for administrative assistants
Generally speaking, all cover letters follow the same formatting structure. A great cover letter format will include the following:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
- Sign-off
Formatting is important because it helps employers understand who you are and your professional story. Good formatting can also support the overall message you’re sharing with employers, while bad formatting can undermine the content in your cover letter and decrease your chances of employers reaching out to you. Our cover letter guide will help you understand the importance of cover letters and offer advice on how to create the perfect cover letter for your employer. Let’s get started!
Kia ora Mrs. Adams,
As a child, I loved the idea that each time we help or serve someone, we are changing their life for the better. Seemingly small acts of kindness or service, such as opening the door for someone or offering a friendly smile has the power to change the course of someone's day. As an administrative assistant, the power to change lives
is in the everyday details. It's in the opportunity to be an administrative assistant for Porterhouse.
As an administrative assistant with three years experience serving clients and the community, I pride myself on having strong organisational skills. I prioritise meeting deadlines, understanding client goals and always staying up-to-date with technology and software that allows me to complete projects to a seamless finish. High-quality work does not happen on accident. High-quality work is intentional, industrial and innovative: qualities that I strive to be every day as an administrative assistant.
In addition to these skills, I also run the blog Product Junkie. Product Junkie is
about inspiring the everyday individual to rise above their daily challenges and learn how to harness the power of resourcefulness to meet their most ambitious goals. Product Junkie has over 40,000 followers on Instagram and 28,000 followers on YouTube. Managing Product Junkie has required me to have an eye for evolution and organisation. I would love to translate these skills to a position with Porterhouse.
I also believe I would be an ideal candidate for Porterhouse due to the following:
- I have an extremely strong work ethic and commitment to service. In 2017, I was awarded the Supreme Winner Award in the Hawke's Bay Young Leaders Awards for my commitment to service and leadership.
- I have very strong communication skills. This is a result of having to manage community engagement for previous clients and subscribers to Product Junkie's social media channels. I also have a naturally upbeat, positive personality and enjoy working with diverse groups of people.
- I am reliable, honest and always up for the challenge. On my Product Junkie
social media channels, I always teach people that challenges are springboards to new heights. With Porterhouse, I would take on each challenge with a can-do attitude and work hard to help Porterhouse achieve their goals.
I truly hope you consider my application as an administrative assistant. I am grateful for your time and consideration and I hope to hear from you soon.
Ngā mihi, Alex Jones
Cover Letter Header: Add Your Contact Details
The header is usually the first thing employers notice on your cover letter. For this reason, a compelling and clean header is essential. Headers grab the interest of your potential employer and hook them in.
From a functional point of view, headers also contain the contact details for potential employers to contact you. You should include your full name, phone number and email in your header, as well as any links to professional websites such as LinkedIn or Behance. You can also add your mailing address if you prefer. If you’re uncomfortable putting your full mailing address, you can also just include your city, region and/or postcode.
Cover letter greeting: Personalise your cover letter
As an administrative assistant, you’ll know the importance of greetings. Being able to politely and confidently greet customers, staff and senior management is an essential skill, and a cover letter greeting is no different.
In your cover letter, you can greet potential employers using greetings such as “Dear Mr. Smith,” “Dear Team 123” or “Tena koe, Mrs. Williams.” All of these greetings are respectful and professional. We don’t recommend using more informal greetings such as “hey” or “hi.” There are instances where you can use more casual greetings, but before doing so you should have a good understanding of the company’s culture and values. You can always check out their website or social media to learn more about them.
At cvapp.nz, we always recommend using employer’s personal names where possible. If you know the name of your recruiter, don’t be afraid to address them! Personalising your cover letter can be a great way to connect with your employer before even meeting them.
Kia ora Mrs. Adams,
Cover letter introduction: Start off strong
As an administrative assistant, you’ll know the importance of first impressions. Think of your first paragraph as your first impression with an employer! Your first paragraph is the most important in your cover letter, so make sure to start off strong with a compelling introduction that emphasizes your qualifications and work experience relevant to the role. Detail your most impressive accomplishments and showcase your strengths. Additionally, include information about why you're interested and motivated to apply for the role; let employers know why you'd be the perfect fit. Provide evidence and lay out your relevant achievements and experiences carefully. Also, if applicable, include the number of years of experience in the field and any educational achievements like your degree program. Your cover letter should look something like this upon completion:
As a child, I loved the idea that each time we help or serve someone, we are changing their life for the better. Seemingly small acts of kindness or service, such as opening the door for someone or offering a friendly smile has the power to change the course of someone's day. As an administrative assistant, the power to change lives
is in the everyday details. It's in the opportunity to be an administrative assistant for Porterhouse.
Cover letter body paragraph: Persuading your employer
The body paragraph of your cover letter should be the most comprehensive and persuasive. Feature your work experience and academic credentials, as well as any relevant skills that make you the ideal candidate. Be specific and include names and institutions you're affiliated with. Ensure that your paragraph is tailored to the institution that you're submitting your cover letter to; this will make it sound more authentic. For more guidance, check out this example of an excellent middle paragraph:
As an administrative assistant with three years experience serving clients and the community, I pride myself on having strong organisational skills. I prioritise meeting deadlines, understanding client goals and always staying up-to-date with technology and software that allows me to complete projects to a seamless finish. High-quality work does not happen on accident. High-quality work is intentional, industrial and innovative: qualities that I strive to be every day as an administrative assistant.
In addition to these skills, I also run the blog Product Junkie. Product Junkie is
about inspiring the everyday individual to rise above their daily challenges and learn how to harness the power of resourcefulness to meet their most ambitious goals. Product Junkie has over 40,000 followers on Instagram and 28,000 followers on YouTube. Managing Product Junkie has required me to have an eye for evolution and organisation. I would love to translate these skills to a position with Porterhouse.
I also believe I would be an ideal candidate for Porterhouse due to the following:
- I have an extremely strong work ethic and commitment to service. In 2017, I was awarded the Supreme Winner Award in the Hawke's Bay Young Leaders Awards for my commitment to service and leadership.
- I have very strong communication skills. This is a result of having to manage community engagement for previous clients and subscribers to Product Junkie's social media channels. I also have a naturally upbeat, positive personality and enjoy working with diverse groups of people.
- I am reliable, honest and always up for the challenge. On my Product Junkie
social media channels, I always teach people that challenges are springboards to new heights. With Porterhouse, I would take on each challenge with a can-do attitude and work hard to help Porterhouse achieve their goals.
Cover letter conclusion: Leave a lasting impression
In the conclusion of your cover letter, thank potential employers for their time and consideration, and express your desire for an interview with an assertive call-to-action. Great examples of this include “I look forward to hearing from you soon” or “You can contact me at [insert contact details]. ” You can include a formal goodbye such as “Ngā mihi” or “Kind regards. ” Optional: Include a digital signature for a professional finish. Learn more about our NZ cover letter templates by accessing our builder! We’ll show you a great example of a cover letter conclusion below:
I truly hope you consider my application as an administrative assistant. I am grateful for your time and consideration and I hope to hear from you soon.
Epic cover letters are intentional
Writing a cover letter is a great way to create a positive, professional connection with potential employers. Don’t be afraid to mention your passions, your “why” or any relevant details that may have influenced your desire to apply for a role with the company. Don’t forget to present yourself as professional and friendly when you are writing your cover letter. If you ever get stuck, we’ve got plenty of great examples, templates and resources on our website. Karawhiua!
