ATS Resume Keywords for Administrative Assistant (2026)

The 20 keywords that actually move the score, pulled from current 2026 job descriptions in administrative.

If you're a Administrative Assistant applying through any Applicant Tracking System (Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, BambooHR), the difference between getting an interview and getting auto-rejected is often keyword overlap with the specific job description. The list below is the 20 terms that recur across recent Administrative Assistant job postings.

The 20 keywords

How to use this list

1. Paste the actual job description and your resume into the free ATS checker. It returns your current match score and the specific keywords missing from your resume.
2. For each missing keyword you've genuinely used, add it inside an experience bullet — not in a "Skills" dump. ATS engines weigh keywords-in-context higher than keyword-stuff.
3. Use the JD's exact phrasing. Iterate until your match score is 80%+.

What ATS systems actually scan for in an Administrative Assistant resume

Administrative and executive-assistant postings draw huge applicant volume, so Applicant Tracking Systems filter aggressively on the exact tool stack and the level of support. The parser is matching named applications — Outlook for calendar management, Concur for expense reports, SharePoint and DocuSign for documents, QuickBooks for light bookkeeping — not the phrase "proficient in Microsoft Office."

The biggest tailoring lever is support level. An executive-assistant role weights executive support, travel coordination, calendar management, and meeting minutes; an office-coordinator role weights office supplies, vendor management, and filing systems. Saying "administrative support" when the JD says "executive support" can drop you below the match line. Paste the posting into the JD keyword extractor to see which terms it actually prioritizes.

Soft-skill filler ("phone etiquette," "detail-oriented") crowds out the tool keywords that ATS scores, so keep it minimal and lead with the stack. For why placement and exact tool names matter, see how ATS software actually works.

Example bullets that use these keywords naturally

• Provided executive support to 3 VPs: calendar management, complex travel coordination, and expense reports in Concur.
• Captured meeting minutes and managed document workflows across SharePoint and DocuSign for weekly leadership syncs.
• Handled data entry and invoicing in QuickBooks while coordinating vendors and office supplies under budget.
• Ran team communication across Outlook, Slack, and Asana, cutting scheduling conflicts 30%.

Why Administrative Assistant resumes get auto-rejected

• "Proficient in Microsoft Office" without the specific apps (Outlook, Excel, SharePoint) the JD names.
• No support-level signal — "executive support" vs "administrative support" changes which roles you match.
• Soft-skill filler crowding out the tool keywords the ATS actually scores.
• Generic "office software" instead of the exact stack (Concur, DocuSign, QuickBooks, Asana).

FAQ: ATS keywords for Administrative Assistants

Is listing "Microsoft Office" enough?
No — name the specific apps (Outlook, Excel, SharePoint) plus any expense or e-sign tools the JD lists, like Concur and DocuSign.

EA vs admin assistant — different keywords?
Yes. EA roles weight executive support, travel, calendar, and Concur; general admin weights supplies, filing, and vendor coordination. Run each JD through the extractor.

Do tools like Notion, Slack, and Asana matter?
Yes when the JD names them. Modern offices filter on the collaboration stack, so include the ones you've used.

⭐ Free + open source. Star the repo on GitHub if this helped, so other job seekers can find it.