How to write an impressive personal assistant cover letter
Professionals of all kinds rely on personal assistants to keep their daily affairs in order, from travel arrangements to scheduling meetings. To become a personal assistant, you will need a cover letter that highlights your core strengths and commitment to simplifying your client’s professional life.
In this guide, we will teach you about the 5 core elements of an effective personal assistant cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- How to write a personal assistant cover letter header & headline
- Why you should personalize the greeting on your cover letter
- What to include in your personal assistant cover letter introduction
- Where to showcase your professional value in a cover letter
- How to write an effective closing statement on a cover letter
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1. How to write a personal assistant cover letter header & headline
The first essential part of any cover letter is the header and headline.
A cover letter header is a block of text found in the upper left corner of the document that contains all the necessary information about the company, applicant, and applicant’s contact information.
As for the cover letter headline, this is a brief statement that serves as a title for the cover letter. It is similar to a news story headline, containing keywords intended to catch the attention of the reader.
Below are examples of how to write each of these elements on a personal assistant’s cover letter:
Formatting the header
The header of your personal assistant cover letter can vary in formatting, but should always contain the following information:
- The name of the company and department you are applying to (in the case of a personal assistant, you may want to sub in the actual person’s name who you wish to be the assistant of)
- Your name and professional title
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
Here is an example of a header on a personal assistant’s cover letter
To: McMillan Corporate Offices, Mr. Pete Smith’s Department
From: Jane Doe, Personal Assistant
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe
Writing the headline
The headline of your personal assistant cover letter helps to make a first impression on the employer. It should outline what the cover letter will discuss and compel the person to read further.
When writing a cover letter headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective headline from a personal assistant’s cover letter, followed by a breakdown of each main component
4 Reasons Why I Am the Perfect Personal Assistant to Add to Your Team
Trigger Word/Number: 4 Reasons
Keyword: Personal Assistant
Adjective: Perfect
Promise: Your Team – by adding in this piece of information, you show the employer you are committed to applying your skills specifically for their needs.
2. Why you should personalize the greeting on your cover letter
For personal assistants especially, it is crucial to include a personalized greeting on your cover letter.
Rather than writing a vague greeting – such as “To Whom It May Concern” – you should research the exact name of the person you will be the assistant of. This shows not only the care you have put into your cover letter but your attention to detail as well.
If you are applying to a professional personal assistant company, you may swap out the use of a name for one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
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3. What to include in your personal assistant cover letter introduction
After your header, headline, and greeting are complete, it’s time to write your cover letter introduction. You should aim to immediately describe your best qualifying attributes to further grab the attention of employers, showing them right off the bat why you are a good fit for the position.
The introduction should be a concise, one-to-three sentence paragraph that includes the following information:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a personal assistant cover letter introduction
To [Employer’s Name],
I am a seasoned Personal Assistant with 4+ years of experience working as the assistant for the Editor in Chief of Paper Magazine. After deciding to branch out from my position with a staffing company and begin my career as a freelance assistant, I was recommended to reach out to you by your business partner, Joe Brown.
4. Where to showcase your professional value in a cover letter
Once your introduction is squared away, you will begin writing the body paragraphs of your cover letter. Within these paragraphs, your main goal should be to showcase your professional value by explaining why you are a good fit for the employer and vice versa.
In your cover letter’s body paragraphs, try to answer each of the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Describing your key accomplishments will play a vital role in demonstrating your value to employers. As you write about an achievement, try to use as many specific and quantifiable details as possible.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a personal assistant cover letter
In my previous position with [Employer’s Name], I optimized their digital workflow by implementing a new virtual scheduling system. This system helped to increase meeting efficiency by 25%, leaving my previous employer with 2+ hours of additional free time per day.
5. How to write an effective closing statement on a cover letter
The final element of any strong cover letter is a thoughtful closing statement. In this statement, you should include details such as:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written closing statement on a personal assistant’s cover letter
By hiring me as your new Personal Assistant, I guarantee I will optimize your workflow and provide you with exceptional support throughout the workweek. I would love to connect sometime within the next two weeks via phone call, virtual meeting, or in-person interview. You may reach me anytime Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (123) 456-7890.
With Pleasure,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
