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Office administrator: CV and cover letter examples

2 fully written cover letters, a ready CV with a placeholder portrait and practical tips – open the example and replace the details with yours.

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Cover letter examples

Each example is written for a different starting point. Borrow the structure, not the sentences – your own examples and numbers are what make a letter work.

1First admin job after collegeEntry level

Grace Bennett
25 Kirkstall Lane
Leeds LS5 3BE
0221 4710 054 · grace.bennett@example.com

Greenway Housing Association
Okoro
40 Station Road
Leeds LS1 4BT

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Office administrator

Dear Ms Okoro,

I am writing about the office administrator role advertised on your website. I have just finished a business administration course and spent my placement year in the office of a building contractor, where the office is the place everything passes through.

During the placement I booked site visits, chased supplier invoices, kept the job sheets up to date and answered the main phone line. When a storm hit in February we had over sixty calls in one morning; I set up a simple spreadsheet so every caller got a reference and a call back the same day. My manager still uses it.

I would like to bring that care to tenants and colleagues at Greenway. I can start in September and would welcome the chance to talk.

Yours sincerely,

Grace Bennett

Enclosures
CV
Course certificate
Placement reference

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2Experienced administrator, part-timeExperienced

Helen Moore
18 Ash Grove
Leeds LS6 1AZ
040 66969 421 · helen.moore@example.com

Hartley Accountants
7 Park Square
Leeds LS1 2NE

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Part-time administrator (20 hours)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Your advert for a morning administrator fits what I can offer: twenty hours a week, Monday to Friday, with eight years’ experience in a busy lettings office behind me.

I prepared tenancy paperwork, handled deposits and rent reminders, arranged repairs with contractors and kept a strict eye on deadlines. Most of my day was spent on the phone with tenants and landlords who were not always happy – I am good at calming people down and getting the facts straight.

I have taken a refresher course in accounting software this autumn so I can support your team from day one. I look forward to hearing whether there is a chance to meet.

Yours faithfully,

Helen Moore

Enclosures
CV
References

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All people, companies and contact details in the examples are fictional.

CV example

A complete CV for the role – with an illustrated placeholder instead of a photo.

Preview of the CV of Grace Bennett in the Modern design
Read the CV as text

Grace Bennett

Office administrator

25 Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 3BE · 0221 4710 054 · grace.bennett@example.com

Placeholder portrait: replace it with your photo in the editor, or remove it.

Work experience

  • 09/2025 – 06/2026
    Office assistant (placement)
    Northfield Construction Ltd, Leeds
    • Diary and site visit bookings
    • Supplier invoices and purchase orders
    • Main phone line and enquiries

Education

  • 2024 – 2026
    Business administration course (level 3)
    Leeds City College, Leeds
  • 2019 – 2024
    Secondary school
    Roundhay School, Leeds

Training

  • 2026
    Spreadsheets for business (advanced)
    Online course

Skills

Word processing and email, Spreadsheets, Invoice processing, Diary management, Customer service

Languages

English (Native), French (A2 – elementary)

Interests

Netball, volunteering at a food bank

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Good to know

Your application in three steps

  1. Add your own photo – or none

    The example uses an illustrated placeholder. Replace it under “Choose photo” in the editor, or remove it: in the UK, US and many other countries a CV photo is not expected.

  2. Replace the details

    Name, contact, jobs, skills: everything is filled in and can be overwritten field by field.

  3. Save as PDF

    The PDF is created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account needed.

What employers look for

Employers hiring for admin roles want to see that you keep things moving: diaries, invoices, orders, phone calls and the hundred small jobs nobody else notices. Show which tasks you handle on your own and which software you use daily.

  • Reliable organisation of diaries, filing and correspondence

  • Confident use of word processing, spreadsheets and email

  • Experience with invoices, purchase orders or a finance system

  • A clear, friendly manner on the phone and in writing

  • Discretion with personal and customer data

Tips for your application

Do

  • List tasks you do on your own, with the software.
  • Give one example of something you improved.
  • Match your examples to the job advert.

Don’t

  • Write “organised and hard-working” without proof.
  • Send a letter full of typos – in admin it counts double.
  • List every program you have ever opened.
Typical interview questions

Prepare a short, honest example from your own work for each one.

  1. How do you prioritise when everyone needs something now?
  2. Which spreadsheet functions do you use?
  3. Tell us about a difficult caller.
  4. What would you improve in a typical office?

Salary expectations

If the advert asks for your salary expectations, give an annual gross figure or a range you have researched – through pay scales, salary surveys from public sources or people who do the job. If it does not ask, leave pay out of the letter; it will come up in the interview.

Frequently asked questions
How long should my cover letter be?

Three or four short paragraphs on one page. Say why this role, what you bring with one or two examples, and when you can start.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the US a photo is usually left out to avoid bias, and many employers prefer CVs without one. In Germany and some other countries it is common but optional. If you use one: recent, friendly, plain background, dressed as you would be on a good day at work.

Can I copy the example letters?

Yes, they are free to use. But recruiters read a lot of letters – one with your own examples, numbers and a real reason for choosing this employer will always do better. Use the examples as scaffolding and write the sentences yourself.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The CV and the letter are created in your browser. Nothing is stored unless you switch on “Save the draft” in the editor – and then only on your device.

Related jobs

Finish your application

Cover letter and CV as PDF, certificates added, all in one file – small enough for any job portal.