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A general assistant is the backbone of day-to-day operations across many industries: from offices and schools to retail stores, hospitality, and healthcare. Their main responsibility is to support teams and ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to write a general assistant CV that highlights your reliability, practical skills, and can-do attitude. You’ll learn how to describe your experience, structure your CV for maximum impact, and see a professional general assistant CV example.
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General assistant CV example
Jane Mitchell
General Assistant
Manchester, UK
07894 562 318
jane.mitchell@email.com
Personal statement
Reliable and proactive general assistant with over 3 years of experience supporting daily operations in busy retail and warehouse environments. Skilled in inventory control, customer assistance, and maintaining smooth workflow under pressure. Improved stock accuracy by 18% and contributed to a 20% increase in team efficiency through effective coordination. Eager to contribute skills to help Company XYZ improve daily operations.
Work experience
General Assistant
HomeStyle Superstore, Manchester
April 2022 – October 2025
- Supported store operations, including stock management, merchandising, and customer service.
- Assisted with daily deliveries and restocking, helping improve product availability by 15%.
- Provided prompt, friendly customer support, contributing to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.
- Maintained store cleanliness and organisation in line with company standards.
- Collaborated with team members and supervisors to meet daily sales and efficiency goals.
Volunteering experience
Community Event Volunteer
Manchester Food Drive Initiative
June 2020 – March 2021
- Assisted in organising donation stations and distributing food parcels to local families.
- Supported event setup and coordinated volunteers to ensure efficient delivery of services.
- Helped raise awareness of the programme through community outreach and local partnerships.
Education
GCSEs (9 subjects, including English and Maths)
Manchester Central High School
Completed 2019
Key skills
- Stock control
- Inventory management
- Team collaboration
- Communication
- Customer service
- Complaint resolution
- Time management
- Manual handling
- Workplace safety
- Problem-solving
Certifications
- Level 2 Certificate in Health and Safety in the Workplace (2022)
- Manual Handling Awareness Training (2021)
Choose the right CV format for your general assistant CV
Before you start writing, it’s important to pick the right CV format and learn about a few simple formatting rules. The chronological CV format works best for most general assistants. It highlights your most recent experience first, showing employers how your skills and responsibilities have progressed over time.
If you’re just starting out or have little experience, you can use a skills-based CV instead. This format focuses on your transferable skills rather than work experience, which is great for entry-level candidates or career changers.
When formatting your document, keep these tips in mind:
- Keep the length of your CV to one page if you’re new to the workforce or two pages max if you have more experience.
- Use a clean, easy-to-read CV font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid decorative or hard-to-read fonts. Stick to 10–12 pt size for the main text and 14–16 pt for section headers.
- Set margins to 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides for a balanced layout.
- Leave enough white space between sections to make your CV easy to scan quickly.
- Save and send your CV as a PDF or Word (.docx) file to preserve formatting and ensure compatibility.
- Use clear section titles like Personal Statement, Work Experience, and Education to make your CV easy to navigate.
- Keep the same formatting throughout — same bullet style, spacing, and font size across all sections.
How to write a general assistant CV
Writing a great general assistant CV is all about showing that you’re dependable, efficient, and ready to help wherever you’re needed. Employers want to see that you can handle different tasks, stay organised, and contribute to a positive work environment.
Here’s how to structure your CV step by step:
- Start with your contact details
- Write a clear personal statement for a general assistant CV
- Highlight your work experience
- List your key skills
- Showcase your education
- Add bonus sections to strengthen your general assistant CV
Start with your contact details
Your contact information is the first thing an employer will see on your general assistant CV. This section should sit neatly at the top of your CV, taking up as little space as possible while giving the recruiter everything they need to reach you.
Include the following details:
- Full name – use the same name you’d like to be addressed by in professional settings.
- Phone number – make sure it’s your personal mobile number and that your voicemail sounds professional.
- Email address – avoid casual addresses (like funnyname123@gmail.com); instead, use a format like firstname.lastname@email.com.
- LinkedIn profile – if it’s up-to-date and professional.
- (Optional) Location – simply list your city and postcode; no need for a full address.
Write a clear personal statement for a general assistant CV
A personal statement (also called a CV summary) serves as an introduction to your CV. It contains 3–5 sentences written in third person, that tell employers who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re a great fit for the role.
Focus on the following at the start of your CV:
- Your experience level (e.g., years of experience or the type of environments you’ve worked in).
- A few of your strongest skills, such as organisation, multitasking, or teamwork.
- Strong and quantified work accomplishment.
- Your career goals. Show enthusiasm for supporting the business and helping things run smoothly.
Tailor your statement for each job application. Read the job advert and mirror the employer’s priorities. This shows you’ve taken the time to understand what they’re looking for. Never send a general assistant CV with a generic personal profile.
Highlight your work experience
The work experience section is where you show that you can handle the day-to-day demands of being a general assistant. List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current job and working backwards.
For each position, include:
- Job title
- Employer name and location
- Dates of employment (month and year)
- 3–5 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements
Focus on what you achieved and how you added value. Instead of listing only duties, try to include quantified results when possible (for example, “helped improve stock accuracy by 15%” or “supported a team of 10 staff to meet daily targets”).
Always read the job description first. When writing this section, use similar keywords and skills to those that were mentioned in the posting. This helps your CV pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and shows recruiters that you’re a great match.
List your key skills
The skills section of your general assistant CV gives employers a quick overview of what you’re good at, both in practical, technical areas and in how you work with others.
Include a mix of hard skills (the hands-on or technical abilities you’ve learned on the job) and soft skills (the personal qualities that make you reliable and easy to work with). Aim for 6–10 skills in total, using bullet points or a simple two-column layout for easy reading.
Sample general assistant skills include:
Hard skills:
- Stock control and inventory management
- Equipment maintenance
- Data entry and filing
- Cash handling and till operation
- Health and safety compliance
- Basic computer literacy (Microsoft Office, email systems)
Soft skills:
- Time management
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Customer service
Don’t just list random, generic skills. Instead, match them to the job advert. For example, if the employer mentions “ability to multitask and stay organised in a fast-paced environment”, make sure to include skills like multitasking and organisation. This shows you’ve paid attention and are ready to meet their specific needs.
Showcase your education
The education section of your general assistant CV helps employers understand your background and qualifications. General assistant jobs don’t usually require a degree, but you still need to add your educational background to your general assistant CV.
List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent qualification. Include:
- The name of the qualification (e.g., GCSEs, NVQ, diploma, or degree)
- The institution or school name
- The location (city and county)
- The year completed or expected completion date
Suppose you’ve taken any short courses that show initiative or practical knowledge, like first aid, manual handling, or customer service training. In that case, you can include them here or in a separate Certifications section. These can make a big difference when competing for entry-level roles.
Add bonus sections to strengthen your general assistant CV
Adding extra sections can make your general assistant CV stand out from other candidates, even if you don’t have much experience yet. These sections give you space to highlight achievements, training, or personal interests that show you’re a proactive, skilled, and well-rounded candidate.
Choose 1–3 bonus sections that are most relevant to your experience and the role you’re applying for. Here are some examples you could include in your CV for a general assistant:
- Certifications – Include any additional training that supports your application, such as first aid, manual handling, or health and safety certificates.
- Volunteer work – Great for showcasing transferable skills like teamwork, communication, or responsibility.
- Languages – List any languages you speak and your level of fluency (basic, conversational, fluent).
- Awards and achievements – Mention any recognition for hard work or excellent performance in previous jobs or school.
- Hobbies and interests – Add hobbies that show valuable qualities, like leadership, creativity, or community involvement. For example: “Volunteering at local charity events” or “Playing football in a local team.”
Keep each section short; just two to four bullet points per category is enough. The goal is to add depth without overwhelming your main qualifications.
Don’t stop at your general assistant CV. Write a cover letter to go with it. A well-crafted cover letter lets you show personality, explain why you’re the right fit, and highlight the enthusiasm that makes you stand out as a general assistant.
Dos and don’ts for a general assistant CV
Read the job advert carefully and mirror the language it uses. Highlight the specific skills the employer wants, such as organisation, teamwork, or multitasking.
Use bullet points, short sentences, and professional headings to make your CV easy to read. Recruiters should be able to scan it in seconds and understand your strengths.
Instead of listing duties, show what you accomplished. For example, “Reduced supply shortages by 10% through improved stock management” sounds stronger than “Responsible for stock.”
A CV with spelling or grammar mistakes can make you seem careless. Read it out loud, use spell-check, or ask someone else to review it before submitting.
Each role has different priorities — a retail-based general assistant may need customer service skills, while an office assistant might need admin experience. Customise your CV every time.
There’s no need to list your full address, age, or photo. Stick to your name, general location, and contact details.
Words like “hardworking” and “motivated” are fine, but back them up with examples. Employers value evidence of your skills so use CV action verbs to convey impact.
Keep your CV current with new achievements, skills, and roles. Even if you’re not job-hunting, keeping it fresh saves time later.
Top FAQs about your general assistant CV
What are the duties of a general assistant?
The responsibilities of general assistant roles include a variety of administrative tasks, from monitoring emails, answering phone calls, and photocopying documents to data entry, proofreading, and taking minutes during meetings. You may also be asked to take on ad-hoc duties like collecting packages, purchasing office supplies, or booking rooms for meetings.
What skills does a general assistant need?
General assistants need to be versatile and adaptable in their approach to work. They should be hardworking and great as part of a team. In terms of technical skills, computer literacy is a must, with note-taking, data entry, and filing knowledge all good to have as well.
Where do general assistants work?
General assistants can work in a wide range of sectors. You can find general assistant jobs at offices, schools and hospitals, as well as supermarkets, warehouses, and hospitality settings like hotels.
What are the duties of a general assistant at a school?
When working at a school, the responsibilities of a general assistant focus on providing clerical and administrative support to teachers, department heads, and other staff. This can include printing learning materials, monitoring attendance, and even supervising children during breaks.
How much does a general assistant earn?
General assistants usually earn around £20,000 in a full-time role. This will be calculated pro-rata for a casual general assistant depending on how many hours they work each week. A part-time role of 20 hours per week will typically pay around £10,000 a year, for example.
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