Secretary Resume: Templates, Examples & Essential Skills
As a Secretary, you know exactly what you need to do to keep things organized at an office. Now it’s your turn to be assisted with our resume templates. Use our templates to organize your job application and land your dream job.
Secretary Resume Example MSWord®
Make sure a hiring manager is adding you to their schedule with our Secretary Resume template in Word format.
If you feel you’re ready for a Secretary position, but you’re not sure your resume will impress a hiring manager, don’t worry.
There are plenty of ways to boost your qualifications on paper.
You may be wondering “What skills are important for a Secretary?”, or “What is a professional profile for a Secretary?”
It’s not enough to add any old Secretary skills list or resume summary, you’ll need to list your expertise in a way that really impresses hiring managers.
Luckily, in this article, we can tell you how to do just that.
Keep reading to learn about how to:
- Write a resume for a Secretary position with no experienceCraft a compelling senior Secretary resume
- Incorporate your experience and education into the resume
- Add relevant Secretary resume skills
You can also use our AI resume builder, which uses artificial intelligence to quickly add your information in an organized way that shows off your skills and experience.
Along with this tool, go over our tips below to learn how to craft your ideal Secretary resume.
Secretary Resume Sample
In order to give you a concrete understanding of how to structure your qualifications, it’s a great idea to look at an example resume.
Whether you go over a School Secretary resume example or in another sector, a sample can help you prepare your overall application.
Check out the example below to help you get started:
[Sarah Golden]
[Secretary]
[Portland, ME | 222-555-2222 | s.golden00@randomemail.com]
Summary
Goal-oriented secretary with 5+ years of experience working for multiple reputable organizations. Excellent communication, project management, and organizational skills. Introduced a more effective time management method, increasing office efficiency by 15%. Attained the executive secretary position in 2020.
Experience
Executive Legal Secretary
2020 – Present
Gurewitz Law Firm, Portland, ME
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive corporate documents and resources
- Streamlined the administrative correspondence handling process, thereby producing a 25% efficiency increase Prepared weekly reports for the firm’s shareholders
- Arranged external conference facilities and researched new venues, thereby saving the organization over $500 a month
School Secretary
Sweet Valley, California
2016-2020
- Increased office efficiency by 24% by implementing a new appointment booking system
- Facilitated assignment availability and directed substitute teachers occasionally.
- Increased parents’ and guardians’ satisfaction by 60% via consultation and a new inquiry management system
Education
- MOS Expert, Microsoft Office Certification, 2012
- Secretarial Science, Bean College, ME, 2010 – 2012
- High School Diploma, Camden Hills High, Rockport
Certifications
MOS Expert, Microsoft Office Certification, 2019
Skills
- MS Office Suite, FileMaker Pro, SAP Workplace, and Anaqua
- Quick typing skills (“X” words per minute)
- Report Writing
- Video conferencing software
- AI-powered scheduling tools
- Calendar management and meeting booking systems
- Proficiency in the English language
Hobbies and Interests
- Bilingual in Spanish; developed interest in other cultures and their languages
Choosing the Best Format for a Secretary Resume
Formatting is key when you want to quickly place your relevant experience and skills in the right positions to capture the attention of a hiring manager.
When drafting and adding your qualifications, keep these tips in mind when deciding on a resume format:
- Put your experience in reverse chronological order
- Highlight your skills, especially if you’re entry-level
- Start with a strong resume summary
- Use the right resume keywords throughout
It’s also important to note that many multinational companies employ Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
In fact, around 70% of large companies currently use an ATS, according to SelectSoftware reviews.
If you’re not sure how to add the right words and structure to make the ideal format, our AI tools and resume templates can help you quickly organize your keywords and skill set.
How to Write a Secretary Resume Summary or Objective
It’s best to save the hiring manager some time and energy by giving them a quick overview of your Secretary resume, like a movie trailer.
You’ll need an introduction that really blows them away.
Fortunately, a resume objective or summary can help you accomplish this goal as each of these appear on top of the document.
Below is further information on both types of resume intros:
Resume summary:
A resume summary quickly captures the attention of hiring managers by summarizing your most valuable skills and accomplishments, making it clear why they are a strong fit for the position.
A well-written summary typically ranges from a few sentences to a short paragraph. Take a look at the example below:
Summary
Dedicated secretary with over five years of experience across various reputable organizations. Possesses strong skills in communication, project management, and organization. Implemented an innovative time management system that enhanced office efficiency by 25%. Promoted to executive secretary in 2022, demonstrating a track record of professional growth and success.
This summary is effective because it demonstrates the candidate’s extensive experience, specific skill set, and career progression, all of which align well with the requirements for an advanced secretarial role.
Resume objective:
Suppose you have some grand objective outside the common reasons people present a secretary resume; you can state this in the resume objective. Essentially, this section reveals your abilities, goals, and intentions to the hiring manager, letting them decide if you’re what’s suitable for their establishment.
A resume objective can be useful if you are an entry-level Secretary, even if a summary is used more often nowadays.
Goal-oriented university graduate with profound communication skills, seeking school secretarial job position. Possesses commendable project management skills due to courses studied at university. Prepared to apply effective organizational skills to provide aid to your administrative team.
This is a great example as it clearly states the candidate’s educational background, relevant skills, and eagerness to apply these abilities to support and enhance the administrative functions of the hiring organization.
While you may not have professional experience, you can mention volunteer work or an internship like the example does.
Goal-oriented university graduate with robust communication and project management skills, seeking a school secretary position. Gained practical experience during an administrative internship, enhancing my ability to support and organize team activities effectively. Eager to apply these skills to contribute to the success of your administrative team.
This objective is effective as it combines academic skills with practical internship experience.
💡Top Tip
Never state that you have no experience, as that ruins your chances of success. Focus on what the hiring manager can get from hiring you and nothing more.
Describing Your Experience on a Secretary Resume
Experience plays a huge role in the hiring process. By showing off your accomplishments in previous roles, you can give yourself a better chance of getting hired, as hiring managers value applicants who have been successful.
This section includes your previous places of work, role, duration of employment, and location.
To show off your experience in the best way possible, you should:
- List your experience in reverse-chronological order
- Mention the soft and hard skills you used
- Include quantifiable data
Check out this school Secretary resume example to get a better idea:
School Secretary
Goshen Academy, Sweet Valley, California
2019-2023
- Enhanced office efficiency by 28% by designing and implementing a new appointment booking system and AI-powered scheduling tools.
- Improved availability and coordination of assignments, effectively directing substitute teachers as needed, showcasing adeptness in administrative management and communication.
- Boosted parent and guardian satisfaction by 60% through the development and introduction of a new inquiry management system, demonstrating excellent stakeholder engagement and problem-solving abilities.
This experience section effectively highlights the secretary’s proactive role in improving office operations and communication, emphasizing quantifiable achievements such as significant increases in efficiency and satisfaction.
It emphasizes key skills such as project management, technical proficiency, and stakeholder engagement, making it clear how the candidate has positively impacted the organization.
💡Top Tip
Listing quantifiable results alongside achievements is guaranteed to raise the value of your entry-level secretary resume.
Describing Education on Your Secretary Resume
While some professions aren’t heavily dependent on your qualifications for employment, this factor isn’t present when hiring a corporate secretary. In other words, the hiring manager requires you to have certain knowledge up your sleeve to qualify for the position.
Additionally, the education needed varies depending on the establishment where you desire employment. For example, if you prefer a secretarial role in a law firm or hospital, you need specific qualifications for that setting.
The format for outlining your education is:
- Start with the qualification’s name
- Followed by the institution that provided the qualification
- Include the year you acquired the qualification
Here’s what a sample looks like, to help you structure your education section:
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Los Angeles, CA
- Graduated: 2021
- Relevant Coursework: Office Administration, Business Communication, Project Management
By writing your education like this, you can align your background with the demands of the job, emphasizing your relevant knowledge.
How to Write an Entry Level Secretary Resume as a Fresh College Graduate
Are you a recent college graduate with no qualifications beyond the course you studied in school? If so, you’re likely asking yourself “How do you describe secretarial duties on a resume?”
Well, if you have no experience at all, you should mention any relevant internships you took part in during your college year and also focus on your education.
Here’s how it can look on your application:
Bachelor of Science in Business Management |San Francisco State University| 2019-2023
- Relevant Coursework: Administrative Technology, Business Communications, Organizational Behavior
Internship Summer 2023
- ABC Corporation, San Francisco, CA
- Assisted with the coordination and management of daily administrative activities, developed strong interpersonal skills through client interaction, and supported project management initiatives.
You can also include an internship that you’ve done in your experience section
If you won any awards or accolades, such as making the Dean’s list consistently over a few semesters, you could include this information in bullet points below all the above info.
Did you take part in any extracurricular activities which required you to use your secretarial and organizational skills? Include bulleted information about that too.
Highlighting Your Skills on Your Secretary Resume
Your secretary, resume skills section, must highlight the abilities that will help you succeed if you get the position.
The options are vast as they can include hard skills like computer expertise and soft skills like communication and problem-solving.
To decide which skills are worth highlighting in this section, look over the job description, as it often outlines what they want their new employee to be skilled in.
Soft Skills
- Effective communication
- Professional and courteous
- Interpersonal skills
- Compatible with other workers
- Adaptable
- Time-management
- Detail-oriented
- Accurate
Hard Skills
- MS Office Suite, FileMaker Pro, SAP Workplace and Anaqua
- Quick typing skills (“X” words per minute)
- Report Writing
- Database management system software
- Video conferencing software
- AI-powered scheduling tools
- AI data management tools
- AI virtual assistant tools
Unlike Hard skills, soft skills aren’t technical abilities you learn via education, and they aren’t specific to a particular job.
Essentially, soft skills mostly revolve around emotional intelligence and social skills like working under pressure or communicating effectively.
Note: If you possess additional skills that aren’t listed in the job description, like speaking a foreign language, include it.
Adding Other Sections to Your Secretary Resume
Every little helps, and you may have some qualifications that you can list in extra sections.
Some extra sections that you can add, include:
- Certifications
- Hobbies
- Language skills
- Volunteer work
By adding this additional information, you can boost your professional profile and show that you fit the company’s culture.
Simply go over the job description, and add anything that can make your resume shine a bit more, like so:
Certifications:
- Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
Languages:
- Fluent in English and Spanish; strong interest in global cultures has enhanced language skills.
Featured content 🌟: Avoid providing details that may be inconsistent with the job or company culture. Try to research the company online before tailoring your resume.
Key Takeaway
Creating an impactful resume may seem easier said than done, but if you include useful information, and format it the right way, you’ll land an interview in no time.
Simply remember to take advantage of our AI resume tools and templates, and keep the following in mind:
- Draft a well-written resume objective or summary that grabs the recruiter’s attention
- Highlight your work experience with quantitative data
- Include relevant skills, especially computer-based qualifications
- Mention internships or volunteer work if you don’t have a professional work history
- Add extra achievements like a certification or language skills section
Follow these tips to raise your chances of getting the position, and get started in your next Secretary role!
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