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5 Secretary Resume Examples & Guide...

5 Secretary Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

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All resume examples in this guide

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INDUSTRY STATS

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Secretary positions are at a -7% growth rate, which is negative. With that said, there are currently 3,363,900 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to decrease by -226,200 to 3,137,700 in the period of 2020-30.

What’s more, the median annual wage for the Secretary jobs was $40,990 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $26,880, and the highest 10% more than $67,510.

Our conclusion? The Secretary job market is facing competition due to decreasing demand.

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Top secretary sections that make the best resume

  • Header
  • Professional summary
  • Experience (with numbers and results)
  • Relevant skills
  • Education
  • Certifications

How to write the perfect secretary resume experience section

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Secretary Experience Section: Checklist
  • List your positions in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
  • Go for 4-6 bullet points;
  • Add only relevant work experience;
  • Include information about the challenges you’ve faced, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve achieved;
  • Use action verbs instead of filler words.

We’ve selected some of the top Secretary resumes made using the Enhancv platform to illustrate what a great experience section looks like. Use them as inspiration when building your own resume:

Work Experience
Research Department Specialist / Secretary Of Education Faculty / Information Centre Administrator
Bode - Jones
2019-2021
  • Rapidly progressed career within the organisation.
  • Wide range of public inquiries face to face, via email and hotline.
  • Managing a team of seven secretaries, doubling as a PA to the Dean, updating website content, organising local and international events, Board meetings and seminars.
  • Developing various projects, managing a choir, processing a collection of research articles, liaising with printing companies, researchers and reviewers from local and international organisations.
Work Experience
Administrative /Secretary
Schmeler and Sons
2018-2020
  • Complete requests by greeting customers, in person or on the telephone; answering or referring inquiries.
  • Organization of work by reading and routing correspondence; collecting information; initiating telecommunications.
  • Providence of historical reference by utilizing filing and retrieval systems
Work Experience
Third Secretary - Political Affairs
Bravura Origin
2015-2017
  • Reporting on the overall political situation in the country and at regional level with a special view to ASEAN and relations with the EU and Member States;
  • Coordinates the EU's work in the field of human rights in Malaysia according to the EU Human Rights Country Strategy and chairs the bi-monthly Human Rights Working Group meetings;
  • Conducts analysis and reports in the fields of Justice, Home affairs, security, the rule of law, human rights as well as good governance in the host country and at regional level;
  • Monitors ongoing projects funded under the EIDHR, Migration and Asylum and other relevant thematic budget programs;
  • Expands EU-Malaysia cooperation in the area of migration, rule of law, good governance, fight against corruption and law reforms;
Work Experience
Secretary
Bonefete Fun
2017-2021
  • Answering to qustomer's inquiries, demands and filing.
  • Scheduling payment lists for the suppliers.
  • Arraning visits outside the country, booking hotels, programming the business trips.
  • Organizing meetings, conferences and visits of foregn suppliers.
  • Taking care for the everyday practical matters of the company.
Work Experience
Secretary
Quads
2012-2014
  • organized participation of HCPs in 10+ international congresses
  • organized 50+ local events, meetings, trainings
  • led office relocation activities (incl. physical relocation, IT relocation, new premise furnishing and equipment) with 0 working days loss
Work Experience
National Press Secretary
Obelus Concepts
2012-2018
  • Serves as formal liaison for Campaign spokesperson and key executives
  • Develops and implements media, communications, and public relations strategies for the Campaign
  • Creates and distributes Campaign content including weekly newsletters, press statements, press releases, blog posts, and notable media clips
Work Experience
Secretary - Export Dept
Moxie Marketing
2017-2021
  • The job included day to day secretarial duties.
  • Assisting the Company Secretary and Director as and when required.
  • Preparing all Export documentation for shipment of goods
  • Co-ordination with Clearing Agents for follow up on shipments /delivery
Work Experience
Organising Secretary
Cipher Publishing
2017-2020
  • Organised Junior and Senior State championships (2013-2015).
  • Interacted with more than 17 schools and 5 colleges to organise rowing initiation camps to increase awareness and participation.
  • Organised summer camps for school children U-16 to promote rowing in the region.
Work Experience
Alumni Secretary
Thiel - Larson
2012-2018
  • Managed team of 70 people directly & organized five reunions and mega alumni meet
  • Implemented the centralized alumni portal
  • Raised a funding of Rs. 1 Crore for infrastructural development
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PRO TIP

Make sure to relate your experience to your job description, but never lie. That’s not tolerated and will show up in the face-to-face interview later on.

Action verbs for your secretary resume

Action verbs will make your Secretary resume sound relevant and professional. They will also help you make a strong first impression. Make sure to use them whenever possible!

Secretary Resume: How to Write a Strong Skills Section

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The ultimate secretary skills section checklist:
  • Balance between all kinds of hard skills – technical, analytical, etc.
  • When it comes to technical skills, match them to the job description;
  • Add keywords present in the job advert to pass ATS;
  • Don’t forget to list transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, work ethic, and presentation skills.
Top skills for your secretary resume
HARD SKILLS

iSAMS

Serco Facility

WCBS

SAP

Keynote

JotForm

Internet

Windows

Word

Excel

SOFT SKILLS

Communication

Planning and organisation

Prioritization

Efficiency

Responsibility

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Customer service

Phone Etiquette

Discretion

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PRO TIP

When picking skills to feature in your resume, make sure they'll be relevant to the position you’re applying to. The point of listing skills is for you to stand out from the competition. Stay away from repetitive, meaningless skills that everyone uses in their resumes. Or else, they’ll backfire and make you look like an average candidate.

what to write in your resume header
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CHECKLIST For Your Secretary Resume Header
  • Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
  • The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
  • Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
  • Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
  • Email address
  • Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)

Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:

  • first.last@gmail.com
  • last.first@gmail.com
  • firstlast@gmail.com
  • f.last@gmail.com
  • first.l@gmail.com
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PRO TIP

Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Secretary resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.

Secretary resume summary: things to include and things to avoid

what to write in your resume summary
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Job-winning secretary resume summary checklist:
  • Mention your total years of experience in the field;
  • Highlight one or two of your top achievements;
  • Avoid getting into too much detail – you’ll do that in the experience section;
  • Focus on short sentences that are easy to read and add value to your application.
resume Summary Formula icon
Resume summary formula:
Resume Summary Formula: [Adjective] [job title] with [number] years of experience in [industry], a proven ability to [relevant, measurable skills], and a strong background in [relevant context of your work experience] seeks a position as [the job title you’re applying for].
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PRO TIP

When writing a resume summary or objective, avoid first-person narrative.

Highlighting education, courses, and certifications in your secretary resume

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Education section checklist:
  • What? Where? What’s the result? Answer these questions when mentioning education and courses on your resume;
  • Give preference to courses and degrees that are relevant to the job position;
  • Be honest! Some recruiters love checking with colleges and universities to see if you’ve really been enrolled in them;
  • Share more about certifications that have helped you turn into a professional, and mention the bodies that have issued them.
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Top certifications for your secretary resume
certification image
Becoming a Legal Secretary

You do not need specific qualifications to become a legal secretary, but you will need excellent administrative and word

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Effective Legal Office Administration

Effective Legal Office Administration

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The Legal Support Specialist

The ultimate course for Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Paralegals and any legal support staff.

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Introduction to Legal Concepts

Introduction to Legal Concepts

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Technology and Innovation for Legal Professionals

The ultimate course for legal professionals to become tech-savvy and have a competitive edge in the legal market

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PRO TIP

If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.

Secretary resume format 101

If a couple of years ago Secretary resumes could be text files with no graphic elements, today’s recruiters need a bit more to remember you.

And yet, you can still choose between three basic resume formats:

But when it comes to choosing the right format for your Secretary resume, there are two factors to keep in mind: your experience and whether you’re looking for an industry change.

The reverse-chronological format is the most common one. That being said, it gives recruiters exactly what they’re used to in terms of order and information. However, it’s not suitable for applicants with employment gaps or not enough experience.

We at Enhancv suggest the functional skills-based resume format for people with limited work experience who find reverse-chronological resumes irrelevant. This format showcases the applicant’s most significant accomplishments, skills, and strengths.

Don’t miss our resume format checklist:

Looking for more tips? Check out our job-winning guide for crafting a resume that gets you remembered!

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PRO TIP

If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.

Other sections for your secretary resume

If the position you’re applying for allows for that, you can include some non-traditional sections in your resume. This will add a bit more depth to your application and will also give the hiring manager a better idea of who you are as a person.

Some ideas include:

A secretary resume recruiters would love

You’ve drafted an amazing Secretary resume, but are still not sure whether it will make a strong first impression? After all, recruiters go over tens of resumes each day, right?

Right! And the recipe for getting their attention includes a dash of creativity.

What’s more, a creative resume is perfect for adding your personality to the mix. For example, you could mention your favorite books, quotes, movies, or even what your day usually looks like.

Regardless of what you choose, make sure your levels of creativity match the industry, the company, and the position. Otherwise, your resume might look silly and inapt.

day of my life on resume   Enhancv resume section

What makes a great secretary resume: key takeaways

  • Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
  • Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
  • Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
  • Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
  • List soft skills backed by examples;
  • Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
  • Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.

Secretary resume examples

Explore additional secretary resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

By Experience

Entry-Level Secretary

As an Entry-Level Secretary with limited work experience, you can still craft an impactful application. Draw attention to any organizational work, customer service, or office duties performed during internships or part-time jobs. Showcase transferable skills like communication, multitasking, and organization drawn from any job or activities like club leadership. Rather than focusing on your limited experience, emphasize your eagerness to learn, adaptability, and potential for professional growth. Highlight your proficiency in using software tools such as Microsoft Office, detailing how you've applied it during your education or previous work.

By Role

Legal Secretary

As a Legal Secretary, having a good knowledge of legal terms, court systems, and policies can give your application an edge. Strong organizational skills are also crucial in handling important documents, trial preparations, and schedules. Instead of just listing your computer skills, highlight your experience with specific legal software or tools and how they improved work efficiency in the past. Lastly, ensure to highlight advanced typing skills, as speed is often vital for this position.

School Secretary

When applying for a School Secretary position, underscore any previous experience in education or administration, as it shows your readiness for the role. Highlight your communication and interpersonal skills, as the job involves interacting with students, parents, teachers, and administrators. If you're familiar with school policies and student data systems, be sure to mention it, as these are regular tasks. Also, showcase your ability to handle pressure and multitask, key components of a school secretary's responsibilities.

Administrative Secretary

If you're aiming to be an Administrative Secretary, make sure your application demonstrates your ability to multitask and grasp administrative duties. Highlight time management abilities, organization, and experience in minute writing. Show your command of software tools like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, mention any relevant certificates. Include your experience in tasks such as scheduling, answering phone calls, dealing with letters and preparing reports, as these are standard duties for an Administrative Secretary. Lastly, stress your communication, problem-solving and customer service skills as these can make your application more appealing.
secretary resume example

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