Secretary Resume Examples

Exceed your job competition by looking at Secretary resume examples! Our examples are completely customizable and can show you what information to include in your resume.

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LiveCareer Staff Writer
by LiveCareer Staff Writer
Last Updated: July 31, 2023 
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Secretary resume
summary examples

The first impression an employer will have of you is when they read your resume summary. You’ve got to make this section count because a recruiter will spend an average of seven seconds scanning your resume.

This section is a brief statement of your most impressive and relevant career highlights. You’ll pick professional achievements that resonate with the employer’s requirements for this job.

The most common approach for this section is the professional summary because it focuses on sharing job-relevant achievements.

On the other hand, the objective statement is the ideal approach for inexperienced candidates because it showcases your goals and the skills you have to make them possible.

Determine which approach is right for you with examples of a professional summary and an objective statement.

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Good example:

“ I am an experienced Secretary with 5+ years of experience in providing administrative support to executives, directors, and managers. I have a proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects, streamlining processes, and creating efficient systems. My expertise in scheduling, record-keeping, and customer service has allowed me to contribute to the success of my employers.”

Why this example passes:

  • Feature candidate’s success statistic to grab attention. Numbers add detail about how big the results you deliver are, e.g., test scores, passing rate and more.
  • Shows career length, 11 years.
  • Mentions employer-desired skills: student motivation and interactive lessons.
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Bad example:

“ Highly organized and detail-oriented individual with strong communication skills. Possesses a passion for helping others and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently. Possesses a great deal of experience in administrative tasks.”

Why this example fails:

  • Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify secretary’s performance
  • Uses vague descriptions and skills.
  • Doesn’t include years of teaching experience.

The fastest way to write your
professional summary

Prove your value as a Secretary with a sharply written professional summary. You can choose from expert-written content suggestions using our Resume Builder!

  • 1

    Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.

  • 2

    Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!

  • 3

    All you have to do is choose the summary phrases that best frame your experience. It’s like having a professional do it for you!

Our Resume Builder will help you write a custom Secretary resume in 15 minutes! However, if you want to give your resume more dedicated attention, you can also employ our professional writing services to kickstart your search for an Secretary role confidently.

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Secretary resume work
experience examples

One of the most fundamental sections of your resume is the work experience. Including skills and accomplishments in your work experience section relevant to your Secretary role is critical to writing a good resume. Compare these work experience examples to understand what information to include to make a job-winning resume.

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Good example:

Rolling Meadows Middle School I Rolling Meadows, IL I 8/2018-current

  • Provided efficient administrative support to the executive team, ensuring smooth daily operations
  • Assisted in the preparation of documents, presentations, and reports for internal and external meetings
  • Organized and maintained files, records, and databases, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality
  • Handled incoming and outgoing correspondence, including mail, faxes, and emails, with professionalism and discretion

Why this example passes:

  • Numbers and statistics add detail and quantify the results this secretary delivers: 4% improvement and a class size of 20-25.
  • Good use of strong words and active language.
  • References specialized value cahier provides with “individualized lesson plans.”
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Bad example:

Emily Dickinson Elementary I Redmond, WA I 4/2022-present

  • Answered phones and filed documents
  • Greeted visitors and took messages
  • Typed letters and memos
  • Scheduled meetings and appointments.

Why this example fails:

  • Lacks numbers or statistics.
  • Describes general tasks, not teaching achievements or career highlights.
  • Uses active verbs, but doesn’t focus on results.

Secretary resume skills examples

Here are 18 sample skills for secretary:

  • Organization
  • Schedule Management
  • Supply Restocking
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Customer Service
  • Supply Ordering
  • Database Management
  • Meeting Coordination
  • Office Administration
  • Calendar Management
  • Meeting Support
  • Payroll Administration
  • Business Correspondence
  • Equipment Sterilization
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Expense Tracking
  • Database Maintenance
  • Complex Problem-Solving

You should sprinkle skills and abilities throughout your resume. Include them in your professional summary, work experience blurbs and a dedicated skills section.

Examples of additional resume sections

Your Secretary resume must include the following: contact information, resume summary, work experience, skills and education. These are the five main resume sections; however, you can customize your resume with additional sections.

Here are some examples of optional secretary resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:

  • References
  • Additional skills
  • Languages
  • Professional skills
  • Soft skills
  • Certifications
  • Accomplishments
  • Interests

Extra sections help you accurately showcase all the qualifications that make you an excellent Secretary. Nevertheless, stuffing your resume with irrelevant details will diminish the impact of your relevant experiences.

Examples of resume formats

You can use one of three established layouts to organize your resume sections, also called resume formats. The three resume formats are chronological, functional and combination.

The main difference among them is whether or not they give more visual weight to your work history or to your skills section. The format you should select for your resume is based on your years of work experience as a secretary.

How to choose a resume format

0-3
Years of experience

Functional formats

  • Focus on skills.
  • Best for first-time secretary who lack work experience.
  • Good for people re-entering workforce.
  • May omit dates in the work history section.
Organization:
  • Skills listed above work experience.

3-10
Years of experience

Combination formats

  • Balance skills and work history.
  • Ideal for mid-career secretary.
  • Suitable for career changers and people seeking promotion.
Organization:
  • Skills next to or above work experience.

10+
Years of experience

Chronological formats

  • Put the most focus on work history.
  • Best for secretary with a long, steady career.
  • Most popular format.
  • Preferred by recruiters.
Organization:
  • Work experience listed above skills.
Once you know the best format for you, it’s easy to pick a secretary resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!

As seen in*

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*The names and logos of the companies referred to in this page are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with LiveCareer.