22 CV-exempel för sekreterare

Being a secretary, especially as the sole employee, has its challenges. Some struggle with the thought that they have limited career growth opportunities, but others enjoy having all these projects around the office and tasks to keep them occupied. Yes, the role mainly involves clerical work, and the compensation might not always reflect the scope of duties performed.

Despite these hurdles, the job teaches valuable skills like organization, multitasking, and effective communication, laying a strong foundation for any future career path including in HR, Marketing, Project management, Law, etc. Every experience contributes to your professional growth.

For those looking to enter or transition into the secretarial field, having a compelling resume is important. This guide will teach you how to present your skills and experiences on your resume and more.

You'll also discover:

• How to choose a resume format that shows off your secretarial experience and passes ATS checks;
• How to highlight your top achievements in the work experience section;
• How to list key secretarial skills that match the job ad's keywords;
• How to open with a concise summary or objective that will impress employers.

Interested in exploring other roles within the administrative field? Browse through our related guides for more insights.

• Legal secretary Resume
• School secretary Resume
• Administrative secretary Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Office Administrator Resume
• Secretary Cover Letter Example

How to format a secretary resume

If you're an experienced secretary, using a reverse chronological resume can effectively show your successes across different offices or organizations.

In case you're new to the secretarial profession and thinking about the best way to present your resume, there are a couple of options worth considering. A hybrid resume could be the perfect solution if you’re switching fields or have accumulated skills from multiple jobs. It helps you illustrate a combination of your abilities along with your professional experiences.

Another case is if you've had some gaps in employment. In a situation like this, a functional resume might be the way to go. It's not the usual pick for secretary jobs, but it focuses more on your skills and what you can do, rather than just listing jobs in order, so it could really help you stand out.

Explore these formatting hacks to grab attention:

• Pick a resume template that suits your professional style. A two-column layout is great for holding plenty of information and makes it easy to read quickly.
• Use professional fonts. In addition to Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman, our resume builder includes ATS-friendly options like Lato, Rubik, and Volkhov. Stick to a font size of 10 to 12 points for clarity.
• Choose an easy-to-read layout with adequate spacing and 1-inch margins.
• Check the job description to find out if you need to add a photo to your resume. While it's often not recommended in the US, your role may require one due to frequent face-to-face interactions.
• Strive for a one-page resume, which is often more effective than a longer one.
• Start with a header that includes your name, professional title, and contact information.
• Always save your resume as a PDF to keep its formatting consistent across different devices.

The layout of a resume can differ by region – Canadian resumes may use a distinct format.

Take advantage of our intuitive AI resume checker. It evaluates your resume on 16 crucial points for free, helping you make it impressive to recruiters.

Consider these key resume sections to enhance your application.

Put together carefully, these sections can prove you're a good match for the role. Spend some time reviewing the job description to find relevant keywords that you should add to your resume. Below are some key elements recruiters look for that your secretary’s resume absolutely needs to include.

Next, let's focus on the information for your upcoming resume, beginning with your work experience.

How to write your secretary resume experience

This section is crucial as it shows your experience and specific areas of expertise. While other parts of the resume contribute to your overall profile, your work history concretely displays your hands-on skills and notable achievements.

For a secretary role, it's best to list your work experiences starting with the most recent position and moving backward. Make sure to include the job title, the name of your employer, the location, and the dates you were employed. It's also vital to detail your responsibilities and accomplishments through bullet points, using action verbs to kick things off.

For example, you can highlight improvements you made, such as "Introduced a digital filing method that reduced time spent on document searches by 20%."

Let's review an example of how NOT to present your work experience.

Why this isn’t a good example:

• It doesn't show how the work helped the office run smoother.
• There are no numbers to prove things got better.
• It skips over any special skills.

Let's check out a better example.

The second example stands out because it includes specific metrics that employers notice. It shows clear achievements and the impact of your work.

It's important to note that all these efforts won't make a difference if your resume isn't tailored to work well with ATS systems. Employers use them to sort through resumes by looking for certain keywords, skills, and qualifications related to the job.

You might be thinking about other ways to make a good impression with your experience, and the good news is, there are. Below you’ll find more ideas.

How to quantify impact on your resume

You can show your impact by adding specific numbers to your resume. This is key as it offers solid proof of what you've done. Consider adding some of these things if applicable to your resume:

• Quantify the number of executives or staff members you provided support for in your past roles.
• Specify the volume of calls or emails you've managed on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
• Reference the size of meetings or events you've coordinated in terms of participants.
• Indicate the amount of data in files or documents you were responsible for managing or archiving.
• List the number of travel schedules and accommodations you've arranged.
• Detail the percentage of time or resources you have saved through efficiency improvements or procedure changes.
• Display the number of reports or documents you have prepared or proofread.
• Include the number of languages you're fluent in, as multilingual abilities could be highly beneficial in communication.

Next, let's discuss the more essential skills that a secretary should possess to be considered suitable for the position.

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume

Adding a skills section to your resume shows important abilities, flexibility, and professionalism, crucial for both seasoned secretaries and those just starting.

For a secretary, hard skills include specific, learnable talents such as typing speed, proficiency in office software, and understanding of administrative procedures. Soft skills involve personal qualities and social abilities like dependability, attention to detail, effective communication, and more.

Your role demands a strong soft skills set, too.

Typically, it's best to list between 5 to 10 skills on your resume. Pick those that match the job description and showcase your strengths. Customize this part for every job application, to mirror the skills the employer seeks.

How to list your education and certifications on your resume

In your resume's education section, you can list any degrees and certifications you have. While office secretaries don't need formal training, having a degree or one you're working towards can offer more insight into your background to employers. Make sure to mention any honors or special recognitions too. If you have a degree beyond a bachelor's, it's okay to skip listing your high school education.

What to include in the education part of your secretary resume:

• Degree name: Specify the degree you have.
• Institution name: Name the place where you got your education.
• Graduation date: When you graduated or when you expect to graduate.
• Field of study: If applicable, mention your field of study, especially if it's related to data management or IT.
• Certifications: List any certificates you obtained related to data entry.
• GPA: Include your GPA if it's over 3.5 and you've graduated recently.

Check out the resume example below for guidance:

Certifications in office management, software usage, and data security on your resume can significantly enhance your profile for a secretary position and show employers your initiative in expanding your skill set beyond traditional education.

Here, we recommend 4 certifications that are valuable for secretary roles.

Let's proceed to the part of your resume that first grabs the attention of hiring managers - the summary or the objective.

How to write your secretary resume summary or objective

Making a strong resume summary or objective for a secretary role means clearly showing your skills, experience, and what you bring to the job. The choice between a summary and an objective depends on your professional history and career goals.

Here's a guide to help you choose.

Resume summary

A resume summary works best for secretaries who have a lot of experience. It should showcase your main achievements, crucial skills, and how you fulfill the requirements of the office or company.

Here's a winning approach:

Resume objective

If you're starting as a secretary, consider an objective statement. It focuses on what you aim to accomplish, your key skills, and how you plan to enhance and contribute to the success of the office or organization.