Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your organizational skills and attention to detail can be a significant challenge for a secretary. By following our guide, you’ll learn how to highlight these key competencies in a way that catches an employer's eye and demonstrates your professional value.
Structure, write, and edit your secretary CV to land the role of your dreams with our exclusive guide on how to:
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Resume examples for secretary
Explore additional secretary cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Junior Secretary
- Effective Content Structuring - The CV is succinctly organized, providing a clear overview of the candidate’s experience, skills, and achievements. This structure highlights key areas pertinent to the role of a Patent Legal Secretary, ensuring that each section flows logically and is neatly compartmentalized for easy reading.
- Distinct Career Progression - Ivy Ward's career trajectory showcases a clear growth path from an intern role into a high-responsibility position at a renowned law firm within a relatively short time. This progression reflects her expertise and commitment to the field of patent law, demonstrating her capacity to take on increasing levels of responsibility and complexity in tasks.
- Industry-Specific Expertise - The CV features specialized technical capabilities critical to the patent law industry, such as proficiency with USPTO PATENT CENTER. These tools, combined with Ivy's strategic enhancements to processes, exemplify her in-depth understanding of industry-specific methodologies, positioning her as a valuable asset to any patent law team.
Senior Secretary
- Clarity and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is structured in a way that allows for easy navigation and comprehension, with clearly demarcated sections such as experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. Each section is concise, ensuring that the reader can quickly scan through and extract essential information without being overwhelmed.
- Career Progression and Industry Relevance - The career trajectory is outlined progressively, starting from an Administrative Assistant to a Senior Secretary, showing clear career growth within the clinical administration sector. The experience gained across reputable healthcare institutions demonstrates a committed and upward-moving path in the healthcare administration industry.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV notes significant achievements that are directly relevant to the business's operations, such as increasing team efficiency by 30% and reducing document retrieval times by 40%. These accomplishments are not just figures but illustrate impactful contributions that enhanced departmental and patient care processes.
Assistant Secretary
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - The CV is organized into distinct sections, including experience, education, skills, and achievements, which are clearly laid out, allowing for easy navigation and quick understanding of the candidate's qualifications. Each bullet point succinctly presents key responsibilities and achievements, maintaining a balance between detail and brevity.
- Career Growth and Industry Specialization - The career progression is evident with increased responsibilities in governance and compliance roles at major financial institutions like Barclays, Lloyds, and HSBC. This reflects not only growth in terms of position titles but also an expansion of expertise within the corporate governance sphere, highlighting Poppy Griffiths' dedication and ambition in this specialized field.
- Soft Skills and Leadership - The CV emphasizes soft skills such as communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership through various achievements and responsibilities. Poppy has led governance projects, organized strategic communication initiatives, and facilitated shareholder engagement, thus showcasing her ability to lead, influence, and drive results beyond just technical competencies.
By Role
Secretary of State
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is organized and easy to read, with distinct sections for education, experience, skills, and achievements. This clarity ensures the reader can quickly assess the candidate's qualifications and relevant professional history without being overwhelmed by information.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - William Hall's career path demonstrates significant growth, moving from a Policy Analyst to a Deputy Secretary. This progression indicates increased responsibilities and trust within different governmental departments, highlighting his capability to adapt and excel in leadership roles.
- Achievements Linked to Tangible Impacts - The CV effectively ties achievements to measurable outcomes, such as the oversight of £120m in funding and a 25% reduction in compliance incidents. These metrics not only showcase the candidate's impact but also provide evidence of his ability to drive meaningful change within public policy and consumer protection sectors.
Company Secretary
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - Thomas Walker's CV is well-structured, providing clear sections that make the document easy to read. Each section is concise, highlighting only the most relevant information for the role of Company Secretary, such as education, experience, skills, and achievements.
- Steady Career Growth with Leadership Roles - Thomas has demonstrated consistent career growth from a Corporate Services Manager to a Senior Governance Officer and now a Company Secretary. Each successive role shows an increase in responsibility, leadership, and impact within renowned law firms, indicating a strong upward career trajectory.
- Effective Use of Tech Tools and Governance Methodologies - The CV emphasizes industry-specific elements such as compliance software, digital filing systems, and governance software. These demonstrate Thomas's capability to leverage technology to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in legal and governance matters.
Secretary General
- Content presentation with a strategic layout - The CV is structured with clarity and conciseness, starting with a succinct header that details Olivia's core competencies right away. Each section transitions smoothly, making it easy for the reader to trace her career progression and professional accomplishments.
- Career trajectory with focused growth - Olivia's career path reflects a progressive evolution from Political Analyst to Senior Speechwriter, indicating a keen focus on refining her expertise in strategic communication. Her movement from journalism to diplomatic settings showcases her adaptability and readiness for industry shifts.
- Achievements with significant business impact - Her CV highlights achievements that go beyond mere numbers, expressing clear business relevance. For example, her development of a speech repository system significantly reduced preparation time, thus affecting productivity and communication effectiveness across her department.
Executive Secretary
- Clarity and Structure in Presentation - The CV is skillfully organized, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. Each section is distinctly marked, allowing easy navigation through the candidate’s professional journey. It effectively highlights key skills and achievements, ensuring that any reader can quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications and suitability for the role.
- Career Progression and Industry Focus - Ava Phillips’ career shows a logical progression within the realm of corporate governance, moving from an assistant role to a senior officer. This trajectory reflects her growing expertise and leadership in the field. Her consistent focus on corporate governance within reputable financial firms underscores her dedication to the niche.
- Significant Business Impact Through Achievements - The CV emphasizes Ava's ability to deliver business value by detailing achievements that are not only quantified but also contextualized in terms of business impact. For instance, the 25% reduction in compliance issues and a 40% time saving in board document preparation demonstrate her contributions to operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Administrative Secretary
- Emphasizes Cross-Functional Expertise - Alexander Jackson's CV stands out for its strong focus on cross-functional skills, particularly in digital presence management and organizational skills. The CV highlights his capacity to bridge administrative tasks with digital strategies, showcasing a modern and relevant skill set that is invaluable in integrating technology with traditional office roles.
- Clear Career Progression - The document effectively outlines Alexander's career growth, detailing his ascent from an Administrative Assistant to an Administrative Coordinator role at a renowned institution. This trajectory reflects not only his dedication but also his ability to take on increased responsibilities, indicative of his strong work ethics and potential for future leadership roles.
- Impact-Driven Achievements - The CV succinctly presents achievements with concrete metrics and their business impact. For example, the 30% boost in social media engagement showcases Alexander's direct contribution to enhancing institutional visibility. Such data reinforce his role in driving organizational success rather than mere participation, underlining his capability to deliver significant results.
Finance Secretary
- Structured Career Growth - Samuel Campbell's CV highlights a clear and impressive career trajectory marked by progressive promotions, moving from a Finance Manager role at Emerging Ventures PLC to Deputy Finance Director at Roundhouse Advisors and eventually Finance Director at Desire Path Group, showcasing his rise through increasing responsibility and expertise in financial leadership.
- Cross-Functional Leadership and Adaptability - The CV demonstrates Samuel’s adaptability and ability to work across various functions, from overseeing strategic financial planning to playing a pivotal role in sustainability planning, showing his capacity to manage complex financial initiatives while aligning them with broader organizational goals.
- Impactful Achievements - The extensive list of achievements with specifics, such as a 20% increase in project funding efficiency and securing major investments of £20 million, underscores not only Samuel's technical prowess but also highlights his capacity to drive significant business outcomes, enhancing both the company's financial health and its growth potential.
Education Secretary
- Clear and Structured CV Format - The CV is meticulously organized, with well-defined sections such as experience, education, skills, achievements, and languages. Each section is concise yet comprehensive, ensuring that the reader can easily navigate and identify relevant information, supporting the candidate’s role as an effective organizer and problem solver.
- Demonstrated Career Growth and Stability - Oliver's career trajectory is marked by progressive roles in well-regarded academic institutions. Transitioning from an Office Secretary to a Senior Administrative Secretary, the CV reflects a pattern of growth and increasing responsibility, underscoring a deepening expertise in educational administration.
- Quantifiable Achievements with Strategic Impact - Throughout the CV, there are numerous quantified successes, such as a 20% increase in productivity and a 15% reduction in expenses. These achievements not only highlight Oliver’s results-oriented approach but also underscore a strategic contribution to organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Secretary of Defence
- Impressive career trajectory with specialization - Leo Brown's CV demonstrates a focused career path in the legal field, with clear progression from an Administrative Assistant to a Legal Secretary. The candidate has specialized in public and child law as well as criminal defense, underscoring a commitment to this field through strategic role choices and relevant educational qualifications.
- Adaptability highlighted through diverse legal responsibilities - The CV illustrates Leo's adaptability by detailing cross-functional experience in managing legal aid applications, organizing diary systems, and preparing complex legal documents. This adaptability is further emphasized by successful roles in well-established law firms, indicating proficiency in varying legal environments.
- Achievements with substantial business impact - The notable achievements outlined, such as a 30% increase in efficiency and a 15% rise in funding approval rates, reflect Leo’s ability to drive significant operational improvements. These metrics not only demonstrate the candidate’s competency in optimizing processes but also highlight the business relevance of their contributions, emphasizing their role in enhancing overall firm productivity.
Secretary of the Treasury
- Clear and Concise Content Presentation - The CV is structured impeccably, delivering a clear narrative of Amelia's career. Each section is well-organized, ensuring that key information is easily accessible. The use of bullet points in the experience section highlights specific achievements and responsibilities, making it simple for the reader to discern Amelia's contributions at each role.
- Strong Career Growth and Industry Experience - Amelia's career trajectory exhibits steady growth from an Accounts Assistant to a Financial Analyst within a few years, reflecting her capability and ambition. Her experience spans top-tier financial organizations like HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group, demonstrating a depth of understanding and adaptability within the banking sector.
- Demonstrated Soft Skills and Leadership - Soft skills such as customer service and problem-solving are emphasized throughout the CV, particularly through notable achievements like high customer satisfaction scores. Leadership capabilities are implied through roles in auditing and support for treasury operations, showcasing Amelia’s ability to guide teams and operations efficiently.
Secretary of Commerce
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized, beginning with a clear header that sets the stage for the details that follow. It uses a logical flow, starting with personal details, a summary, and systematically covering experience, education, skills, certifications, and passions. This clarity and structure allow for easy navigation and highlights Daniel Baker's strengths concisely.
- Demonstrated Career Growth and Versatility - Daniel's career trajectory showcases steady growth and development within office management roles. From starting as an Office Coordinator to advancing to an Office Secretary, Daniel has expanded responsibilities and demonstrated adaptability by enhancing skills such as data management and scheduling, which are crucial in administrative roles.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The accomplishments listed in the CV are not just numbers but reflect significant business impact. For instance, enhancing invoicing efficiency by 25% and streamlining filing systems to improve document retrieval speeds by 30% exhibit Daniel’s ability to implement effective solutions that contribute to overall business efficiency and productivity.
Secretary of Agriculture
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV offers a well-organized and concise presentation, using clear sections to differentiate various aspects of Grace Bailey’s career. The use of bullet points aids in quick reading, while the structured format ensures easy navigation through her professional experiences, education, and skills.
- Strong Career Trajectory - Grace’s career progression is impressive, moving steadily from a paralegal role to a senior legal advisor position. This upward trajectory is a testament to her dedication, expertise in commercial law, and ability to take on more strategic responsibilities and leadership roles in her field.
- Notable Achievements with Significant Impact - The CV highlights Grace's achievements that are not just numbers but depict significant business impact, such as a 30% increase in client retention and a 20% rise in net revenue from successful mergers. These accomplishments demonstrate her capability to drive results that align with business objectives and strategic goals.
Secretary of Energy
- Clearly structured and informative - The CV is well-organized with distinct sections that provide a clear overview of the candidate's qualifications. Each section, from experience and education to achievements, is concise yet informative, making it easy for potential employers to quickly identify key strengths and relevant experience in renewable energy sales.
- Impressive career progression in renewable energy - Oscar Evans' career trajectory demonstrates significant growth and specialization in the renewable energy sector. Starting as a Customer Service Specialist and advancing to a Sales Executive, his career showcases continuous development in responsibilities and expertise, particularly in solar energy solutions and client engagement.
- In-depth industry-specific skills and methodologies - The CV highlights unique industry skills such as market analysis and strategic customer outreach specific to renewable energy. It mentions advanced certifications, like the Solar Energy Technology Certification, that indicate both technical depth and commitment to staying abreast of technological advancements in the renewable energy field.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Clear and Concise Structure - The CV is organized clearly, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements, making it easy for recruiters to navigate and understand Alice Barnes’ qualifications and career history at a glance.
- Diverse Career Trajectory - Alice Barnes' career demonstrates steady growth in the healthcare administration sector, highlighting increased responsibilities such as implementing new transcription processes and revamping communication protocols between departments, showcasing her ability to handle more complex tasks over time.
- Achievement Impact on Business Goals - The CV effectively connects achievements to business outcomes, such as a 25% improvement in document accuracy and timeliness and a 20% reduction in communication-related complaints, thereby emphasizing Alice Barnes' capacity to drive impactful results and enhance efficiency in administrative processes.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Strong Display of Leadership Abilities - The CV effectively showcases Leo Brown's leadership capabilities, emphasizing his role in guiding cross-functional teams and spearheading multi-jurisdictional housing strategies. His ability to deliver complex projects on time and within budget highlights his strategic planning and management skills.
- Evolution from Tactical Roles to Executive Leadership - The career trajectory demonstrated in the CV shows a clear progression from a Senior Planner to the Director of Housing and Community Development. This progression underscores his growth and adaptability within the field, moving from role-specific tasks to broader strategic leadership.
- Integration of Sustainability in Planning - Unique to his career is Leo Brown's consistent emphasis on sustainable development practices. His work incorporates environmental resilience into urban planning, reflecting a forward-thinking approach crucial for modern urban challenges, which is critical in current and future urban development initiatives.
Secretary of Transportation
- Progressive Career Growth and Industry Expertise - Poppy Griffiths' career trajectory shows a clear path of advancement and specialization within the logistics and transportation industry. From starting as a Transport Officer at Royal Mail to taking on more challenging roles at Kuehne+Nagel and then DHL Supply Chain, each step reflects increased responsibilities and growing expertise, underpinning her role as a specialist.
- Implementation of Modern Logistics Solutions - The CV incorporates industry-specific elements showcasing the candidate's application of advanced tools and methodologies such as redesigning workflow processes and implementing a tracking system for real-time data accuracy. This not only highlights her technical depth but also her ability to leverage digital solutions to enhance logistics operations.
- Effective Leadership and Training Initiatives - An emphasis on soft skills and leadership is evident in how Poppy Griffiths has led training workshops and sessions, improving team efficiency and productivity by substantial percentages. Her ability to communicate effectively and drive process improvements demonstrates her leadership capability and her contribution to organizational success.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your secretary CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your secretary CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your secretary CV:
- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your secretary CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a secretary CV
- Contact Information is essential for potential employers to reach out.
- Professional Summary provides a quick synopsis of skills and experience.
- Administrative Skills section showcases relevant abilities unique to the role.
- Work Experience demonstrates practical applications of secretarial duties.
- Education and Training highlight qualifications that support the secretary role.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your organisational skills by detailing past experiences where you effectively managed schedules, coordinated meetings, and maintained filing systems, showcasing your ability to keep operations running smoothly.
- Highlight your proficiency with office software, including word processing, spreadsheets, email management, and scheduling applications, which are crucial for a secretary to perform daily duties efficiently.
- Demonstrate your communication abilities by mentioning any roles that required correspondence handling, drafting documents, or interacting with clients and staff, as these are key functions of secretarial work.
- Showcase your initiative and problem-solving skills by providing examples of when you've implemented new systems or processes to improve office efficiency or overcome administrative challenges.
- Include any experience or training in minute-taking and report preparation, as these are often vital tasks for a secretary, indicating that you can accurately document discussions and actions from meetings.
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Making a good first impression with your secretary CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for secretary:
- Executive Assistant | Expert in Office Management | Certified Admin Professional | 10+ Years Experience
- Senior Legal Secretary | Proficient in Legal Documentation | ILSPA Qualified | Efficient Multitasking Specialist
- Junior Administrative Secretary | IT Savvy | Outstanding Organisational Skills | Aspiring Office Administrator
- Bilingual Personal Assistant | Fluent in Spanish & English | Diary Management Pro | 5 Years of Service
- Medical Secretary | NHS Experience | AMSPAR Certified | Patient Care & Coordination Expert
- Senior Company Secretary | Corporate Governance Specialist | ICSA Accredited | 15+ Years in C-Suite Support
Opting between a secretary CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your secretary CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a secretary job:
- With over 6 years as a dedicated secretary for a bustling London legal firm, I have honed exceptional organisational skills, maintaining confidentiality and streamlining office operations. Achieved a 20% increase in office efficiency through the implementation of an innovative digital filing system.
- Seasoned executive secretary possessing 10 years of experience, catering to high-level executives in a top-tier financial corporation in Manchester. Expert in travel coordination, managing calendars, and creating comprehensive reports. Recognised for single-handedly organising a global conference with 200 attendees.
- Former healthcare professional eager to transition into an administrative role, bringing robust attention to detail and a patient-focused approach to ensure smooth office operations. Proficient in medical billing software and a quick learner of new technologies, aiming to leverage 8 years of patient care into providing exceptional administrative support.
- Motivated educator with a decade of teaching experience, seeking to apply my organisational skills and exceptional communication abilities in a dynamic secretarial position. Accustomed to multitasking and meeting tight deadlines, I bring a unique perspective in fostering collaboration and enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Aspiring to engage my aptitude for robust organisational systems and my lively interpersonal skills to embark on a secretarial career. Keen to contribute to team success through hard work and an enthusiastic uptake of duties, while learning from seasoned professionals and refining my administrative competencies.
- Driven and meticulous individual looking to leverage a fast-paced, detail-oriented work ethic in a supportive administrative capacity. Eager to utilise my multitasking abilities and affinity for technology to develop a foundation for a successful secretarial career, absorbing knowledge and exceeding expectations.
How to meet job requirements with your secretary CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a busy office calendar, successfully scheduling over 100 appointments and meetings per month while prioritising urgent tasks and ensuring no scheduling conflicts.
- Oversaw all aspects of general office coordination, maintaining office supplies inventory and ensuring the smooth operation of office equipment through regular checks and servicing.
- Developed and implemented an efficient filing system which improved document retrieval times by 30%, allowing for quicker response to stakeholder requests.
- Handled confidential documents with discretion, ensuring sensitive information was securely stored and only accessible to authorised personnel.
- Prepared detailed minutes during board meetings and distributed these minutes promptly, enhancing team communication and action on decisions.
- Streamlined travel arrangements for senior management, including flights, accommodations, and itineraries, saving the company an average of 10% on travel expenses through meticulous planning and research.
- Mastered a variety of office software, including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace, deploying these tools to create professional presentations, reports, and correspondence.
- Provided top-notch customer service by handling incoming calls and emails, responding to enquiries in a timely and courteous manner.
- Collaborated with various departments to support planning and execution of corporate events, seminars, and staff functions, often receiving commendation for attention to detail and organisational skills.
Work Experience
Executive Secretary
Deloitte LLP
04/2022-Ongoing
- Streamlined the document management system using a cloud-based platform, ensuring access and retrieval of files is 30% faster for all departments.
- Coordinated the scheduling and logistical planning for 15+ company events per year, including board meetings and annual staff retreats, successfully maintaining the budget and timeline.
- Managed a daily influx of over 50 calls and emails, providing exceptional customer service and directing inquiries to the appropriate staff members.
Work Experience
Administrative Secretary
KPMG International
09/2019-03/2022
- Implemented a new digital transcription service, reducing the time to produce meeting minutes by 50% and improving record accuracy.
- Supervised office supply inventory and negotiated with suppliers, cutting monthly costs by 20% while maintaining quality standards.
- Assisted in preparing reports and presentations for the executive team, supporting the communication of strategic objectives and company performance metrics to stakeholders.
Work Experience
Senior Secretary
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
06/2017-08/2019
- Organized an efficient filing system that increased ease of access to critical company documents by 40% and reduced clerical errors.
- Handled sensitive information with discretion, including managing the calendar and appointments for two C-level executives.
- Coordinated international travel arrangements for senior management, ensuring compliance with company policy and optimizing itineraries for cost and time savings.
Work Experience
Bilingual Secretary
Ernst & Young (EY)
01/2015-05/2017
- Initiated a cross-departmental communication strategy that led to a 25% improvement in project coordination and meeting efficiency.
- Developed and maintained a contact management system that tracked interactions with key clients, resulting in enhanced relationships and repeat business.
- Provided real-time language translation services during international conferences, facilitating clearer communication and strengthening partnerships.
Work Experience
Office Secretary
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
03/2013-12/2014
- Managed procurement of office equipment and supplies for a workforce of over 200 employees, ensuring optimal stock levels at all times.
- Trained and supervised a team of 3 junior administrative staff, improving overall administrative efficiency by 30% within the first year.
- Oversaw the digitization of paper records, significantly reducing physical storage needs and improving document retrieval times by over 60%.
Work Experience
Corporate Secretary
Accenture
08/2011-02/2013
- Played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the company's 50th-anniversary celebration, attended by 500+ guests and receiving positive media coverage.
- Facilitated the transition to a new customer relationship management (CRM) system, ensuring data integrity and improved follow-up practices.
- Conducted extensive research that contributed to the executive team's strategic planning, providing insights into market trends and competitive landscapes.
Work Experience
Confidential Secretary
McKinsey & Company
04/2009-07/2011
- Managed and updated the executive team's complex schedules, improving meeting attendance by ensuring no schedule conflicts.
- Supported HR with the onboarding process for new hires, creating welcome kits and coordinating orientation sessions to foster a positive first impression of the company.
- Maintained strict confidentiality for all company mergers and acquisitions documentation, assuring secure handling and distribution among authorized personnel.
How to ensure your secretary CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your secretary CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your secretary CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your secretary CV:
HARD SKILLS
Typing speed and accuracy
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Familiarity with office equipment (printers, fax machines)
Data entry
Basic bookkeeping and financial reporting
Scheduling and calendar management
Document and file management
Stenography or shorthand (optional)
Minute-taking during meetings
Email and correspondence handling
SOFT SKILLS
Interpersonal skills
Organisational skills
Time management
Communication skills
Attention to detail
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Discretion and maintaining confidentiality
Teamwork
Stress management
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your secretary CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional secretary CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
