Secretary Resume Examples & Format
A secretary does routine clerical and organizational work for an office: answering phones and taking messages, scheduling appointments and keeping calendars, arranging meetings, handling mail, preparing memos, invoices and reports, and maintaining databases and filing systems (BLS). A secretary resume should prove skills such as typing speed and accuracy, drafting letters and emails, and minutes and agendas with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Secretary resume examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Emily Nordstrom
Typing 55 wpm · Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook · front desk and filing · seeking secretary role
Phoenix, AZ · (602) 555-0114 · emily.nordstrom@example.com
Summary
- High school graduate with a typing speed of 55 words per minute and a year of part-time front-desk work at a dental office. Looking for an entry-level secretary job in a professional office.
Experience
- Front Desk Assistant (part-time), Desert Smile Dental, Phoenix, AZ · 2025 – present · Answered about 40 calls a day; scheduled appointments for 3 dentists; filed and scanned 300 patient records into the practice system; sent 60 reminder emails a week.
Education
- Camelback High School, Phoenix, AZ · High school diploma · 2025
- Office Applications course, Phoenix College · 2025
Skills
- Typing 55 wpm, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Google Calendar, phone etiquette, filing, drafting emails and letters
Mid-level sample
Linda Hoffman
Secretary to the President · 6 years · manufacturing company · calendar, minutes, travel and board packets
Milwaukee, WI · (414) 555-0163 · linda.hoffman@example.com
Summary
- Secretary with six years supporting the president of a 400-person manufacturer. Manage a calendar of 25 to 30 meetings a week, take minutes at 4 board and 12 management meetings a year, and book travel for 40 trips a year.
Experience
- Secretary to the President, Great Lakes Fabrication, Milwaukee, WI · 2022 – present · Manage the president's calendar; take and circulate minutes of 16 meetings a year; book travel for 40 trips a year; screen 80 calls and 120 emails a day; maintain confidential files.
- Office Secretary, Lakeshore Supply Co., Milwaukee, WI · 2020 – 2022 · Typed and filed correspondence for 2 managers.
Education
- Associate degree in office administration, Milwaukee Area Technical College · 2020
Skills
- Typing 65 wpm, minutes and agendas, Microsoft 365, Outlook calendar management, travel booking, expense reports, confidential records, phone and visitor handling
Senior sample
Patricia Okafor
Executive Secretary to the CEO · 19 years · board packets and annual meeting support · team of 4
Houston, TX · (713) 555-0128 · patricia.okafor@example.com
Summary
- Executive secretary with nineteen years in the role, the last ten supporting the CEO of a regional energy services company. Prepare board packets for 6 meetings a year, lead a team of 4 assistants and handle confidential records.
Experience
- Executive Secretary to the CEO, Gulf Coast Energy Services, Houston, TX · 2016 – present · Prepare board packets for 6 meetings a year; lead 4 assistants; plan the annual meeting for 150 attendees; arrange 60 trips a year; review incoming documents and draft replies.
- Secretary to the Vice President, Houston, TX · 2010 – 2016
- Office Secretary, Houston, TX · 2007 – 2010
Education
- B.A. in Communications, University of Houston · 2007
Related resume examples
- Administrative Assistant resume
- Executive Assistant resume
- Office Assistant resume
- Receptionist resume
- Office Administrator resume
- Office Manager resume
- Legal Assistant resume
- Medical Receptionist resume
- HR Assistant resume
What does a secretary do?
In the US most secretaries work in offices across many industries, and most work full time. Executive secretaries support top executives; legal and medical secretaries need the vocabulary of their field. A secretary resume should show typing speed, software, the people you supported and the volume of work you handled.
Secretary duties to put on a resume
- Answer telephones, take messages or transfer calls, and greet visitors.
- Schedule appointments and keep calendars up to date.
- Arrange staff meetings and distribute notes.
- Handle incoming and outgoing mail.
- Prepare memos, invoices and reports, and edit documents.
- Maintain databases and paper or electronic filing systems.
- Operate office equipment and email systems.
Best resume format for a secretary
- State your typing speed if you have tested it; some job postings ask for it.
- Name the people you supported and the volume of work: meetings, trips, calls.
- Keep it to one page.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: High school graduate typing 55 words per minute who answered 40 calls a day and scanned 300 patient records at a dental front desk.
- Mid-level: Secretary to a manufacturing president who manages 25 to 30 meetings a week, minutes 16 meetings a year and books 40 trips.
- Senior: Executive secretary to a CEO who prepares board packets for 6 meetings a year and leads a team of 4 assistants.
Work experience bullet points
- Managed the president's calendar of 25 to 30 meetings a week with no double bookings in 2 years.
- Took minutes of 16 board and management meetings a year and circulated them within 2 working days.
- Booked travel for 40 trips a year with no missed connections in 3 years.
- Screened 80 calls and 120 emails a day and passed on 15 that needed the executive.
- Typed and filed about 40 letters a week at 55 to 65 words per minute.
- Scanned and indexed 1,200 records into a searchable folder structure.
- Led 4 assistants and prepared board packets for 6 meetings a year.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: Typing speed and accuracy, Drafting letters and emails, Minutes and agendas, Calendar management, Travel arrangements, Filing and records management, Phone and visitor handling, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Google Workspace, Confidential document handling.
Soft skills: Discretion, Tact with visitors and callers, Staying calm under changing schedules, Reliability, Anticipating what the executive will need.
Education and certifications
- High school graduates who are comfortable using word processing and spreadsheet programs typically qualify for entry-level jobs, and a bachelor's degree is not required (BLS).
- Training is typically on the job and lasts a few weeks; legal and medical secretaries may need several months to learn their field's terminology (BLS).
- Executive-level jobs typically need several years of related experience (BLS). List any software course you completed, and any certificate you hold.
Sources
Checked on 5 October 2026.
Secretary vs executive assistant: how do the resumes differ?
A secretary resume shows typing, calendar and filing work. An executive assistant resume adds research, reports and decisions for a senior leader. BLS notes executive roles often involve more complex duties, such as reviewing incoming documents and preparing reports.
What skills should a secretary list on a resume?
Typing, Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, calendar management, minutes, travel booking, filing and confidentiality. Match the list to the job posting and put the tools you use daily first.
What do resume examples for secretary jobs show?
Resume examples for secretary jobs show typing speed, scheduling, filing and correspondence, with volumes such as calls and visitors handled a day, and the software used. Secretarial resume examples for legal or medical offices add terminology and confidentiality. Lead with accuracy and reliability, and list the office tools you know.