Secretary CV examples

This guide will walk you through writing a Secretary CV that highlights your organisational skills, administrative expertise, and ability to multitask. By the end, you’ll have a CV that opens doors to your next opportunity.

If your CV is as organised as your filing cabinets, a recruiter will easily be able to navigate the things that make you the ideal candidate for the position.

Here’s how to structure your Secretary CV’s layout:

• Name and contact details – Place these at the top for immediate reference. A photo is also an optional addition.
• CV profile – Provide a summary of your administrative expertise, efficiency, and achievements.
• Core skills – Highlight strengths like diary management and document preparation.
• Work experience – Detail your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on responsibilities and accomplishments.
• Education – Include academic qualifications and certifications relevant to secretarial or administrative work.
• Additional info – Optionally, mention relevant interests, or skills such as language proficiency or professional memberships.

Your CV format should reflect the professionalism and attention to detail you bring to your role as a Secretary. Poor formatting can overshadow even the most impressive skills, so keep it clean and polished.

Here’s some tips to format your Secretary CV effectively:

• Bullet points – Break information into snappy, impactful points that are easy to skim through.
• Divide sections – Structure your CV with distinct sections that make it easy to scan.
• Use a clean font – Stick to professional, readable fonts with consistent formatting.
• Keep it the right length – It’s important to balance brevity with detail. Keep it no more than 2 pages to ensure your CV remains engaging while covering all relevant details.

Your CV profile is your opportunity to highlight your administrative expertise and show why you’re the ideal secretary for the role. This is where you summarise your experience, top qualifications, and most marketable skills.

Tailor your profile to the role by emphasising key skills and experiences that match the job description.

Here’s what to include in your Secretary CV profile:

• Where you’ve worked – Mention industries or organisations where you’ve provided secretarial support, such as law firms, schools, or corporate offices.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight credentials like a diploma in administration or certifications in office software.
• Essential skills – Include diary management, correspondence handling, and minute-taking.
• People you’ve supported – Reference the types of professionals you’ve worked with, such as executives, managers, or entire teams.
• Tools you’ve mastered – Mention proficiency in office software, scheduling platforms, or document management systems.

The core skills section is your chance to highlight the abilities that make you a standout Secretary. Think of it as a quick reference guide that gives recruiters an instant understanding of what you bring to the role.

For secretarial roles, focus on organisational and interpersonal skills that demonstrate your ability to manage administrative tasks efficiently.

Above all else, tailor these skills to the specific role and industry you’re applying for.

Your work experience section is where you prove your secretarial skills in action. Recruiters want to see how you’ve supported teams, handled responsibilities, and contributed to the smooth running of the office.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on responsibilities and achievements that align with the job description. If you’re newer to the field, include internships, volunteer work, or other administrative roles that demonstrate your abilities.

• Outline – Briefly describe the organisation, your role, and the type of support you provided.
• Responsibilities – Highlight key tasks such as managing schedules, drafting correspondence, or coordinating meetings. Use action verbs like “organised,” “assisted,” or “maintained.”
• Achievements – Quantify successes where possible, such as improving scheduling efficiency or reducing response times for correspondence. Numbers always leave a stronger impression!

The education section is where you highlight the qualifications that support your secretarial expertise. Include academic degrees, certifications, and any relevant training in administration or office management.

This section can be brief for experienced candidates, focusing on key qualifications. For those newer to the field, emphasise coursework or projects that demonstrate transferable skills.

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.