Executive Secretary Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Executive Secretary resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
As an executive secretary, you’re the go-to person for your boss. You keep things running smoothly by managing the day-to-day operations of your department or organization. You’re an integral part of the leadership team, keeping everyone on track with their projects and tasks. And you’re often the first person people see when they come into the office—so you need to have a friendly, welcoming demeanor.
If you’re looking for a new role as an executive secretary or want to make sure your resume is ready before you start applying for jobs, here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a compelling application.
How to Write an Executive Secretary Resume
Here’s how to write an executive secretary resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best way to make your resume stand out is to use specific, descriptive language. Rather than saying you “provided administrative support,” you could say you “managed daily schedules and calendars for executive team, ensuring all meetings and appointments were scheduled and attended according to schedule.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work. It also makes clear that you were responsible for scheduling meetings and appointments—a key duty of a executive secretary!
Related: What Is an Executive Secretary? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume for an executive secretary role, it’s likely that it will go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the job opening. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
One way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your document. You can find some of the most commonly used executive secretary keywords below:
- Executive Secretariat
- Office Administration
- Administrative Assistance
- Microsoft Access
- Administrative Management
- Human Resources (HR)
- Time Management
- Customer Service
- Social Media
- Organization Skills
- Public Speaking
- Event Planning
- Event Management
- International Relations
- Public Relations
- Negotiation
- Strategic Planning
- Management
- Teamwork
- Travel Arrangements
- Diary Management
- Research
- Communication
- Team Leadership
- Personal Administration
- Secretarial Services
- Coaching
- Teaching
- Clerical Skills
- Interim Management
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Executive secretaries use a variety of software programs to complete their work, so it’s important to list any relevant technical skills you have. Programs like Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are all commonly used by executive secretaries. Additionally, executive secretaries may be called on to use specific software programs relevant to their industry, so it’s important to be familiar with as many programs as possible
Related: How Much Does an Executive Secretary Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Make Your Resume Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to make your resume more readable and easy to scan, such as left-aligning your text, using a standard font type and size, and keeping your bullets concise. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.
Be Concise
A resume should typically be one page long, but can be two pages for more experienced candidates. Font type and size, margins, and line spacing can also be tweaked to save space on a resume. When in doubt, less is more.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Use a Summary
A resume summary statement can be a great way to introduce yourself to potential employers, and to quickly and effectively highlight the skills and experiences that make you the best candidate for the job. When writing your summary, be sure to focus on your relevant skills and experiences, and to clearly state your intentions. Keep it short and simple, and make sure to tailor it to the specific role you’re hoping to land.
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