Office Clerk Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Office Clerk resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
An office clerk is a person who performs administrative tasks in an office environment. Office clerks are often the first people you interact with when you walk into a business, and they’re usually the ones who help you find the person you need to speak with.
If you’re looking for a job that offers stability and flexibility, an office clerk position might be a great fit for you. Office clerks are often hired into their positions straight out of high school or college, and they stay in them for years. Many office clerks work part time or full time, depending on their schedules and availability.
Here are some tips and an example to help you write a compelling office clerk resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write an Office Clerk Resume
Here’s how to write an office clerk 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 “assisted customers,” you could say you “provided customer service by answering questions and resolving issues for customers in person and over the phone.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work. And that level of detail will make it much easier for a hiring manager to picture you in the role and understand how your experience and skills would be useful in the job.
Related: What Is an Office Clerk? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a clerk position, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. The ATS will search for certain keywords that are relevant to the job, like “clerical skills” or “office management.” If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
To increase your chances of getting an office clerk job, make sure to include some of the most commonly used keywords in the list below:
- Microsoft Access
- Data Entry
- Customer Service
- Administration
- Office Administration
- Administrative Assistance
- Time Management
- Teamwork
- Research
- Social Media
- Event Planning
- Event Management
- Public Speaking
- Organization Skills
- Telephone Reception
- Cooperation
- Community Outreach
- Clerical Skills
- Communication
- Phone Etiquette
- Leadership
- Customer Support
- Public Relations
- Project Management
- Negotiation
- Sales
- Adobe Photoshop
- Accounting
- Research Writing
- Strategic Planning
Showcase Your Technical Skills
There are a number of programs and systems that office clerks use on a daily basis to keep their office running smoothly. Being proficient in the use of these programs and systems is essential to the job. Some of the most commonly used programs are Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Additionally, office clerks 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 Office Clerk Make?
Remember The Basics
As you’re crafting your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Create Easy-to Scan Sections
There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read, such as left aligning your text, using a standard font type and size, and using bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. You should also use all-caps and bold sparingly, and keep your bullets under two lines. Additionally, you can include some white space on the page to make the document easier to scan.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but a one or two page resume is typical. When deciding how long your resume should be, you should consider how much experience you have and what you want to highlight. If you are a recent graduate or have less than five to eight years of experience, a one-page resume is best. If you have more than 10 years of experience, you can use a two-page resume to go into more detail about your work history. However, be selective about what you include, as you want to keep your resume concise and easy to read.
Proofread
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.
Consider Including a Summary
A resume summary statement is an excellent way to introduce yourself and explain why you are a great fit for the role you are applying for. It can be a brief overview of your skills and experiences that are the most relevant to the position you are applying for. When writing a summary statement, be sure to focus on your relevant skills and experiences, and state your intentions clearly. Keep it brief and to the point, no more than three sentences.
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