How To Write An Office Resume With A Template And Example

Writing a great and compelling resume is essential for getting hired for a desirable job. Creating an office resume can be challenging if you are an entry-level candidate with little experience. Knowing how to list your experience, educational qualifications and skills can help you get hired for a desirable job. In this article, we explore what an office assistant resume is, understand the steps to create one, discover what to include, provide a template and review an example of a resume along with some resume writing tips.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

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What Is An Office Resume?

An office resume is a professional document that lists an office assistant's relevant skills, qualifications and experiences. An office assistant provides customer support, general administration and the department and company. These professionals might answer incoming phone calls, respond to inquiries and maintain documentation. Using an office assistant resume, you can highlight key skills, achievements and experience that match the job description. Your resume helps make you a marketable candidate even for an entry-level role.

Related: What Is An Office Assistant? Definition, Skills And Duties

What To Include In An Office Assistant Resume?

As a resume determines whether you are a good fit for the job, it is essential to highlight details that differentiate you from others. Here are a few essential things to include in a resume:

• Name and contact number: It is essential to provide your name and contact details on your resume as it helps managers to contact you for a desirable job or for scheduling an interview.

• Resume objective: Your resume objective is a two or three-sentence lengthy statement explaining who you are and why the hiring manager hire you over other candidates. Give some essential details about your experience and skill set.

• Educational qualification: This section is essential for an office assistant resume. It provides details about your education, level of experience and certifications completed.

• Professional history: The professional history section allows employers to showcase their accomplishments in their previous jobs. Focus on including 10-15 years of experience on your resume.

• List relevant skills and tools: This section includes details about your technical and soft skills. Use this section to highlight any tools you mastered or certifications you earned.

Related: Professional Resume Samples To Help You Land A Job

How To Write An Office Resume?

To create an office assistant resume, follow these steps:

1. Use a resume header

Start your resume with a professional resume header that includes your full name, address, phone number and email address. Focus on using the same order for presenting your information. You can even use a resume template to make your resume appear more professional and organised.

Example:

Honey Sachdeva
Flat no 34, Sagar Nagar, Whitefield
Bengaluru – 500087
8744987561 honey.sachdeva@mmail.com

Related: How To Write Resume Headers: A Step-By-Step Guide

2. Include a resume objective

A resume objective is the first thing an employer notices about you because it defines who you are. It is typically one or two sentences long and provides details about qualifications and motives. Focus on fitting this section according to the job description.

Example:

Motivated and skilled office assistant with five years of experience supervising clerks and completing office duties. Looking to improve office operations by applying my experience.

Related: Writing The Objective For An Office Administrator Resume

3. Describe your work experience

The work experience provides detailed information about your past employment. When planning to include your work experience, provide the employer's full name along with the dates you worked in reverse chronological order. To ensure that the work section is not too long, limit this section to 10-15 years. If you have a gap in employment because of illness, higher studies or marriage, list only the years of employment. Also, to help an employer understand your experience, list a few job responsibilities. Club your responsibilities by using a percentage or number to make a powerful impression.

Example:

Sumanaji Corp – Whitefield Bengaluru
Office assistant
March 2016 – February 2019

• Enhanced customer satisfaction by 40% by consistently delivering a polite and professional tone to the client over the phone and in-person

• Implemented standardised contract process and reduced contract discrepancies by 45%

• Answered an average of 60 calls daily, resolved customer and billing issues

• Received employee of the year award in 2017 and 2018

Related: How To Write Work Experience on Your CV

4. Outline your academic background

The next section to include on your resume is your academic background. This section is essential because you can highlight your qualifications and become a qualified candidate for an entry-level office assistant's job. For instance, having a degree in business administration can enhance your chances of getting hired for a job role. When writing this section, include your institution's name, course completed, dates attended and the city from which you graduated. You can use this section to discuss any relevant projects you completed and accolades you won.

Example:

Bachelor of Business Administration
Mahagat Business School
April 2014 – May 2017

• Won the best outgoing student of the year 2017

5. Highlight all relevant skills

Office assistants require both soft and technical skills to complete their job-specific duties. In the skills section, add a brief description of each skill. Rather than saying proficient in software, specify the type of computer software or tool you know. Also, when including skills in your resume, review the job description and prioritise the most relevant skills.

Example:

• Verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in the point-of-sales system, word processor and spreadsheet software

• Policy and procedure modification

• Project management

• Documentation and control

• Performance management

• Customer service

6. Include additional sections

You can focus on adding value to your resume. For an office assistant resume, you can include certifications, multiple languages, volunteer activities and professional memberships. Before including the additional section, review the job description and add relevant sections. Employers prefer an office assistant who speaks multiple languages and is adept at various administrative tools for a diverse workforce.

Example:

• Bilingual in English and French

• Proficient in word processing and spreadsheet software

Tips For Writing An Office Assistant Resume

Here are a few tips to consider when creating an office assistant resume:

• Mention keywords in the resume: Before creating a resume, review the job posting and pick keywords from it. Including keywords from the job description can make your resume applicant tracking system (ATS) compliant.

• Use a professional font: As employers spend less than one minute reading a resume, ensure to use a professional font size. Selecting a clear and readable font can make your resume look professional.

• Use active language: Avoid using irrelevant words and use active language using power words such as achieved, accomplished, completed, earned and implemented. Focus on using shorter or concise language.

Related: 7 Office Manager Interview Questions (And Answers)

Template For Creating An Office Assistant Resume

Use this template for your reference when creating an office assistant resume:

[Your first and last name]
[Your address]
[Your phone number]
[Your email address]

Objective

[In the first line, introduce yourself as a professional, giving detail about your work experience. When writing the first line, use action verbs and even include the area of your speciality.]
[In the second line, mention any notable qualification and education relevant to the job role you are applying for.]
[The third line highlights your skills, awards and workplace honours.]

Work experience

[Job title]
[Educational institution school's name]
[Educational institution school's location]
[Dates worked]

• [Key responsibilities]

• [Key responsibilities]

• [Key responsibilities]

• [Key responsibilities]

Educational qualification

[Degree]
[Name of institution and location]
[Dates attended]

• [Include your CGPA or degree classification]

• [Include relevant academic courses and projects you completed during your college]

Skills

• [Relevant skill]

• [Relevant skill]

• [Relevant skill]

• [Relevant skill]

Related: How To Write An Office Manager Resume (With Example)

Example Of An Office Assistant's Resume

Use this sample office assistant resume as an inspiration when creating a resume for an office assistant's job role:

Mahesh Sharma
Flat no – 980, Pocket – A
Savita Nagar, New Delhi – 110087
8944751623
Mahesh.sharma@cmail.com

Objective
Diligent and enthusiastic office assistant with over two years of experience performing clerical tasks and administrative duties to support essential business functions. Possess a BA degree in Political Science and expert at various word processors and spreadsheet software. Looking to apply my skills and expertise and help in the efficient management of day-to-day office operations.

Work experience
Sulaj Tech
Office assistant resume
August 2019 – Present

• Using various scheduling, spreadsheet and word processing software decreased clerical errors by 30%

• Completed all office assistant duties for a computer manufacturing company and maintained customer relationship and communication logistics

• Ensured proper billing and consistently achieved a 97% customer satisfaction rate

• Implemented new-time scheduling and office management tactics that saved the company an average of 100 labour hours per year

• Answered all incoming calls, questions, inquires and billing

Educational qualification

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Maharaja Sujmal College of Arts
February 2016 – April 2019

• Pursued passion for public speaking coursework

• Handled show scheduling for college's radio station

Skills

• Typing speed of 85 words per minute

• Proficient in word processing and presentation software

• Event planning and scheduling

• Invoicing

• Oral and written communication skills

• Conflict resolution

• Customer service skills

Related: Office Skills For A Resume: Definition And Examples

Additional activities

• Bilingual in English and Japanese

• Knowledge of scheduling software