Clerical Resume: Examples & Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

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Clerical Resume Sample

You’re more than just an office clerk? Job titles matter! We have a bunch of resume samples for more specialized clerical jobs. Check them out:

• Secretary Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Office Administrator Resume
• Receptionist Resume
• Front Desk Resume
• Bookkeeper Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Front Desk Receptionist Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Examples of Resumes That Get Jobs

Here’s how to write a clerical resume that will make employers throw job offers at your feet like rose petals.

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Clerical Resume

Clerical work involves common administrative tasks such as data entry, photocopying, sending and receiving faxes, answering phone calls, and minor bookkeeping. Since there’s a lot of competition, to get you this job your clerical worker resume must highlight your exact skillset and beam with attention to detail.

How to achieve that effect?

First, follow these steps:

• Pick the ideal resume format. In most cases, it’s best to stick to chronological format of a resume, as it helps spotlight your achievements and professional clerical experience.
• Start with a professional resume header that contains your name and contact info.
• Ensure you split your clerical resume into easily navigable resume sections.
• Pick the best fonts for your resume. Don’t use anything fancy like Comic Sans.
• Break up the page by using white space and big headings.
• Unless the job asks specifically for PDF, save your clerical resume as doc file. It’ll keep the layout intact.

2. Write a Clerical Resume Objective or Summary

You can make photocopies all while typing at 75 WPM.

But—

If you want them to know it, they need to read your clerk resume in full. 

Otherwise, they’ll only spend seven seconds on your application before moving on to another candidate, as our HR statistics report shows.

Best way to do it?

Start your clerical resume with a professional profile. It’s a nice, sweet paragraph that explains why you fit the job like a pen in a cap.

But here’s the trick:

If you don’t have much experience, pick a resume objective. It’ll help show what skills you have in the drawer and how they can help you excel in the job.

If you have 2+ years of relevant clerical job experience, go with a professional resume summary. It’ll act as a snapshot of your killer accomplishments.

3. Create the Perfect Clerical Job Description for a Resume

Why most candidates applying for clerical jobs fail?

Because their resumes are so packed with managed a calendar, and performed photocopying that they immediately end up in a shredder next to the recruiter’s desk.

Good news?

You can make your clerical work resume rise above this noise.

Here’s how to describe your work experience in a resume:

• List your current or most recent job first. 
• Mention your job titles, company names, locations, and dates worked.
• Add up to 5 bullet points to showcase your primary duties. Quantify whenever possible. Numbers look impressive!
• Throw in a Key Achievements resume subsection to prove your value proposition.
• Use resume action verbs to pull the recruiter to the rest of your clerical resume.
• Make sure to write a targeted resume. Focus on what the employer is after.

4. Make Your Clerical Resume Education Section Great

Do you need a degree to land a clerical job?

No. 

A high school diploma does the trick.

But—

It doesn’t mean you should dump most recent education at the bottom of your resume for office clerks and move on.

A stellar resume education section can help you score extra points.

Here’s how to write yours, so the recruiter sticks to your clerical resume like super glue:

• List school name and graduation year.
• List your GPA (if upwards of 3.5) if you’re new to the game.
• List extracurricular activities the job wants. It’ll support the job description section and prove you’re the perfect candidate.

Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.

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5. Highlight Your Clerical Skills

Looking for skills to throw into your office clerk resume?

There you have it.

Clerical Skills for a Resume

Soft skills:

• Prioritization
• Problem-solving
• Written and verbal communication
• Organization
• Adaptability
• Decision making
• Multitasking
• Planning
• Sorting
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Conflict resolution

Hard skills:

• Administrative skills
• Making travel arrangements
• Record keeping
• Proofreading
• Faxing
• Data entry
• Data management
• Database fluency
• Microsoft Office
• Word processing
• Billing
• Accounting
• Budgeting
• Photocopying and collating
• VOIP phone systems
• Scheduling
• Typing 75 WPM
• QuickBooks

But—

Don’t just cram your resume with a list of clerical skills. Scan the job ad and cherry-pick the ones the employer wants.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Clerical Resume

At this stage you’ve got a decent clerical resume.

But if you want to come off as the next Alfred from Batman, you need to add additional sections to it.

Here are some ideas:

• Language skills
• Certifications
• Volunteer experience

7. Attach a Clerical Resume Cover Letter

Would you like to lightsaber your application success rate?

Probably not.

That’s why you always need to write a clerical cover letter. 

Why?

Almost half of employers expect to get a cover letter even if the job doesn’t specify it.

So—

Here’s how to write a cover letter for clerical positions and 2x your success rate:

• Pick the right cover letter format.
• Open your cover letter with how you helped your previous employer.
• Mention one-two wins from previous roles that show how you’ll help the employer.
• Close the cover letter with an offer they can’t refuse (e.g., say how you can help XYZ slash clerical errors by 15%.)

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

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This is it!

This is how you make killer resumes for clerical positions.

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