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Office support assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Allison White,

Allison White

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical office support assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for office support assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 19.7% of office support assistant resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an office support assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 office support assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how office support assistants use customer service:

Contribute sharp administrative skills toward providing broad-scope office support ranging from customer service and billing to records/chart maintenance and archiving
Provided effective customer service by answering questions associated with policies and procedures for the Department of Corrections.

2. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how office support assistants use data entry:

Provided audit defense assistance, client documentation organization, data entry, filing and general office assistance.
Performed data entry to maintain accurate records of supplemental instruction data.

3. Office Equipment

Here's how office support assistants use office equipment:

Processed purchasing requests for office equipment procurement while maintaining and implementing cost reduction initiatives.
Maintained and troubleshooted office equipment and responsible for inventory ordering and control.

4. Phone Calls

Phone calls are a wireless or wired connection made over a telephone or a mobile phone between two people. Two parties are involved in a phone call, the caller and the receiver. A caller dials the number of the one he wants to call, and the recipient hears a bell or a tune to which he picks up the call. The call establishes a connection between them through which they can communicate. The voice is converted into signals and is transmitted through wired or wireless technology.

Here's how office support assistants use phone calls:

Scheduled travel arrangements, coordinated meetings, prepared expense/mileage reports, answered incoming phone calls and provided orientation to new hires.
Provided administrative/secretarial support for the division such as answering and returning phone calls, assisting visitors concerns and inquiries.

5. Office Procedures

Office procedures are the protocols and standards which define how the staff works together. The office procedures can be a set of rules and regulations which guide the employees and help them run the office operations smoothly. Paperwork, customer interaction, taking messages, handling calls in and out all fall under the office procedures.

Here's how office support assistants use office procedures:

Assist in clinical department by cleaning and sterilizing instruments as well as prepping and setting up patients for office procedures.
Filled out new patient paperwork, explained to patients the office procedures and showed them the office.

6. PowerPoint

Here's how office support assistants use powerpoint:

Utilized MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and proprietary real estate programs.
Assist employees with Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, GIS and Word.

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7. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how office support assistants use payroll:

Processed payroll for administrative and clinical staff.
Maintained attendance records for Division Payroll.

8. Front Desk

Here's how office support assistants use front desk:

Provide training, support and functional supervision of front desk workers in conjunction with student staff and Resident director.
Maintain front desk receptionist duties to schedule and admit patients to the Veterinary Health Center.

9. Clerical Support

Clerical support performs activities that must be done in every workplace in order to support the company going forward. These duties, which come within the category of clerical support, are typically delegated to entry-level employees since they are simple and easy to learn. Even though clerical duties like printing and filing are easy, they require time and in many instances, other workers are preoccupied with other activities and unable to keep up with all that needs to be accomplished. As a result, many businesses employ clerical support staff who are solely responsible for these duties.

Here's how office support assistants use clerical support:

Provided direct consumer support services to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors through clerical support, information and scheduled appointments.
Provided administrative and clerical support to the Corporate General Counsel and six attorneys.

10. Scheduling Appointments

Scheduling appointments is the practice of finding a free slot with the person(s) you want to meet. The process of scheduling appointments involves finding mutually free time, negotiating follow-ups, sending reminders, and creating new appointments. Scheduling appointments is important to ensure that the timings of consecutive meetings do not clash with each other.

Here's how office support assistants use scheduling appointments:

Assisted with scheduling and rescheduling appointments.
Performed routine clerical duties consisting of distributing mail, answering phones, scheduling appointments, filing, copying.

11. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how office support assistants use telephone calls:

Completed administrative tasks, such as entering orders into computer, answering telephone calls, or maintaining medical or facility information.
Answered and returned telephone calls presenting strong verbal communication skills and utilizing excellent phone etiquette in a fast paced environment.

12. Office Support

Here's how office support assistants use office support:

Skilled and dedicated office support specialist with experience in coordinating, planning, and supporting daily operational and administrative functions.
Advised medical support assistants and administrative office support personnel on office policies and procedures.

13. Fax Machines

Here's how office support assistants use fax machines:

Managed and ran office machines including, copiers, fax machines, and personal computers.
Scanned hard-copy documents using optical character recognition software using advanced feature keys on photocopy and fax machines.

14. Computer System

Here's how office support assistants use computer system:

Retrieved and entered data and prepared reports from personal computer system.
Enter court dockets, hardship requests, lump sum settlements, and dismissals into AS400 computer system on a daily basis.

15. Office Machines

An office machine is a mechanical and electronic device that is used to get work done in an organization or establishment, to finish multiple works in a short time, and to enhance productivity. Office machines are essential in running a modern office and range from calculators to printers to computers.

Here's how office support assistants use office machines:

Operated office machines: fax, shredders, copiers, scanners, computers, printers and Dictaphone.
Operated personal computers, office machines and other equipment.

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What skills help Office Support Assistants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What hard/technical skills are most important for office support assistants?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

In addition to production software skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we often taught database skills using MS Access. Every employer has an employee database and a customer/client database that requires input and sometimes maintenance by office personnel. Keyboarding (65+ wpm), basic bookkeeping/accounting, and filing skills are a must.

What skills stand out on office support assistant resumes?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

Knowledge of spreadsheets software such as MS Excel is a commonly sought-after skill. Employers want word processing and spreadsheet skills but often say they want high school graduates and pay accordingly. These skills aren't always taught in high school. Those in the field should seek these skills. Additionally, medical and legal assistants have highly sought after. Terminology courses for these specialized areas are sometimes offered at the vocational schools but are usually offered at the post-secondary level.

What soft skills should all office support assistants possess?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

Employers have told me repeatedly that soft skills are often the most important. They will ask for my reference after I've gotten to know a student and been able to identify their communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They want someone to take the initiative yet know when to ask questions. Customer service skills and confidentiality were also voiced by our internship supervisors. Verbal and non-verbal communication is a must. The applicant must be able to write well!!

Do you want to know more?

List of office support assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an office support assistant resume and required skills for an office support assistant to have include:

Customer Service
Data Entry
Office Equipment
Phone Calls
Office Procedures
PowerPoint
Payroll
Front Desk
Clerical Support
Scheduling Appointments
Telephone Calls
Office Support
Fax Machines
Computer System

Office Machines
Clerical Tasks
Meeting Minutes
Travel Arrangements
Travel Vouchers
Office Operations
Multi-Line Phone System
Expense Reports
Background Checks
Routine Correspondence
Word Processing Software
HR
HIPAA
Windows

Conference Calls
Subpoenas
Management System
Hippa
Computer Software
Child Support
AS400
QuickBooks
Patient Charts
SharePoint
PeopleSoft
Bank Deposits
Cash Drawers
FedEx

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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