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Student office assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.,

Brian Lai Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical student office assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for student office assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.2% of student office assistant resumes contained data entry as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a student office assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 student office assistant skills for your resume and career

1. 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 student office assistants use data entry:

Categorize and label numerous documents -Chronologically organize receipts; file various student and faculty Microsoft software receipts -Data entry -Clerical duties
Assisted Biology professor by grading papers, confidential data entry in Desire2Learn student management software, and various office duties

2. 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 student office assistants use phone calls:

Manage program administrative tasks and computer lab, recruit/train student staff, triage student appointments/drop-ins/phone calls/ meeting facilitation.
Typed student evaluations and presented them to faculty Shredding Department mail distribution Answered phone calls

3. 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 student office assistants use customer service:

Provided customer service to visitors/students in various departments, prepared materials for student files, interdepartmental correspondence, arranged special events/lectures.
General Office Responsibilities* Provided Customer Service* Trained to help others to increase motivation, organization, and life skills

4. Front Desk

Here's how student office assistants use front desk:

Front desk receptionist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Innovation Center.
Performed Front Desk Receptionist duties and other office administration duties as required

5. Financial Aid

Financial aid refers to cash released to an educational institution to help a student pay the school fee. The issuance of financial aid, whether scholarships, grants, or loans, aims to make access to education affordable to all students irrespective of their backgrounds.

Here's how student office assistants use financial aid:

Processed financial aid applications, forms; review for completeness, accuracy; verify information reported on student applications.
Provided financial aid support and service to university students in accordance with applicable state laws and university policy.

6. PowerPoint

Here's how student office assistants use powerpoint:

Created PowerPoint presentations and presented to undergraduate business classes.
Used computer software as such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, the Internet and more.

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7. Database Systems

Here's how student office assistants use database systems:

Provide assistance to colleagues in entering event reservations into booking database system.
Transferred and updated student records into a computer database system.

8. Office Equipment

Here's how student office assistants use office equipment:

Provided secretarial support and operated office equipment.
Utilize modern office equipment, such as computer, copier, phone, and fax throughout day-to- day activities.

9. 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 student office assistants use scheduling appointments:

General office duties included-filing papers, sending faxes, scheduling appointments, answering phones and working with other students.
Assisted in scheduling as well as organizing student and campus-led events, verifying calendars of employees and scheduling appointments.

10. Alumni

Alumni is a term used for graduate students of a school, college, university, or any other educational institution. The term is also used for employees of a company or a previous member of a group or an organization that has been retired. Alumni represent the institutions or organizations that they were previously associated with.

Here's how student office assistants use alumni:

Secured commitments of participation from individual donors including alumni via call center solicitation and University venues.
Developed relationships with prospective students, parents and donors; engaged alumni, and aided office operations

11. Administrative Tasks

Here's how student office assistants use administrative tasks:

Performed administrative tasks, including producing office publications, student tutoring and computer lab assistant and maintaining office supply database.
Ensured smooth department operation through administrative tasks such as filing, managing appointments, clear communication and proper information.

12. Student Body

Here's how student office assistants use student body:

Coordinated with local businesses and university administration in attaining support for the student body.
Represented student body when problem solving with education and administration faculty.

13. Word Processing

Here's how student office assistants use word processing:

Use of personal computer and a variety of office software applications including word processing, email, and file management.
Created word processing documents, spreadsheets and input data for the Departmental Assistant.

14. Event Planning

Here's how student office assistants use event planning:

Facilitate in event planning and management.
Utilize comprehensive knowledge of office services and resources to assist students with inquiries such as upcoming event details and event planning.

15. Office Support

Here's how student office assistants use office support:

Provided general office support, such as helping the professors with class material preparation using computer/printer/copier/scanner/fax.
Provided general office support Digitized confidential student files Answered basic inquiries from students

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What skills help Student Office Assistants find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on student office assistant resumes?

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.

Department Chair and Associate Professor of English, Dixie State University

Writing skills have always been valued by employers, but anything that shows an ability to write, produce, or communicate in digital spaces will stand out. While employers are becoming increasingly comfortable having employees work and collaborate digitally (from home or elsewhere), they may still be reluctant to train employees how to do that. They want to see evidence that applicants will know how to use technology and stay productive without extensive training and without a supervisor having to stand behind them. That isn't to say training won't take place, but employers want to use their valuable time and resources training employees on their own systems, policies, and procedures; they don't want to have to show new-hires how to use Zoom, how to format a memo, how to write an email, or how to co-edit a document using OneDrive.

What type of skills will young student office assistants need?

Brian Lai Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Iowa

They need to be able to write well, specifically be able to clearly summarize and analyze ideas, policies, and arguments in a succinct manner. They will need at least a working understanding of data analysis techniques, if not some ability to analyze data. In the field of IR, the ability to network and work in a group environment will be important.

What technical skills for a student office assistant stand out to employers?

Amanda Carpenter

Director, California State University Channel Islands

-Data analytics skills are critical technical skills that stand out to employers in today's market. According to NACE (2018), the use of data analytics is projected to have the most significant impact on an organization's operational efficiency and revenue generation.
-Source (NACE): www.naceweb.org

What soft skills should all student office 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 student office assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a student office assistant resume and required skills for a student office assistant to have include:

Data Entry
Phone Calls
Customer Service
Front Desk
Financial Aid
PowerPoint
Database Systems
Office Equipment
Scheduling Appointments
Alumni
Administrative Tasks
Student Body
Word Processing

Event Planning
Office Support
Office Procedures
Clerical Tasks
Student Life
FERPA
Telephone Calls
Office Operations
Greeting Visitors
Clerical Support
Student Organizations
Office Machines
Direct Calls

Bulletin Boards
Fax Machines
Computer System
Student Events
Office Programs
Student Involvement
Facebook
Windows
Multi-Line Phone System
Student Accounts
Twitter
Student Inquiries

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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