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Word processing secretary skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Allison White,

Allison White

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical word processing secretary skills. We ranked the top skills for word processing secretaries based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.5% of word processing secretary resumes contained scheduling appointments as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a word processing secretary needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 word processing secretary skills for your resume and career

1. 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 word processing secretaries use scheduling appointments:

Provided administrative assistance on Special Projects, and scheduling appointments.
Conducted clerical and administrative functions such as organizing paper and electronic files, generating correspondence, scheduling appointments and answering telephones.

2. 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 word processing secretaries use telephone calls:

Created and revised various documents from machine transcription, handwritten and typewritten material and answered and transferred telephone calls
Screened telephone calls, evaluated and distribute incoming correspondence, maintained departmental files and financial records.

3. Travel Arrangements

Here's how word processing secretaries use travel arrangements:

Handled coordination and correlation of domestic and international travel arrangements.
Scheduled complex travel arrangements; prepared itineraries.

4. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how word processing secretaries use real estate:

Transcribed commercial real estate appraisal reports, backed up the receptionist on her breaks, and trained several clerical staff members.
Started with firm as a Real Estate Clerk/Receptionist and was promoted to processor/secretary due to good work performance and recommendations.

5. Law Firm

Here's how word processing secretaries use law firm:

General and specialized word processing, secretarial, administrative duties for law firms, oil & gas and cable companies.
Provided word processing services - all types of legal documents for two law firms.

6. Secretarial Support

Here's how word processing secretaries use secretarial support:

Provided secretarial support for the Regional Vice President and seven agents that entailed designing professional presentations for clients.
Provided administrative and/or secretarial support or backup for the department.

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7. Pleadings

Here's how word processing secretaries use pleadings:

Create and edit mark-up documents with track changes, legal briefs, pleadings, and forms for assigned attorneys.
Drafted and revised legal pleadings from Complaint to trial documents, used pacer to legal cases

8. PowerPoint

Here's how word processing secretaries use powerpoint:

Assisted attorneys in 18 global offices with Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents.
Created PowerPoint presentations used for business development, organized files and developed spreadsheets, faxed reports and scanned documents.

9. Proofread

Proofreading simply carefully checking your text for possible errors like typographical errors or mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling before it can be published or shared. This is generally known as the very last stage of any writing process when you need to fix minor spelling and punctuation mistakes, typos, formatting issues,

and inconsistencies.

Here's how word processing secretaries use proofread:

Typed, edited and proofread business documents for approximately 10 managers.
Proofread documents and made all necessary revisions and/or corrections.

10. 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 word processing secretaries use payroll:

Provided typing, proofreading, filing, purchasing supplies, payroll, word processing and telephone coverage.
Created and maintained a time-accumulated sheet on leave used by workers for agency and completed payroll.

11. Word Processing Support

Here's how word processing secretaries use word processing support:

Provide administrative, secretarial and word processing support to the GIA Group Quality Assurance Department.
Provided word processing support using IBM 5520 equipment * Installed multiple PS/2 workstations for secretarial team

12. Expense Reports

Here's how word processing secretaries use expense reports:

Assisted Controller and Chief Accountants maintain and prepare spreadsheets & financial reports, personnel files, time cards, expense reports.
Prepared complex SEC documents; processed legal billing and produced expense reports.

13. Computer System

Here's how word processing secretaries use computer system:

Cross-referenced claimant files with information in computer system.
Compiled and assured accuracy of monthly books which tracked and Forecast the computer processing projects in progress on the computer System.

14. Office Equipment

Here's how word processing secretaries use office equipment:

Created and maintained office equipment inventory for insurance purposes.
Operated standard office equipment (i.e., telephone, typewriter, Printer, fax, photocopier, and calculator).

15. Dictaphone

Here's how word processing secretaries use dictaphone:

Operated central processing unit for all legal documentation, correspondence and agreements by Dictaphone for seventeen attorneys and paralegals.
Transposed lengthy documents via Dictaphone or long hand for a professional final product.

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What skills help Word Processing Secretaries 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 word processing secretarys?

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 word processing secretary 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 word processing secretarys 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 word processing secretary skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a word processing secretary resume and required skills for a word processing secretary to have include:

Scheduling Appointments
Telephone Calls
Travel Arrangements
Real Estate
Law Firm
Secretarial Support
Pleadings
PowerPoint
Proofread
Payroll
Word Processing Support
Expense Reports
Computer System

Office Equipment
Dictaphone
Wang
Windows
Financial Statements
Greeting Visitors
Office Machines
Office Procedures
Meeting Minutes
Tax Returns
Fax Machines
Computer Software
Interrogatories

PDF
Subpoenas
Status Reports
Intellectual Property
Mail Merge
Administrative Functions
Mass Mailings
Rough Drafts
Conference Calls
III
Xerox

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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