OFFICE/CLERICAL WORKERS

As an office worker your primary responsibility is to demonstrate that you possess strong office skills, that you are hard working and efficient, that you are easy to work with, that you are reliable and resourceful, that you can take on greater responsibility, and that you look for ways to improve office operations.

Either in the qualifications section of the resume or in a section called Office Skills, you can list the types of computers you have used, knowledge of operating systems such as Windows, and experience with various applications software such as Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and others. If you are really an expert in one or more applications, you can state that in qualifications, or you can divide the applications software into two categories under office skills, and label them “Expert In” and “Experienced In.” If a term like “expert in” is a little too strong, try “Highly Experienced In.”

Demonstrating that you are a hard worker, efficient, and easy to work with, is usually best covered in the qualifications section and in the cover letter. If you really feel you have these qualities, simply tell the reader through the resume and cover letter. Another excellent way to sell these qualities is to show that you are a results oriented person. By selling your results you will sell the fact that you are efficient and easy to work with.

Do not feel that you must list every single duty that you had on each job. I’ve seen clerical resumes that were virtually unreadable because they simply consisted of a long list of duties. You may have had a duty which you carried out in each of your last six jobs, but in the resume you may choose to include that duty only in your first three jobs just to show that you have experience in that area. Of course with a key skill, you would list it in any job where you used it.

Some duties do not need to be mentioned at all. Since virtually every office person types and answers the phone, those two duties do not need to be mentioned unless you want to.

Sometimes a person is responsible for producing 10-15 different reports each month. Generally the names of those reports will have no meaning to a reader. If you are going to mention them at all, give them generic names such as “expense report” or “inventory report.” You could say, “Produced 15 reports each month including the expense report, inventory report, and sales report.”

As with any resume, your key task is to show your results. Initially many office workers tell me they don’t have any results, but invariably we come up with several. The main question to ask yourself is whether you have improved processes or created systems which made something better, easier, or faster.

People frequently believe their improvement is not big enough to mention in a resume. Nearly any improvement is worthy of putting on a resume, but of course you would emphasize the most important ones. If a process saved you or your organization over ten hours per year, or if a system saved over $300 in expense or time, it may be worth mentioning. Even if you decide not to include some of your smaller results in the resume, you may still want to mention them in interviews.

Remember, to mention a result, it does not have to be big or to have saved thousands of dollars. Look at it this way, if everyone found ways to save a few hours here and a few dollars there, organizations would be much more profitable.

Office Administration Helvetica

JANICE TENSLEY

13617 Moccasin Bay

Winnipeg, Manitoba R2Y1B5

(204) 727-5133

OBJECTIVE: Office Administration position utilizing computer skills

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong office administration background. Implement systems that significantly increase office productivity. Quickly learn word processing, database, and spreadsheet software. Excellent supervisor. Flexible, creative, and work well under pressure.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

BTC Computers, Winnipeg, Manitoba 5/97-Present

Operations Support - For this manufacturer and distributor of computers, created and implemented a computerized inventory control system. Introduced the system throughout the company and within three company-owned retail stores. System has enabled BTC to continue its rapid expansion with excellent control of its growing inventory. Instructed all staff in the use of the system and act as troubleshooter when problems or questions occur. System provides excellent controls and saves over 20 hours per week in staff research time.

Introduced a computerized accounting system utilizing Great Plains and a Novell network. Oversee the maintenance of the inventory, purchase order, posting, and order entry modules. Also involved with the input and maintenance of the accounts payable and general ledger modules. Provide technical software support and problem solving within the organization.

L & M Investing, Winnipeg, Manitoba 4/89-5/97

Office Manager - Supervised and trained five employees and coordinated all work flow in the office of this investment counselor and financial planner. Maintained all office information systems. Maintained files and computer databases on several hundred clients, as well as documentation dealing with securities, mutual funds, limited partnerships, and insurance. Tracked all purchases by clients and calculated commissions. Handled accounts receivable and processed buy or sell orders by clients. Produced and edited a monthly newsletter and created all graphics. Developed databases and spreadsheets which owner stated increased office productivity by 30%. Considered a key person in the growth of the firm.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

Excellent knowledge of Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Access, Great Plains Accounting, Windows, Q&A, Client Manager, Newsroom, PC Paint, Personal Publisher, Novell networking.

EDUCATION

A.A. - General Studies, Caribou Community College (1994)