Secretary resume skills and keywords
In 38 Secretary job postings from 20 employers analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills are Communication (55 %), Administrative Support (34 %), Microsoft Excel (26 %), Interpersonal skills (24 %) and Microsoft Outlook (24 %). Of the top 36 skills, 27 are hard skills, tools or certifications and 9 are soft skills.
Download the full list as a CSV or check your own resume against a posting with the free keyword scanner.
Top 36 skills in Secretary job postings
| Skill | Share of postings | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 55 % | Soft skill |
| Administrative Support | 34 % | Hard skill |
| Microsoft Excel | 26 % | Tool |
| Interpersonal skills | 24 % | Soft skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | 24 % | Tool |
| Microsoft Office | 24 % | Tool |
| Customer service | 24 % | Soft skill |
| Attention to detail | 18 % | Soft skill |
| Microsoft Word | 16 % | Tool |
| Patient care | 16 % | Hard skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 13 % | Tool |
| Leadership | 13 % | Soft skill |
| Medical terminology | 13 % | Hard skill |
| Bookkeeping | 13 % | Hard skill |
| Scheduling appointments | 13 % | Hard skill |
| Data entry | 13 % | Hard skill |
| Professionalism | 11 % | Soft skill |
| Organizational skills | 11 % | Soft skill |
| Appointment Scheduling | 11 % | Hard skill |
| HIPAA | 11 % | Certification |
| Epic | 11 % | Tool |
| Claims | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Scanning | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Records Management | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Independent judgment | 11 % | Soft skill |
| Collaboration | 11 % | Soft skill |
| Payroll | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Documentation and Reporting | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Prior authorization | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Quality Improvement | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Clinical Protocols | 8 % | Hard skill |
| POS systems | 8 % | Tool |
| Record Keeping | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Proofreading | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Orientation | 8 % | Hard skill |
| Math | 8 % | Hard skill |
Hard skills vs soft skills vs tools and certifications
Hard skills (19)
- Administrative Support 34 %
- Patient care 16 %
- Medical terminology 13 %
- Bookkeeping 13 %
- Scheduling appointments 13 %
- Data entry 13 %
- Appointment Scheduling 11 %
- Claims 11 %
- Scanning 11 %
- Records Management 11 %
- Payroll 11 %
- Documentation and Reporting 8 %
- Prior authorization 8 %
- Quality Improvement 8 %
- Clinical Protocols 8 %
- Record Keeping 8 %
- Proofreading 8 %
- Orientation 8 %
- Math 8 %
Soft skills (9)
- Communication 55 %
- Interpersonal skills 24 %
- Customer service 24 %
- Attention to detail 18 %
- Leadership 13 %
- Professionalism 11 %
- Organizational skills 11 %
- Independent judgment 11 %
- Collaboration 11 %
Tools and software (7)
- Microsoft Excel 26 %
- Microsoft Outlook 24 %
- Microsoft Office 24 %
- Microsoft Word 16 %
- Microsoft PowerPoint 13 %
- Epic 11 %
- POS systems 8 %
Certifications and licenses (1)
- HIPAA 11 %
Keyword phrases recruiters use
Multi-word phrases that recur across these secretary postings, with the share of postings that use each one.
How to use this on your resume
Treat the table as a checklist, not a script. Put the skills you genuinely have in your skills section, using the same wording as the posting, and back the top ones with a bullet that shows the result.
Each job posting differs from the average, so compare your resume with the actual ad: paste it into the resume keyword scanner to see which terms you already have and which are missing. The ATS keywords guide explains where to place them so applicant tracking systems read them.
Skip any skill you cannot talk about in an interview; a keyword that falls apart under one question costs more than it gains. For a full layout with these skills in context, see the Secretary resume example. Then prepare for the Secretary interview questions that test them.
Build a secretary resume with these skills
Start in the editor, tailor your bullets to the job you want and download an ATS-friendly resume.