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Resume example

Secretary resume example

A secretary in France is often the person who keeps a small office running.

In a building firm, a law practice, a school or a town hall, the day might start with the phone and the shared inbox, move on to typing quotes or letters from a dictation or a handwritten draft, and continue with filing, scanning and following up unpaid invoices. Secretaries manage diaries and book appointments, greet visitors, order supplies and prepare the post. Depending on the employer, they also handle specialised documents: building permits and site reports, court deadlines, patient files or council minutes. French is the working language for most of these tasks, and a clean, error-free letter matters, because many documents still go out on paper with the company's letterhead.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Secretary | Office Administration, Correspondence and Phone Reception

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Secretary with [x] years in [sector] offices, handling switchboard, correspondence, diaries and document management for [x] people. Known for clean letters, a well-kept archive and reliable follow-up of quotes and invoices.

Experience

Secretary, [Company name], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Answered the switchboard and directed calls for a team of [x] people
  • Typed quotes, letters and site reports from drafts and voice notes
  • Set up a shared digital filing structure that replaced paper binders for current projects
  • Followed up overdue invoices by phone and letter in coordination with the accountant
  • Managed the director's diary and booked travel for site visits

Resume headlines

  • Secretary | Office Administration, Correspondence and Phone Reception
  • Bilingual Secretary (French and English) | SME and Construction Sector
  • Secretary (BTS SAM) | Diary Management, Filing and Invoicing Support

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Secretary trained through a Bac pro AGORA with placements in [sector]. Comfortable on the phone, quick with Word and Excel, careful with spelling and layout, and organised enough to keep a filing system clear for the whole team.

Experienced

Secretary with [x] years in [sector] offices, handling switchboard, correspondence, diaries and document management for [x] people. Known for clean letters, a well-kept archive and reliable follow-up of quotes and invoices.

Career change

Former [previous job] retrained as a secretary through the Titre Professionnel Secrétaire Assistant. Brings experience of customer contact and handling paperwork in [previous sector], with strong written French and good office software skills.

Tips

  • Specify the sector you worked in, since vocabulary differs between a law firm, a clinic and a building company.
  • Mention your typing speed only if you can prove it, for example from a training test.
  • Name the software, including sector tools such as [ERP or practice software].
  • Show the volume of work through placeholders you can explain: calls per day, people supported.
  • Write the resume in flawless French if you apply in France: it is your first writing sample.

Mistakes to avoid

  • A resume with typos, which disqualifies a secretary immediately.
  • Listing 'Microsoft Office' without saying what you produce with it.
  • Leaving out sector experience that would set you apart.
  • Making the layout heavy or crowded, when presentation is part of the job.

Working as a secretary in France

Search for secrétaire, secrétaire administrative, secrétaire polyvalente or secrétaire commerciale, and look at assistant administratif ads as the tasks overlap. No diploma is legally required. Common qualifications are the Bac pro AGORA, the BTS SAM (Support à l'action managériale) and the Titre Professionnel Secrétaire Assistant. Specialised roles have their own training, such as secrétaire médicale or secrétaire juridique. Public employers (town halls, hospitals) recruit secretaries as contract staff or through civil service exams for administrative grades, and permanent civil service posts are generally reserved for EU nationals. Written French is central in most roles.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a secretary and an administrative assistant in France?

The titles often overlap. 'Secrétaire' remains common in small businesses, medical practices, schools and public offices, while 'assistant administratif' is the more modern term in companies. Search for both and read the tasks rather than the title.

Should I mention my level of French on the resume?

Yes, clearly, in a languages section. Most secretarial roles involve writing letters and answering the phone in French. If French is not your first language, a recognised level such as a DELF or TCF result reassures employers.

Is a specialised secretary title worth pursuing?

It can be. Medical secretaries and legal secretaries use specific vocabulary and procedures, and employers in those sectors often prefer candidates trained for them. If you have that experience, put it in your headline.

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