Clerical CV Examples to Help You Build Yours

Clerical experts are responsible in large part for keeping a business running. Here’s how you show off your clerical skills in your CV, using our examples and tips.

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Clerical CV example

Clerical workers provide administrative support and often handle general administrative assistant duties in an office. If you’re looking for clerical CV examples to build your CV, just follow the tips below.

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What should I highlight in a clerical CV?

Attention to detail is one of the most important skills you need to highlight in your clerical CV. Clerical work is detail-oriented because a single secretarial mistake can negatively impact a company. Proofread your office clerk CV thoroughly and pay attention to the specific skills in the job description for best results.

The structure of a clerical CV

Your CV structure will depend on the CV format that you choose. If you have plenty of experience, choose the chronological format, which is the most common format, but if you don’t have much experience, the functional format or combination format might be better. Regardless of the CV format you choose, these are the sections you’ll typically use.

Contact information

The CV header is technically part of the CV design, but it is important. This header includes your full name and contact information with your phone number and professional social media links, like your LinkedIn profile.

Professional summary

The summary or objective is at the top of your CV. This is a two-to-three sentence paragraph. In a summary, you include your most important achievements. If you have little to no experience, use the objective, which features your top skills and states your career goals.

Skills

Here are a few related skills you should consider for this section:

Data entry
Communication skills
Filing system knowledge
Multitasking abilities
Office management
Problem-solving skills
Managing spreadsheets
Time management skills
Answering phone calls
Bookkeeping
Computer skills
Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint
Managing office equipment
Ordering office supplies
Record keeping
High WPM
Providing clerical support
Management skills
Writing and handling memos
Organisational skills
Handling accounts receivable

A clerk CV has a wide variety of skills, including both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal and intangible traits), so it’s important to list both types of skills. Just match your skillset with what’s listed in the job description.

Work history

Next is the work experience section. A strong work experience section shows a track record of success, allowing recruiters to see that you’ve had these skills for a long time and you’ve benefited other companies through your job titles. For each job, be sure to include the company name, your job title, and dates of employment, as well as three to five bullets listing your most important accomplishments while you worked there.

Education

List your top academic accreditation (e.g., college degree) here. It’s also a good idea to list any certifications related to clerical work, such as certifications in common software like QuickBooks and MS Office applications. List these certifications in your education section as well.

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Do’s and don’ts for a clerical CV

Keep these additional tips in mind when writing your clerical CV:

Do:

Showcase specific skills you excel at. Clerical CV examples often include many of the same types of skills, but including your best skills is a much better option in general.
Include specific skills that are necessary for clerical positions. For example, a fast typing speed may be important in an office clerk CV.
Add managerial skills and assistant skills to your CV. Not only does this show a wide range of clerical skills, but it also alerts hiring managers that you might be good for future promotions.

Don’t:

Fill out your CV with basic skills. Including Microsoft Word or Microsoft Outlook skills doesn’t impress anyone.
Be vague about past jobs you’ve held. Instead, showcase specific job duties and responsibilities you held.
Write your CV without looking at CV samples first. Browse some of our CV examples to get a feeling for how people feature their qualifications for similar jobs.

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FAQ: Clerical CVs

Q: Do I need to include a cover letter for a clerical application?

Yes. A cover letter is an important part of your clerical application because it allows you to discuss additional information that may not fit in your CV , and to directly ask the hiring manager for a job interview. For expert guidance in writing a cover letter, use the cover letter builder from CVHelp, which allows you to build a cover letter easily.

Q: How can I write a clerical CV without a lot of experience?

Clerical jobs are often considered entry-level jobs, so you don’t need a lot of job experience to get one. If you don’t have a lot of experience, you can still write a very professional CV. Lean heavily on clerical skills and training rather than on your experience, and show any activities (internships, volunteer activities, etc.) that show that you know how to perform administrative tasks.

Q: How do I change my clerical CV to apply to different jobs?

You should never submit the same CV to two different jobs. That’s a surefire way to have the hiring manager discard your CV, as a generic CV won’t speak directly to the job description. Instead, use CV keywords from the job posting (e.g., specific skills and qualifications) in your own CV. That way, you’ll be able to show off your specific skills and knowledge that apply to that job.

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