To generate traction during the job search, build an accomplishment-driven secretary cover letter demonstrating your communication and administrative skill sets. Show potential employers how you can help refine office operations, improve scheduling processes, and coordinate client communications effectively. Our guide includes cover letter examples and expert tips to help you capture your experience and land your next job interview.
Secretary Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Secretary Cover Letter
A great secretary cover letter has five main elements:
1. Heading. Use a professional template to enhance the style and presentation of your cover letter. Be sure your heading includes:
- Your name, title, and contact info
- The current date
- The addressee’s details
2. Salutation. Greet the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”
3. Introduction. Create a strong introduction to convey your interest in the job and grab the attention of the hiring manager. Build your paragraph around one of your most impressive career achievements, preferably backed by an eye-catching number or metric. Be sure to highlight your expertise in administrative support, client communications, and calendar management, skills especially important for secretarial roles.
Example
I’m interested in applying for the medical secretary position with Miami Cancer Institute. During my time with Ormond Beach Oncology Associates, I coordinated with physicians, nurses, and office personnel to enhance patient flow, resulting in a 20% reduction in wait times and a 92% patient satisfaction rating. I can achieve similar results for your organization in this role.
4. Body paragraphs. Continue to highlight your qualifications and career achievements as a secretary in your body paragraphs. Start by mentioning something specific about the company’s culture, reputation, or mission statement and why you’re enthusiastic about the opportunity. Feature tangible examples of the value you bring as a secretary and administrative professional, emphasizing quantifiable results. Consider adding a list of bullet points to break up the text on the page and improve the readability of your document.
Example
As a seasoned administrator with 12 years of experience providing efficient secretarial support in hospitals, I am drawn to OrthoBoston’s reputation for exceptional patient care. I would relish using my skills and experience to ensure seamless treatment pathways for your service users. Some of my recent achievements include:
- Streamlined the post-meeting administrative process to ensure swift follow-up on assignments, contributing to a departmental productivity increase of 26% in 2023
- Trained five new hires and identified opportunities to enhance performance and service quality, which supported a 10% increase in patient satisfaction
- Implemented a new patient scheduling system that freed up an average of five appointments per practitioner per week
5. Closing section. Think of your conclusion as a call to action. Ask the hiring manager to contact you so you can learn more about the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and consideration.
Example
I look forward to scheduling an interview to tell you more about how my background as a medical secretary can help further enhance patient-care delivery at Miami Cancer Institute. Feel free to contact me via phone or email for any additional questions you may have on my background. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Aliya Jackson
Secretary Cover Letter Tips
1. Feature your expertise in administrative support
Secretarial positions require strong organizational and administrative skill sets. As you craft your cover letter, call out these qualifications using specific instances from your work history. In the example below, the candidate demonstrates their ability to manage calendars, correspondence, and documentation for a premier law firm. This helps to convey how their experience can help refine operations for potential employers:
- Provided administrative support to legal teams, drafted correspondence, coordinated client communications, managed calendars, and organized physical and electronic files to support multi-million dollar legal cases
- Maintained client and firm files, coordinated conference room meetings, purchased office supplies, and oversaw invoicing procedures
- Managed attorney calendars, scheduled client appointments, and verified court dates
2. Highlight your communication and client relations skills
As a secretary, you’ll be responsible for fielding inquiries and managing client communications on a daily basis. Hiring managers want to see how you’ve leveraged these skills throughout your career. In the example below, the applicant highlights their background interfacing with patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening conditions, especially valuable when applying for secretarial positions in health care:
Miami Cancer Institute’s reputation for its comprehensive clinical standards is what excites me about this opportunity. Throughout my career as medical secretary, I’ve communicated with empathy and compassion while interfacing with patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening health conditions. I can help your team continue to improve the patient experience based on my previous achievements:
3. Align your cover letter with the job description
Tailoring your cover letter towards individual job descriptions is the best way to maximize your chances of landing the interview. In addition to mentioning specifics about the organization’s reputation or culture, convey how your industry knowledge and experience make you a good fit for the role. Below, the candidate emphasizes their background working in the legal field, which sends a clear message they can adapt to the needs of prospective law firms:
Richardson and Stone Legal Associates’ reputation as a leading personal injury firm draws me to apply for this opportunity. During my time with Haden Law Group, I fielded inquiries from potential clients, drafted correspondence, and liaised with clients, defense counsel, and courtrooms. I can support legal operations for your firm based on my career achievements:
Secretary Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Allison Rosenberg
Secretary | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | San Diego, CA 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Hector Santos
Senior Hiring Manager
Richardson and Stone Legal Associates
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Santos:
I’m reaching out to apply for the secretary position with Richardson and Stone Legal Associates that I found on LinkedIn. As you can see from my resume, I have over five years of secretarial experience in established law firms. My expertise in administrative support and calendar management would be a strong asset to your team in this role.
Richardson and Stone Legal Associates’ reputation as a leading personal injury firm is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. During my time with Haden Law Group, I fielded inquiries from potential clients, drafted correspondence, and liaised with clients, defense counsel, and courtrooms. I’m confident I can support legal operations for your firm based on my career achievements:
- Provided administrative support to legal teams, drafted correspondence, coordinated client communications, managed calendars, and organized physical and electronic files to support multi-million dollar legal cases
- Maintained client and firm files, coordinated conference room meetings, purchased office supplies, and oversaw invoicing procedures
- Managed attorney calendars, scheduled client appointments, and verified court dates
I’d like to set up an interview to discuss how my experience as a secretary and legal assistant can provide value to your law firm. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Allison Rosenberg
Secretary Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I submit a secretary cover letter?-
Although most job applications won’t require a cover letter for secretary positions, including one is a great way to showcase your written communication skills and make a strong first impression on the reader. Because most candidates won’t be submitting a cover letter, taking the time to craft a customized document may actually help differentiate you from the competition during the job search.
How do I make my secretary cover letter stand out?-
To maximize the value of your cover letter, provide unique insights into who you are as a professional using more personalized language in comparison to the resume. Convey your story using key examples from your professional history. This will help send a clear message that you have the necessary qualifications for the role and that you’re a good fit for the company’s culture.
How long should my cover letter be?-
In most situations, a concise yet compelling cover letter will be more beneficial to your job application. Limit your cover letter to three or four paragraphs, keeping the reader’s focus on your most notable accomplishments. Secretary job descriptions are often very generic, and omitting bland details will only make your document stronger.
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