Whether it’s handling calls, scheduling appointments, or managing office inventory, as a secretary you’ve gained a wide variety of organisational skills. The detailed secretary cover letter example found below, plus our expert advice will serve as a roadmap for success. We’ll help you craft a thoughtful and convincing cover letter that stands out from the crowd.
Secretary full text-only cover letter example
Dear Mrs. Holmes,
I am writing to apply for the position of Secretary at HSBC Bank plc, as advertised on LinkedIn. With my extensive experience in administrative roles, strong organisational skills, and ability to provide excellent support to executives, I am confident that I would be a valuable addition to your team.
In my current role as a Secretary at Deloitte UK, I have gained significant experience in managing complex schedules, arranging travel, preparing correspondence, and maintaining confidential records. I am skilled at anticipating the needs of senior executives and ensuring smooth operations within a fast-paced environment. My proficiency in Microsoft Office, along with my ability to quickly adapt to new software and systems, allows me to efficiently handle a wide range of administrative tasks.
I am particularly drawn to the opportunity at HSBC Bank plc due to your reputation as a leading global financial institution. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to your organisation's success and supporting your team in achieving its objectives.
In addition to my technical skills, I pride myself on my excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. I am comfortable interacting with individuals at all levels of an organisation and have a proven track record of building positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further how my qualifications and experience align with the requirements of the Secretary position at HSBC Bank plc. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your esteemed organisation.
Sincerely,
Eddy Baker
Sections of a secretary cover letter
As a secretary, you know the importance of clear procedures and strong organisation. Your cover letter should be just as orderly as your filing cabinets! Here are the essential pieces of information to include in your cover letter:
- Cover letter header. Make sure to list your full name and contact details so that the hiring manager doesn’t have to search for them when it comes time to set up an interview.
- Greeting. Just as you’d greet visitors to the office, make sure to establish a friendly tone by using the hiring manager’s name here.
- Introduction. Keep it brief, but show the employer why you’re the best candidate for the job right from the start.
- Body. This is where you can expand on your relevant experience, achievements, and skills.
- Conclusion. Neatly close your cover letter with a call to action – more on that below!
- Signature. Close professionally and sign off with your full name.
Your cover letter should be no longer than one page, meaning every sentence should work together to create a concise narrative about how you do your job effectively and efficiently.
Need more inspiration? View our other related administrative cover letter examples:
Our comprehensive article on how to write a cover letter provides plenty more advice on writing and formatting all the sections of your secretary's cover letter.
The first step is to craft a header that includes your name and basic information. Then, formally address the hiring manager by name. If you’re applying to a large company and there’s no way to find the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter, try a general greeting like Dear [Company Name] Hiring Manager or Dear [Company Name] Hiring Team.
Now you’re ready to write a great introduction.
Introduction of a secretary cover letter
You have options when it comes to starting your cover letter. One popular method is, to begin with a short anecdote that demonstrates a key skill for the position. However, you may also choose to be more direct by mentioning a connection to the company or expressing your enthusiasm for the role.
Ensure your introduction is both professional and attention-grabbing. You should also include the name of the company and the title of the open role somewhere in the first sentence or two.
Dear Ms. Breams,
When your current secretary Amy Wilson told me she was vacating the role, she recommended I apply on account of my extensive experience with medical records-keeping and scheduling. With a robust background in administrative support and a keen eye for detail, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to the team at Watson Medical Center.
Hello, my name is Jessica and I think I’d be perfect for your secretary role.
Check out our adaptable secretary cover letter sample below to start writing your introduction.
Dear Mrs. Holmes,
I am writing to apply for the position of Secretary at HSBC Bank plc, as advertised on LinkedIn. With my extensive experience in administrative roles, strong organisational skills, and ability to provide excellent support to executives, I am confident that I would be a valuable addition to your team.
Secretary cover letter body
While the body takes up the most space on your cover letter, it shouldn’t be a rambling exploration of every position you’ve ever held. Instead, follow these tips to make sure you craft a concise narrative:
- Highlight your administrative skills and qualifications
- Show how you're a perfect fit for the role and company based on previous experience
- Wrap up with a conclusion that packs a punch
- End with a compelling call to action that leaves the hiring manager eager to contact you
First body paragraph: your suitability for the role (skills & experience)
The first body paragraph is the place to convince the employer that you’re the right fit for the secretary position based on your qualifications. Here are some points to consider:
- Highlight your achievements. Any awards you’ve won or praise you’ve received can make the case for your competence, but you can also mention the achievements of your previous employer as a whole, and how you contributed to their success.
- Share numbers and statistics. The number of calls handled in a day, visitors greeted, records filed, claims submitted, or appointments scheduled can all serve to show how efficient you are.
- Technology and records-keeping. Ensure you’re up to date with the technology needed for the secretary role. This is particularly important in the medical field.
- Customer service. Give examples of times you went above and beyond for clients or patients to show that you do your job with heart.
- Teamwork. The secretary provides essential support for other employees. Give examples of how you work with other teams to make sure the organisation is successful.
Second body paragraph(s): alignment with the organisation
While your skills as a secretary might be applicable to a wide variety of jobs, it’s essential to show why you’re uniquely qualified and interested in the specific position you’re applying to. Do this by tailoring your cover letter for every employer you apply to. Research the company’s mission and goals and give examples of previous experiences that show why you’re a great fit.
Check out the adaptable middle part of our secretary's cover letter sample below.
In my current role as a Secretary at Deloitte UK, I have gained significant experience in managing complex schedules, arranging travel, preparing correspondence, and maintaining confidential records. I am skilled at anticipating the needs of senior executives and ensuring smooth operations within a fast-paced environment. My proficiency in Microsoft Office, along with my ability to quickly adapt to new software and systems, allows me to efficiently handle a wide range of administrative tasks.
I am particularly drawn to the opportunity at HSBC Bank plc due to your reputation as a leading global financial institution. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to your organisation's success and supporting your team in achieving its objectives.
In addition to my technical skills, I pride myself on my excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. I am comfortable interacting with individuals at all levels of an organisation and have a proven track record of building positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders.
Call to action & conclusion: Finish off strong
You’re finally ready to end your cover letter by mentioning your key skills one last time and expressing your enthusiasm for the role. Before you sign off, include a call to action that expresses your interest and invites the hiring manager to contact you. The trick is to show your excitement without coming across as pushy or entitled to the job. A call to action is a great way to increase your chances of hearing back from the company. Then sign off professionally, and with your full name. Check out our adaptable cover letter sample conclusion below.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further how my qualifications and experience align with the requirements of the Secretary position at HSBC Bank plc. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your esteemed organisation.
Sincerely,
Eddy Baker
How to write a secretary cover letter with no experience
Since many of the duties of a secretary can be learned on the job, it is possible to land an administrative position with no previous experience.
In this case, your cover letter takes on added importance as it allows you to convince the employer that you have the right personality traits and innate skills for the job. Consider these pointers:
- Highlight transferable skills. Transferable skills are ones that you’ve used previously in other jobs like scheduling, bookkeeping, notetaking, or answering phones. Customer service or hospitality roles can help show that you can juggle multiple responsibilities at once and make visitors feel welcome.
- Showcase soft skills. Your personality traits and innate abilities like attention to detail, punctuality, organisation, and the ability to learn quickly are great to highlight as they would be hard to teach to candidates who don’t possess them already.
- Emphasise technological proficiency. If you’re a computer whiz or have advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, this can prove that you’ll be able to handle the more complex technical requirements of the role.
These points will help balance out the lack of direct experience in your cover letter and illustrate your potential to quickly adapt to the secretary role.
Consider ATS
Did you know that up to 75% of applications get filtered out before being read by a hiring manager? Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, are recruitment software scans that look for keywords programmed in from the job description. High-ranking candidates get passed onto the hiring manager for review, while others get filtered out. Here are a few tips to beat the ATS:
- Use the employer’s exact language from the job description. If the hiring manager asks for “Spanish proficiency” use that phrase instead of “ability to speak Spanish.”
- Create a clean format that contains text and no images which can be hard for the software to read.
- Download and submit your cover letter in the format the hiring manager has asked for, whether that’s PDF or DOCX.
Key takeaways
The goal of your secretary cover letter is to highlight relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications needed for the job.
You can land your next job by showcasing your unique motivations and key strengths needed for the role. If you don’t have much experience, focus on your transferable and soft skills like organisation and attention to detail.
Check out our cover letter builder to quickly create a polished application that impresses employers!
