Secretary Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
A Secretary in the admin industry plays a pivotal role in ensuring smooth operations within an organization. They are responsible for handling office tasks such as answering phone calls, organizing files, scheduling appointments, and managing correspondence. They also maintain office supplies, prepare reports, and draft documents. Secretaries often act as the first point of contact for clients and visitors, so they must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should also have proficiency in office management software like Microsoft Office Suite and have excellent organizational skills.
Before becoming a Secretary, a person might have held roles such as an Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, or Office Clerk. These positions help develop the necessary skills and experience for succeeding as a Secretary. Additionally, while not always required, having certifications like the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) or the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) can enhance a Secretary's job prospects and prove their competence in crucial administrative tasks.

Administrative Assistant, Medical - Corporate
- Mediko
- San Jose, CA (15 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 2 days ago
- Mediko
- San Jose, CA (15 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 2 days ago
MEDIKO: Mission driven & committed to delivering high-quality medical care to the communities we serve. Our dedicated Healthcare Professionals find meaning, support and new opportunities to learn...
Front Desk Administrative Assistant
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 9 hours ago
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 9 hours ago
ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, our most valuable asset is our people. Here you'll work...
Human Resources (HR)/Administrative Assistant
- Sunnyvale, CA (8 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 9 hours ago
- Sunnyvale, CA (8 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 9 hours ago
Human Resources (HR)/Administrative Assistant Sunnyvale, CA G&A Description The Human Resources (HR)/Administrative Assistant is the heartbeat of the office, keeping our workplace organized,...
Litigation Legal Secretary Cooley is seeking a Legal Secretary to join the Litigation team....
Health/Secretary Clerk - Spangler Elementary - Position #105272
- Milpitas, CA (18 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
- Milpitas, CA (18 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
May receive and screen phone calls and visitors, assist principal's secretary with substitute assignments, take and transmit messages; provides information and direct inquiries and visitors to the proper...
School Office Assistant/Health Office Assistant-Alameda Child Development Center
- Alameda, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
- Alameda, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
About the Employer The Alameda Unified School District is committed to upholding our community's core values of equity and excellence for every student by providing inclusive and safe conditions...
Administrative Associate- Healthcare
- Oakland, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
- Oakland, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 13 hours ago
Administrative Associate- Healthcare 2927861 Hourly pay: $30/hr Worksite: Leading medical institution (Oakland, CA 94609 - Onsite) W2 Employment, Group Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement...
Administrative Assistant (Confidential)
- Santa Clara, CA (12 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Santa Clara, CA (12 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
Two (2) years in a California school district (or charter school) at a minimal level in the district, principal/school secretary, or school/staff secretary is desirable....
PRIME Administrative Assistant
- Oakland, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Oakland, CA (23 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
PRIME Administrative Assistant University of California - Riverside $59,383 - $85,107 United States, California, Oakland 1111 Franklin Street (Show on map) Jun 11, 2025 Under supervision of the...
- Foster City, CA (10 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Foster City, CA (10 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
Administrative Assistant Sares Regis Group sick time, 401(k) United States, California, Foster City Jun 11, 2025 Administrative Assistant Job Locations US-CA-Palo Alto | US-CA-Northern California...
- Union City, CA (12 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Union City, CA (12 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
un Admin Assistant (alameda) compensation: $21.00 hr. WE ARE HIRING! We are currently seeking a reliable and detail-oriented assistant in Union City, CA 94587 to support and manage daily...
Senior Administrative Associate
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
Administrative Administrative Assistant Assistant South San Francisco, CA South San Francisco, CA Assistant, South San Francisco, CA SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE BCforward South San Francisco,...
- Mountain View, CA (5 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Mountain View, CA (5 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
Office Assistant Job Title: Office Assistant (On-Site) Location: Mountain View, CA Duration: 6 months to start, with potential for extension or contract-to-hire About the Role A fast-paced and...
Administrative Assistant, Child Care Center
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
- South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 1 day ago
Child Care Center Administrative Assistant Bring your professional office experience and join our Bright Horizons family as an Administrative Assistant! Put your organizational and people skills...
Seasonal, Operations Administrative Assistant
- Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 2 days ago
- Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
- 2 days ago
Our Company We care about helping people. Our purpose is to provide help and inspire confidence in our clients and communities everywhere. Our associates feel a sense of belonging in an inclusive...
Demographic Data for Palo Alto, CA
Moving to Palo Alto, CA? Find some basic demographic data about Palo Alto, CA below.
Secretary Online Courses and Training Opportunities
Title Synonyms
Users interested in this job title also searched for the following job title
Salary for Secretary Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Secretary positions.
Highest Education Level
Secretarys in Palo Alto, CA offer the following education backgroundQualifications / Skill Sets
The following top skills are often required or desired to land a Secretary position
- Clerical Support
- Meeting Minutes
- Travel Arrangements
- Calendaring
- E-Filing
- Dictation
- Ged
- Legal Document Preparation
- Legal Assisting
- Expense Reports
- Office Procedures
- Requisitions
- Grammar
- Word Processing
- Faxing
- Front Office
- Ordering Supplies
- Spreadsheets
- Purchase Orders
- Associates
- Calendar Management
- Scheduling Appointments
- File Management
- Transcription
- Business Correspondence
- Discretion
- General Office Duties
- Administrative Skills
- Reception
- Proofreading
- Office Management
- Medical Records
- Patient Care
- Bookkeeping
- Inbound/Outbound Calling
- Medical Terminology
- Recordkeeping
- Telephone Skills
- Prioritizing
- High School Diploma
- Typing
- Microsoft Outlook
- Filing
- Data Entry
- Events
- Documentation
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- English
- Regulations
- Multitasking
- Microsoft Office
- Policy Development
- Inventory Management
- Problem Solving
- Microsoft Excel
- Time Management
- Research Skills
- Staff Supervision
- Organization
- Customer Service
- Scheduling
- Computer Skills
- Leadership
- Communication Skills
Other Career Titles
Here are some other career titles that require similar skills
Secretary Related Career Advice Articles

Internal Recruiting
Find out from the experts at iHireAdmin how to navigate internal recruiting and learn how to handle being recruited by a manager in a different department.
Read article »
10 Phone Etiquette Tips for Administrative Professionals
A guide to maintaining professionalism while communicating with others via phone.
Read article »
Quick and Dirty Guide to Virtual Assisting
Interested in becoming a virtual assistant? Find out about this great career for administrative professionals who want to telecommute or work from home.
Read article »