Education

• A high school diploma is required as well as additional education and training. College programs offering a diploma, associate and bachelor degrees will assist with career advancement opportunities. Programs usually take 1 to 4 years to complete. Depending on the program, federal financial aid may be available for students. Courses may include office and budget management, software applications and bookkeeping. Some secretaries are able to advance to executive secretaries through on-the-job training.
  
  

Skills

• The required skills to work as an executive secretary are communication, writing, organization, research, problem solving, excellent typing, time management, and knowledge of an assortment of software programs. Word processing and spreadsheet programs (for example, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect and Excel) are commonly used in administrative positions. Additional skills with database management and website maintenance are beneficial. Entry-level accounting skills may also be required.
  
  

Functions

• Executive secretaries assist management with scheduling meetings, preparing reports, arranging travel, conducting research, handling confidential documents and conducting information requests. They may also assign tasks to other clerical staff (for example, preparing copies and files). An executive secretary's tasks may vary depending on the size of the company; some may assist with human resource functions and payroll duties.
  
  

Employment Outlook

• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, executive secretaries and administrative assistants job opportunities are expected to grow faster then average with a 15 percent growth rate through 2016. Jobs will also arise from current executive secretaries being promoted into management or changing careers. Those with a bachelor degree may have career advancement opportunities in assistant manager positions.
  
  

Related Careers

• Other careers with similar skill sets (for example, research and organization) include human resources assistant, bookkeeping, paralegal, medical assistant and medical secretary. Each related career requires formal education and has a varying degree of projected job growth. Education requirements may be completed through college programs. These programs take 1 to 4 years to complete and award diplomas, associate degrees and bachelor degrees.