Career Profile

• Department personnel rely on their secretaries as the communication link between the organization and other entities involved in the normal course of business operations. Secretaries support the flow of work and dissemination of information within the organization. They manage communications, draft correspondence and other business memoranda, create presentations, proofread, edit and format business documents, schedule meetings and coordinate office functions. Secretaries also screen telephone calls, confirm appointments, conduct research, scan and print publications and compile materials.
  
  

Skills for Success

• The competencies required to function effectively in a secretarial position include an advanced working knowledge of computer applications dealing with spreadsheets, word processing and database management. Secretaries are experienced with transcriptions and demonstrate proficiency in spelling, punctuation and linguistics. Good departmental secretaries possess costumer service and interpersonal skills. They interact with others in a calm, efficient and courteous manner. Individuals with outstanding organization abilities, creativeness and the ability to work independently are well-equipped for administrative jobs.
  
  

Education

• High school graduates with adequate office skills can usually find entry-level secretarial and administrative jobs. Because of the growing reliance on technology-enabled office productivity solutions, specialized training on computer usage is essential for secretaries to remain competitive in the marketplace. Technical coursework and online learning programs can also help secretaries stay current with emerging office technologies, such as electronic records management solutions, paperless fax and other collaboration tools and enhancements to office products in use today.
  
  

Career Journey

• Secretaries demonstrating technical aptitude and the ability to handle more responsibility usually progress to senior administrative roles. Secretaries knowledgeable about office automation may advance to technical administrative assistant jobs in the information technology industry. Others may find career success as executive secretaries, clerical supervisors or office managers. Keyboarding and data entry skills may lead to careers as word processors or data entry clerks. Secretaries with experience and technical acumen may also continue to careers in administrative training.
  
  

Projected Earnings

• PayScale indicates secretaries in the United States are paid an hourly rate ranging from $9.87 to $14.16 per hour. The average overtime rate for secretaries ranges from $13.76 to $21.04 per hour. The total estimated compensation for executive secretaries in the United States ranges from $20,871 to $31,069, as of June 2010.