Secretaries play a vital role in the functioning of any office-based organization. A number of administrative and support-related tasks fall under secretary work. With the constant advancement of modern technology in the daily lives of work professionals, the core responsibilities of a secretary have changed over the years. However, they continue to remain an integral part of the system. While personal secretaries assist a single person, who is usually a manager or the chief director of an organization, general secretaries may have to assist a large number of employees.
The job responsibilities of a secretary and an administrative assistant may overlap at times. In organizations with a smaller hierarchical structure, both job positions may be occupied by a single person, while larger companies have well defined roles for both positions. From handling office equipment, to coordinating with external sources for inventory purposes and answering customer queries in person or on a phone call, secretaries perform a variety of tasks in their daily professional work.
Description
Most secretaries have to be skilled in performing a number of different tasks, which they have to undertake on a regular basis. Some of these tasks are given below:
Requirements
The educational qualification required for the position of secretary is generally a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. Prior experience in the field is considered to be of higher importance than academic achievements. Some individuals take specific courses in typing and other office administrative duties in order to give themselves an edge over other applicants for the same position. A few vocational schools also offer specialization in technical degrees for those looking to pursue their careers in this field.
Skills
The work of a secretary is one which requires a person to have a wide variety of skills and these skills are utilized at each juncture in the work profile. Possessing good typing, communication and interpersonal skills are needed for the work, which involves interacting with customers, employees and visitors. They need to have good computing skills, which includes knowledge of software applications such as MS Excel, Word, Outlook and browsing the Internet. Having a good sense of judgment and the ability to get a particular job done at all costs plays an important role in the career of a secretary.
Work Conditions
Secretaries work in an office based environment with comfortable conditions. However, a majority of their work may involve long hours of standing or moving from one place to another, to complete a task. They have to constantly work under psychological pressure in order to get the job completed on time. They work for over 40 hours in a week with occasional overtime hours whenever required by the organization.
Earnings
Most secretaries earn between $25,000 and $36,000 on an average. This figure depends upon a number of factors such as industry, skill level and experience of the individual. Those working in legal or medical fields earn higher than those working in other general fields due to the complex nature of the tasks performed by them. Those working in full time positions also receive additional benefits such as health and dental insurance, pension plans and paid vacations.
Thus, secretary work is often looked upon as a stepping stone to other supervisory and higher administrative roles in the organization. For those who possess the wide variety of skills required for this job, this an excellent career choice.