What does a Secretary do?
Secretaries can work in any office environment or business that has a front desk to carry out administrative tasks, arrange staff schedules and manage correspondence. They welcome visitors and determine their reason for stopping by the office, acting as an intermediary to make sure that their coworkers are expecting guests before letting them back into the office. Secretaries manage general files and records, maintaining a logical organization system so they can easily access and send information when requested. Secretaries can also schedule transportation and lodging for coworkers who travel and prepare documents for business meetings.
Secretary skills and qualifications
As a necessary part of your team, Secretaries must have excellent time management skills and be able to multitask. Patience, organization skills and a can-do attitude are important. Secretaries should also have basic computer skills.
Here are several other skills and qualifications Secretaries should have:
- 2+ years of clerical experience
- Knowledge of specific software programs used within your organization
- Experience in data processing, bookkeeping or other skills you need to have performed
- Ability to work independently
- Organized and professional demeanor
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Experience maintaining and prioritizing a manager’s calendar
Secretary salary expectations
A Secretary makes an average of $25,942 per year. Salary may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.
Secretary salary expectations
-
Common salary:
19.07 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.25 -40.25 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Secretary education and training requirements
Secretaries are often high school graduates or GED recipients, although some industries such as legal and medical secretaries need higher education to understand terminology and procedures. For instance, a bachelor’s degree in business administration can be beneficial for understanding corporate environments. Certification in specific software programs may be helpful to your organization, so you should list them in the job description if required for the position.
Secretary experience requirements
Secretaries should have experience communicating with others and have the ability to greet and assist customers in a welcoming and professional manager. They may need to communicate with customers on the phone, in person, through an online chat or in writing.
Secretary positions can be entry-level, in which case an employee often learns on the job. However, a Secretary should also have basic computer skills, as well as familiarity with multiple software applications. They will need to manage schedules, meeting spaces, appointments and more and should have experience in managing schedules in other capacities.
Job description samples for similar positions
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