Working in an administrative support capacity is the job of a Secretary. Secretaries perform many menial, ad hoc, and intensive tasks in offices of every industry. Job titles given to these professionals include administrative assistants, office assistants, or personal assistants. Job succession often leads to working in office manager or administrator positions.
A Secretary usually performs any of the following tasks:
• Organising the diaries and schedules of managers
• Entering data into various applications
• Performing office procedures
• Doing short hand and transcription
• Answering and transferring calls
• Making appointments
• Doing office inventory
• Ordering office supplies
• Assisting clients and visitors
• Preparing and filing documentation
• Utilising a computer system
• Filing electronically
• Booking flights, hotel rooms, conference rooms and venues

• Communication and grammar
• Time management
• Information technology
• Discretion
• Handling cultural diversity
• Team work
• Handling high stress situations
• Accuracy
• Cordiality
• Priority and managing tasks

Becoming a Secretary requires sometimes little to no qualifications. At the basic level, Secretaries should have at least GCSE subjects, with passes between A and C. Being proficient in English language and comprehension is required. More importantly, they must possess a set of required office skills that will allow them to perform their jobs adequately. These skills should include short hand, audio transcription, telephone, computer, filing, and organisational skills.
Secretaries can continue with their education by obtaining Diplomas, Associate's or even Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration, Secretary Studies or Finance. NVQ, SVQ, City and Guilds, and Education Development International (LCCI) qualifications are also valuable. Due to globalisation and many companies operating in diverse environments, Secretaries should also aim to learn a foreign language.