Because secretaries must be tactful in their dealings with people, employers also look for good interpersonal skills. Discretion, good judgment, organizational ability, and initiative are especially important for higher-level secretarial positions. As office automation continues to evolve, retraining and continuing education will remain an integral part of secretarial jobs. Changes in the office environment have increased the demand for secretaries who are adaptable and versatile. Secretaries may have to attend classes to learn how to operate new office technologies, such as information storage systems, scanners, the Internet, or new updated software packages.
Secretaries acquire skills in various ways.
Many temporary help agencies also provide formal training in computer and office skills. Specialized training programs are available for students planning to become medical or legal secretaries or administrative technology specialists. Testing and certification for entry-level office skills is available through the Office Proficiency Assessment and Certification program offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Legal Secretaries International confers the designation Board Certified Civil Trial Legal Secretary in specialized areas such as litigation, real estate, probate, and corporate law, to those who have 5 years of law-related experience and pass an examination. Secretaries generally advance by being promoted to other secretarial positions with more responsibilities.