Executive secretaries perform fewer clerical tasks and handle more complex responsibilities, such as conducting research, preparing statistical reports, training employees and supervising other clerical staff. A single secretary can often support several members of the professional staff. Secretaries sometimes work in clusters of three or four so they can work more flexibly and share their expertise. Educational Requirements High School Graduates may qualify for secretarial positions provided they have basic office skills. Secretaries should be proficient in keyboarding, spelling, punctuation, grammar and oral communication.
Shorthand is necessary for some positions.
Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and database management programs is becoming increasingly important to most employers. Discretion, judgment, organizational ability and initiative are especially important for high-level secretarial positions. Job Outlook Employment opportunities should be quite plentiful for well-qualified and experienced secretaries. Growth in the legal services and health services industries will be greater than average. The major factor limiting employment growth for most secretaries is the widespread application of office automation systems.