Because secretaries must be tactful in their dealings with many different people, employers also look for good interpersonal skills. Discretion, good judgment, organizational ability, and initiative are especially important for higherlevel secretarial positions. As office automation continues to evolve, retraining and continuing education will remain an integral part of secretarial jobs. Continuing 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 their skills in various ways.
Many temporary help agencies 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. This designation is recognized by many employers as the mark of excellence for seniorlevel office professionals. Legal Secretaries International confers the designation, Board Certified Civil Trial Legal Secretary, in specialized areas such as litigation and probate, to those who have 5 years of law-related experience and who pass the examination. Secretaries generally advance to a more responsible secretarial position by promotion.