How can one be a good secretary?

Answer 1

Secretaries are vital staff personnel and offices simply could not exist or run correctly without secretaries. Secretaries are often called Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Executive Secretaries, and Administrators to overcome the gender-based stereotypes that arise from the term "secretary".

Secretaries run the office for the management and the best companies learn to appreciate their secretaries and compensate them according to their typing abilities, their longevity, and their ability to communicate and manage the office.

It is said that the most important people in the Pentagon are not the Colonels. Instead, look for the Sergeants who know how to work the copy machine and find the supply cabinet. People value secretaries, they just don't usually want to pay top dollar for them.

A secretary is honest work and has many levels of advancement opportunity depending on the company and the boss.

An entry-level secretary need not have a college degree but should be able to type, should know basic office software (word processor, spreadsheet, and graphics presentation software), should be able to professionally answer a phone and take messages, and should be able to manage their bosses calendar. Entry level secretaries at small companies may expect to start at minimum wage. Larger companies will pay more but will expect education or experience to offset that pay.

The highest level office secretary positions, the Executive Secretary or Office Manager, is often college educated; manages many employees, and is responsible for travel arrangements, after action reports, and preparing briefings for the boss.

Secretaries often have additional duties. They often run the office space and are there to ensure customers are comfortable. This may include making / serving coffee. Serving food / beverages may, however, be the job of someone else and some secretarial pools refuse to serve food / beverages so be sure to check the job description before you accept the job.

Answer 2

A good secretary pays attention to detail, has a good memory, is quick on his/her feet, solution oriented, trustworthy and flawless in administration. He/She has good people skills and a professional manner; needs to be a firm and effective communicator.

Answer 3

Only you can answer that question, after all it is you that is making the job application.