Career summary

Details for Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive


Description

Perform routine clerical and administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

Tasks

  • Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
  • Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
  • Locate and attach appropriate files to incoming correspondence requiring replies.
  • Open, read, route, and distribute incoming mail or other materials and answer routine letters.
  • Complete forms in accordance with company procedures.
  • Make copies of correspondence or other printed material.
  • Review work done by others to check for correct spelling and grammar, ensure that company format policies are followed, and recommend revisions.
  • Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented.
  • Maintain scheduling and event calendars.
  • Schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.
  • Manage projects or contribute to committee or team work.
  • Mail newsletters, promotional material, or other information.
  • Order and dispense supplies.
  • Conduct searches to find needed information, using such sources as the Internet.
  • Provide services to customers, such as order placement or account information.
  • Prepare and mail checks.
  • Establish work procedures or schedules and keep track of the daily work of clerical staff.
  • Take dictation in shorthand or by machine and transcribe information.
  • Arrange conference, meeting, or travel reservations for office personnel.
  • Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.
  • Supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.
  • Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
  • Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
  • Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
  • Compose, type, and distribute meeting notes, routine correspondence, or reports, such as presentations or expense, statistical, or monthly reports.
  • Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
  • Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
  • Coordinate conferences, meetings, or special events, such as luncheons or graduation ceremonies.
  • Develop or maintain internal or external company Web sites.
  • Train and assist staff with computer usage.
  • Prepare conference or event materials, such as flyers or invitations.

Interests

  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Clerical -Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Skills

None found.

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