Secretaries (General)

Secretaries (General) perform secretarial, clerical and other administrative tasks in support of Managers and Professionals.

  • The Job
  • The Facts
  • Related Courses

What the job involves

  • Liaises with other staff to arrange meetings, and to gain and provide information
  • Prepares reports, briefing notes and correspondence, and proofreads work for typographical and grammatical errors
  • Maintains appointment diaries and makes travel arrangements
  • Processes incoming and outgoing mail, files correspondence and maintains records
  • Answers telephone calls, responds to inquiries and redirects callers
  • Takes and transcribes dictation of letters and other documents
  • Greets visitors, ascertains nature of business and directs visitors to appropriate personal
  • May implement management decisions and maintain records of meetings
  • May handle bookkeeping and petty cash functions

Key values of workers in Secretaries (General)

  • Relationships

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

  • Working Conditions

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

  • Achievement

    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Recognition

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

  • Independence

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Top skills required for workers in Secretaries (General)

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

  • Writing

    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Service Orientation

    Actively looking for ways to help people.

  • Time Management

    Managing one's own time and the time of others.