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Career Profiles Database
Important Note
WoWMyCV(UK) would like to inform all our site visitors and customers that our Career Profiles Database is a research tool for you to use to investigate your potential Career Options, WoWMyCV(UK) is NOT a Recruitment Agency and the details contained in our Career Profiles Database should NOT be read/treated as Job Advertisements.
WoWMyCV(UK) is a Professional CV/Curriculum Vitae Writing and Careers Advice company based in the UK, if you need help with a CV for the job you are researching we can help, our highly experienced consultants are expert CV Writers and are ready to help. Send your current CV to us today for a FREE CV Review and let us show you how we can help you can improve your chances of securing that next interview with a quality CV from WoWMyCV(UK).
Secretary
Secretaries provide administrative support to one or more people in an organisation. Their duties and responsibilities will vary according to the type of company they work in, but may include:
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word processing or typing letters and other documents
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updating records using computer database and spreadsheet software
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answering the telephone and dealing with enquiries
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making appointments and keeping diaries
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taking minutes at meetings, possibly using shorthand
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dealing with incoming and outgoing post
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drafting letters and other documents
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filing
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photocopying and printing.
Well-qualified and experienced secretaries may take on extra responsibilities such as dealing with accounts, controlling budgets and presenting reports. They may also act as personal assistant to a senior manager (see Personal Assistant profile).
Hours and Environment
As a secretary you will usually work 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. You may sometimes need to work extra or flexible hours at busy times.
Part-time work, job sharing and temporary work are available.
Skills and Interests
To be a secretary you should:
- be able to work efficiently and accurately
- have good keyboard and computer skills
- have a good command of English grammar, spelling and punctuation
- have good communication skills
- be able to work to deadlines
- be able to produce neat, well-presented work
- be discreet - you could be dealing with confidential information.
Entry
You do not need any set qualifications to work as a secretary, although employers may ask for some GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent qualifications, including English.
If you have A levels/Highers or university-level qualifications, you may be able to find work with higher level of responsibility and promotion prospects.
You must have good keyboard skills, and many employers will prefer you to have a recognised qualification in administration or secretarial skills. Before looking for work, you may find it useful to take a qualification such as:
- NVQ/SVQ Levels 1 to 3 in Business and Administration
- City and Guilds, OCR (RSA) or London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (LCCIEB) certificates and diplomas.
Most further education colleges offer a wide range of full- and part-time courses. Some private secretarial courses also offer full-time intensive courses. Please check with colleges for exact entry requirements.
You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Training
You will usually be trained on the job in company procedures and systems. You may also be able to work towards a secretarial qualification whilst employed. Qualifications include:
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NVQ/SVQ Levels 1-4 in Business and Administration (Levels 3 and 4 are suitable if you have some supervisory or management duties)
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London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (LCCIEB) Diplomas in Business Administration (levels 1,2 and 3) and the Private Secretary's Diploma
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OCR Level 1, 2 and 3 Certificates in Administration, and the Higher Level Diploma in Administrative and Secretarial Procedures.
LCCIEB, OCR and City and Guilds also offer certificates in various secretarial skills such as:
- audio transcription
- bookkeeping and accounts
- office procedures
- shorthand
- text production
- typewriting
- word processing.
Opportunities
As a secretary you could work for all types and sizes of organisation, both in the private and public sectors.
With experience, you could be promoted to become a personal assistant or office manager, or move into other areas such as personnel. Alternatively, you could take further training to become a medical or legal secretary (see relevant job profiles for more details).
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guide only.
Starting salaries can be around £11,000 to £14,000 a year.
More experienced secretaries can earn £15,000 to £19,000 a year.
Personal assistants and those with extra responsibilities can earn up to £25,000 a year.
Further information
Tel: 020 7294 2800Tel: 024 7685 1509
6 Graphite Square
Vauxhall Walk
London
SE11 5EE
Tel: 020 7091 9620
Suite 464
24-28 St Leonards Road
Windsor
Berks
SL4 3BB
Tel: 0844 8000 182
Education Development International plc
International House
Siskin Parkway East
Middlemarch Business Park
Coventry
CV3 4PE
Tel: 0870 720 2909

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Further Help and Advice
WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 490-102 or drop us an email to office@wowmycv.co.uk where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.
WoWMyCV(UK) have written a brand new series of documents specially designed to help you succeed in gaining that new job, to find out more about our professionaly written series of guides visit our Career Advice Pack page by clicking HERE.
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Site Disclaimer
The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
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