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Secretarial Employment

Secretarial employment remains strong throughout the US, despite recent negative economic cycles. By 2012 the secretarial employment rate is expected to increase by 19.8 percent for office managers, administrative assistants, secretaries, and receptionists due to anticipated demographic and economic changes. Evolving technologies may improve the employment outlook as skilled and knowledgeable secretaries are required in the administration process.

Secretarial employment statistics for 2002 reveal that administrative services managers held approximately 306,370 jobs. Compensation for administration employment varied significantly depending upon the size and nature of the employer, its geographic location, and economic conditions. In 2002, most administrative services managers earned between $36,190 and $74,590. The lowest 10 percent of the profession earned less than $26,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,870. Most executive secretaries and administrative assistants earned between $26,980 and $41,350, with the lowest 10 percent of the profession earning less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $50,420.

Ranking among the largest industries in the nation, secretarial employment consisted of approximately 4.1 million office professionals in 2004.  Secretarial professionals may be employed in multiple industries, so these careers appeal to a number of candidates.  Through 2014, experts are projecting occupations as a whole to decline slightly, but a need will remain due to turnover and the small amount of growth that is expected. 

Professionals interested in secretarial employment may enter a variety of positions with a high school education.  Although high school graduates meet minimum requirements, employers increasingly prefer candidates with advanced training in office skills or keyboarding.  This training may be achieved through vocational or other programs, which last approximately one to two years.  Minimum training is expected to increase with continual advances in technology.  Candidates interested in specializing in industries such as legal or medical administration may pursue additional certifications.  Although there are a number of certifications available, each necessitates candidates to meet certain experience or educational requirements before they are able to take assessments for certification. 

While secretarial jobs once consisted mostly of mundane and tedious tasks, technology has eliminated a number of these via automation.  This allows professionals to focus on more important duties once completed by managerial, clerical, or other professionals.  Secretarial duties often include answering telephones, scheduling meetings and appointments, preparing correspondences, creating and running reports, maintaining organizing filing systems, ordering supplies, keyboarding, and any other duties delegated by their supervisors.  Professionals must have a basic knowledge of devices such as computers, photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, videoconferencing, and multi-line telephone systems. 

Associates interested in secretarial positions are able to enter a variety of industries, with similar working conditions throughout.  Professionals may enter these occupations as full or part time professionals, but the majority work standard 40 hour weeks.  Associates commonly work out of offices, and in larger organizations teams of professionals may work together to better serve associates.  Candidates will often be required to sit and work at computers for extended periods of time, which could cause eye strain, back pain, stress, or more serious ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome.  Candidates spend a large amount of time working with associates and clients, so excellent communication and interpersonal skills are pertinent to success. 

For more information on secretarial employment, please visit the following sites:

• Association of Professional Office Managers
• Fred Pryor Seminars
• Institute of Management and Administration
• Nashville State Community College
• Swedish Medical Center

If you are searching for a secretarial position, or looking to hire an administrative professional, please visit iHireSecretarial.  We are a niche job board focusing only in administrative, clerical, and secretarial candidates and careers.