The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that secretaries and administrative assistants will be among the professional groups adding the greatest number of jobs during the 2006-2016 decade. Learning the latest office-based computer software programs and office skills at a qualified vocational school can move you ahead in the hiring line.
If you want to be the glue that holds a business organization or leading executive together, enroll in a secretarial school that offers training for a career in fields that include:
- Secretary. Your diploma program may include training in office procedures including invoicing, scheduling, desktop publishing, phones, customer relations, spreadsheets, and correspondence.
- Administrative Assistant. Trade schools offer the latest training in use of office equipment, supply purchase and management, e-mail management, keyboarding, and office software.
- Executive Assistant. Take courses in detailed assisting for executives including scheduling, voicemail, conference calls, office spreadsheet and word processing software, project management, staffing, and budgeting.
Put Your Secretarial Training to Work
Secretaries and administrative assistants with training in the latest office software--bookkeeping, word processing, and customer relationship management--will have the strongest credentials when seeking jobs, according to the BLS. If you have office skills in planning meetings, conferences, or juggling calendars, you'll be a strong candidate.
Secretarial training in specific industries such as health care, law, or scientific services will prepare you for the greatest number of openings, as automation software that keeps those industries operating smoothly will need professionals to lead the way. Many secretaries enroll in paralegal training through trade schools for work in the law professions. The median annual wage for executive secretaries and administrative assistants was $40,030 in 2008. The top 10 percent in this profession earned $62,070.
