Secretary/administrator : Entry requirements

Tweet

More in this section

1. Job description
2. Salary and conditions
3. Entry requirements
4. Training
5. Career development
6. Employers and vacancy …
7. Related jobs

Print all pages in this section

Case studies

• First year administrator: Alexa
• Admissions registrar/college administrator: Kayleigh
• Legal secretary: Charlotte 

Featured advertisement

ICSA is the international qualifying and membership body for the chartered secretary profession. With a global community of 37,000 members, we provide chartered membership, training and a professional qualifying scheme to set you on the path to a diverse, challenging and rewarded career. Join The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).

Varying levels of qualifications are required for this role, depending on the employer and sector. Some may be more concerned with prior experience and skills, whereas others may want formal qualifications. For roles with more responsibility, the following degree/HND subjects may increase your chances:

• secretarial studies;
• government/public administration;
• business/management;
• business with languages;
• law.

Secretarial courses specifically aimed at graduates are available, often through private colleges. Specific secretarial training is useful for entry to legal or medical roles.

Relevant experience is often more highly valued than specific secretarial qualifications, although excellent IT skills will always be an essential requirement.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• strong organisational skills;
• presentation skills and attention to detail;
• the ability to plan your own work, work on your own initiative and meet deadlines;
• the ability to manage pressure and conflicting demands and prioritise tasks and workload;
• oral and written communication skills;
• tact, discretion and respect for confidentiality;
• a pleasant, confident telephone manner;
• teamwork;
• reliability and honesty;
• project management skills;
• flexibility.

Knowledge of another common business language such as French, Italian or Japanese may boost potential earnings.

A good way of gaining experience is by undertaking some voluntary or paid work as a clerical assistant while studying and opportunities are sometimes available on campus. Getting administration work through a temping agency is also a good way to start out.

Temporary work can often lead to permanent positions and, if you do not have much previous experience, a temporary or part-time job will provide an opportunity to try different types of secretarial or administrative work. This can help you to decide which aspects of this work you particularly enjoy and what sort of employer or sector you would like to work with.

Competition is not usually severe, although this depends heavily on the area of employment. The demand for skilled, experienced staff remains high. Exact requirements for particular typing speeds and knowledge vary from vacancy to vacancy depending on the nature of the post, but a minimum typing speed of 45wpm is usually required. It is common to find work through secretarial agencies, but applying directly to organisations that appeal to you can be effective.

Employers value experience and a mature attitude in this field of work, so mature entry and an established work history are likely to be useful for more senior roles.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.