Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
High school graduates may qualify for secretarial positions provided they have basic office skills. Today, however, knowledge of word processing spreadsheet, and database management programs is increasingly important, and most employers require it. Secretaries must be proficient in keyboarding and good at spelling, punctuation, grammar, and oral communication. Shorthand is necessary for some positions.

Job Outlook:
Employment of secretaries is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Nevertheless, employment opportunities should be quite plentiful, especially for well-qualified and experienced secretaries, who, according to many employers, are in short supply. It is projected that by 2005, there will be 3,710,000 secretaries. The very large size of the occupations, coupled with moderate turnover, generates several hundred thousand secretarial positions each year as experienced workers transfer upward in their occupations or leave the labor force.

Sources of Additional Information: