Apprenticeship Secretary Jobs

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Helping you find a career in the secretary industry

A Secretary is the face of the company, they are the first person people encounter through the doors. A Secretary needs to be reliable because the running of the company depends on them. Their role is to help ease the workload of the boss or the team by helping them to organise their time. Furthermore, they will need to greet clients or members of the public, so good social skills are a must.

Secretaries can be found across many industries, including educational institutions, law firms, small businesses and government buildings.

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FAQs

FAQs

What does a Secretary do?

A Secretary carries out the company's office work, this includes filing and answering phone calls. They act as the businesses first point of contact. For example, if you call to make a hairdressing appointment, the secretary will answer the phone and book you in. A typical day for a Secretary will involve:

Writing letters
Dealing with telephone and email enquiries
Photocopying and printing documents (sometimes carrying out printing jobs on behalf of colleagues)
Keeping diaries and arranging appointments
Scheduling meetings and taking minutes (writing down everything discussed in the meetings)
Ordering stationery and other office equipment
Creating and maintaining office systems
Organising travel, transportation and accommodation for colleagues and company guests
Arranging training for staff

Skills & interests required for a Secretary

Excellent Microsoft (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) skills
Comfortable with answering the phone
Good writing skills
Confident with greeting guests
Must be reliable as the secretary will ease colleague workload
Ability to multitask
Excellent organisational skills
Good initiative to create new office systems
Honest and reliable
Enjoys spending time with people

What hours does a Secretary typically do?

Secretaries tend to work between 35 and 40 hours per week. A working day typically begins at 8 am and ends 6pm. Flexible working hours and overtime are available depending on the company.

What environment is a Secretary based in?

An office.

How much does a Secretary get paid?

A Secretary will earn between £16,000 - £19,000 per annum for positions outside of London. In London, starting salaries range from £20,000 to £24,000.

The average salary of an experienced Secretary ranges between £20,000 - £30,000 per annum.

Secretary roles in finance, banking and law firms tend to pay more than roles in charity work and small family businesses.

What qualifications does a Secretary need?

There are no minimum qualifications needed for this role. But, if you have left school with a handful of GCSEs you will have the upper hand when applying.

It is always better if you have work experience in the sector. Alternatively, try completing a secretarial course before applying. This will show employers that you are serious about the role and have taken active steps to prepare for the secretarial life.

Other ways in are via apprenticeships and temporary work (which often lead to permanent positions). Once you start working, you will be trained by someone senior in the company.

Many Secretaries will work their way up to Senior and Executive positions.