secretary

What the work can involve

Secretaries keep office routines moving: calls, email, diaries, appointments, messages, documents, meetings and databases. The setting may be a reception desk, department office, school office or direct support to a manager.

Skills and specializations

Useful strengths include clear writing, calendar control, document filing, accurate messages, meeting preparation, database updates and calm contact with visitors, colleagues and managers. Some jobs focus on executive support; others combine reception and general administration.

Salary context

Salary context depends on responsibility for managers, meeting coordination, confidential documents, office systems, language needs, reception duties and whether the secretary supports one person or a whole department. This guide does not provide salary amounts.

Career paths

Career paths can move toward executive assistant, office coordinator, administrative specialist, records work, team administration, school administration or office management.

Good to know

Check whether vacancies name diary ownership, minutes, travel booking, database systems, reception cover, document handling and the level of independent prioritisation expected.

Editorial note

This guide is editorial career context. It is not official labour-market statistics or role-specific salary data.

Alternative labels

Occupation group

Secretaries (general) (4120)

Source facts