Secretary (NOC 1241)

Secretaries perform a variety of administrative and office duties in support of managerial and professional employees.

Main duties:

• Prepare, key in, edit and proofread correspondence, invoices, presentations, brochures, publications, reports and related material from shorthand, machine dictation and handwritten copy using computers;
• Open and distribute incoming regular and electronic mail and other material and co-ordinate the flow of information internally and with other departments and organizations;
• Schedule and confirm employer's appointments and meetings;
• Order office supplies and maintain inventory;
• Answer telephone and electronic enquiries and relay telephone calls and messages;
• Set up and maintain manual and computerized information filing systems;
• Determine and establish office procedures;
• Greet visitors, ascertain the nature of their business and direct them to the employer or the appropriate person;
• Record and prepare minutes of meetings;
• Arrange travel schedules and make reservations;
• May compile data, statistics and other information and may conduct research;
• May supervise and train other staff in procedures and in the use of current software.

Employment requirements:

• A secondary school diploma is usually required
• A one- or two-year college-level program in office systems technology
  or
• Previous office experience is required;
• On-the-job training may be provided;
• Some secretaries are required to be bilingual or multilingual to perform their duties in the retail sector.