A secretary is often the first and the last person with whom customers or clients interact within a business. As such, secretaries need to have polished communication skills and be well-versed in office etiquette. In order to improve their status within a company and become more valuable employees, secretaries can engage in professional development activities. This guide will discuss several ways that secretaries can improve their skills and advance their careers.
1) Take advantage of online resources
There are many online resources that secretaries can use to improve their skills. For example, many websites offer a variety of courses on topics such as Microsoft Office applications, social media, and business communication. These courses are taught by experts in the field and cover a wide range of topics.
Another excellent resource for professional development is LinkedIn Learning. This website offers over 12,000 courses on various subjects, including office productivity software, marketing, and accounting. Additionally, LinkedIn Learning provides helpful tutorials on how to use LinkedIn to network with other professionals and find jobs.
2) Attend professional development workshops
Local colleges and universities often offer professional development workshops for secretaries. These workshops typically cover a range of topics, such as communication skills, time management, and office etiquette. Experts teach them in the field, and participants can often earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Units (PDUs) for attending.
Additionally, many companies offer their own internal training programs for secretaries. These programs often cover topics such as customer service skills, Microsoft Office applications, and business writing. Attending these programs can help secretaries learn new skills and stay up-to-date on the latest software updates.
Professional development workshops provide an opportunity for secretaries to learn new skills and network with other professionals.
3) Take online courses
In addition to attending professional development workshops, secretaries can also take online courses. These courses are often less expensive than attending live workshops, and they allow participants to learn at their own pace. Additionally, many of these courses offer certificates of completion that can be used to demonstrate competency in a particular subject area.
Some popular online course providers include Coursera, edX, and Udemy. These websites offer a variety of courses on a wide range of subjects, including business communication, project management, and accounting.
Online courses allow secretaries to learn new skills from experts in the field.
4) Get involved in professional organizations
Professional organizations offer a great opportunity for secretaries to network with other professionals and learn about new trends and developments in their field. These organizations often provide workshops, webinars, and conferences that provide valuable training and networking opportunities.
Some popular professional organizations for secretaries include the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS), the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Joining one or more of these organizations can help secretaries stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the administrative profession.
5) Take online personality assessments
Online personality assessments can be a valuable tool for secretaries who are looking to improve their career prospects. These assessments can help secretaries understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and they can provide guidance on which careers might be a good fit for them.
Some popular online personality assessments include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the DISC Profile. These assessments are typically offered as part of professional development workshops or online courses.
Personality assessments can help secretaries understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
6) Get certified
Certifications can be valuable for secretaries to demonstrate their competency in a particular subject area. Certifications typically require participants to pass an exam, and they often provide proof of competence that can be used to advance their careers.
Some popular certification programs for secretaries include the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) program from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and the Certified Legal Secretary (CLS) program from the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS).
Certifications can help secretaries demonstrate their competency in a particular subject area.
7) Network with colleagues
Networking with colleagues can be valuable for secretaries to learn about new opportunities and develop their careers. Networking allows secretaries to build relationships with other professionals, and it provides access to insider information about job openings and career advancement opportunities.
Network with colleagues to learn about new opportunities and develop your career.
8) Aspire to be more than a secretary
Secretaries can improve their status by aspiring to be more than just a secretary. By developing their skills and pursuing additional training, secretaries can position themselves for career advancement opportunities.
There are many opportunities for secretaries to advance their careers, and by aspiring to be more than just a secretary, they can increase their chances of achieving success.
For example, Jen Psaki, who started her career as a secretary, is now the White House Communications Director. Jen Psaki has a net worth of $2 million, and she is a role model for secretaries who are looking to advance their careers.
There are many opportunities for secretaries to advance their careers. Some popular career advancements include public relations, human resources, event planning, and marketing. By developing their skills and pursuing additional training, secretaries can position themselves for these types of careers.
9) Stay up-to-date on technology
Technology is constantly evolving, and secretaries need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to keep their skills current. Fortunately, many resources are available for secretaries who want to learn about new technologies.
Some popular resources for learning about new technology include online courses, podcasts, and webinars. By staying up-to-date on technology, secretaries can ensure that they use the latest tools and techniques in their profession.
10) Be proactive
Secretaries can improve their status by being proactive and taking the initiative to develop their skills and pursue additional training. Secretaries who are proactive are more likely to achieve career success than those who wait for opportunities to come to them.
Being proactive allows secretaries to take control of their own career development, and it helps them stay ahead of the competition. Secretaries who are farsighted are also more likely to succeed in achieving their goals.
Secretaries can improve their status by being proactive and taking the initiative to develop their skills and pursue additional training.
11) Stay positive
It is important for secretaries to stay positive and have a positive attitude, especially when pursuing career advancement opportunities. A positive attitude will help secretaries maintain their focus and stay motivated during the challenging process of seeking career advancement.
A positive attitude can also help secretaries build relationships with other professionals, which can benefit networking purposes. Maintaining a positive attitude is an essential ingredient for success in any profession. A negative attitude can ruin relationships with other professionals and hinder networking efforts. Maintaining a positive attitude is critical for success in any career.
12) Believe in yourself
Secretaries can improve their status by believing in themselves and having faith in their abilities. When secretaries believe in themselves, they are more likely to take the necessary steps to achieve success.
Believing in oneself is an important step on the road to career advancement. By having faith in their abilities, secretaries can increase their chances of achieving career success. Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities to achieve success.
13) Stay humble
Secretaries need to stay humble and not let their egos get their best. A humble attitude will help secretaries maintain relationships with other professionals and be successful in networking.
Ego can often lead to arrogance and a lack of humility, which can ruin relationships with other professionals. A humble attitude is essential for success in any profession. Stay humble and let your ego stay out of the way to maintain relationships with other professionals.
14) Be professional
Secretaries can improve their status by behaving professionally and displaying good etiquette. Professionalism is key when networking with other professionals, and it can also help secretaries stand out from the competition.
Professionalism is often associated with competence and trustworthiness, which are both valuable qualities for secretaries seeking career advancement opportunities. Displaying professionalism will help secretaries build positive relationships with other professionals. Being professional is essential for success in any profession.
15) Persevere
Secretaries can improve their status by persevering through challenging situations and never giving up. Secretaries who persevere are more likely to achieve success than those who give up easily.
Perseverance is a valuable quality that helps secretaries achieve their goals. When faced with difficult challenges, perseverance can be the difference between success and failure. Persevere through challenging situations and never give up to achieve success.
16) Stay organized
Secretaries can improve their status by staying organized and keeping their work environment tidy. An organized work environment helps secretaries stay focused and productive, which can benefit career advancement opportunities.
Tidy work environments are often seen as being more professional and competent than messy ones. Staying organized is an essential part of maintaining a successful profession. Keep your work environment tidy to stay focused and productive.
These are all valuable qualities that will help secretaries succeed in their careers. Follow these tips to improve your status as a secretary and achieve career success.