A Secretary is akin to an Office Administrator and the difference in the titles is just a matter of addressing someone differently. However an Administrative Assistant is usually an individual who is responsible for the general administration duties in an office / organisation whereas a Secretary is defined as one who manages all the administration duties of the senior in a specific department. These include typing, computer applications, scheduling interviews, appointments, booking tickets, attending to telephone calls, organising seminars, conferences and meetings. In a nutshell the person can be called the ‘right hand’ of their respective superiors.

Earlier there were very few formal qualifications for Administration / Secretarial jobs. The pre-requisites normally are good typing/shorthand skills and a pleasant personality. However, this has changed over the years and today even added qualifications e.g. a Diploma in Office Management or Relationship Management are to the candidate’s advantage.

Today even men are making a foray into Administration / Secretarial jobs. Besides competencies in typing and shorthand, one needs to be proficient in power-point presentations especially when the concerned Seniors are hard-pressed for time or may not be attuned to the same

In some exaggerated scenarios Administration / Secretarial personnel may also be asked to handle basic accounting functions. The other common responsibilities include filing, getting staff leave sanctioned by the seniors wherever required, planning for office functions, get-togethers and even Family Days of the organisation.

While this job - career description remains the same in most organisations, the titles may vary depending upon the nature of the Industry where one is employed. Some organisations use titles like General Manager, General Clerk, DTP Operator, Office Junior, Officer Manager, depending upon the terminology of the hierarchy utilized in those places.

Termed as an ungrateful job as everyone imagines this person to be a know-all, do-it-all individual it is a gratifying experience because of the exposure it gives through the interaction with esteemed personnel from other organisations.
Personal attributes require a friendly persona and computer literacy. The job involves high levels of commitment and confidentiality so if you are not the kind to keep things to yourself, please do not venture into these grounds!