Margaret Mills, operations director, Judy Fisher Associates
Secretarial qualifications are not as important to us as a good secretarial skill-set, including touch-typing of 50wpm and shorthand. What ultimately matters is that you prove you can do the job. Where and how you have learned these skills is irrelevant. Most of the candidates we see are graduates and, in progressive sectors such as media, a relevant degree such as one from the London College of Printing, can be useful. However, a bright and enthusiastic school-leaver is by no means at a disadvantage. It's more about having desire and the right attitude. If you're trying to break into the media sector, a four-week unpaid summer job in a publishing company can do more for your CV than any qualification.

Sally Hollings, managing director, Maine-Tucker
Recruiters look less for qualifications and more for skill-sets such as an advanced knowledge of MS Word and, increasingly, of Powerpoint, as well as a typing speed of at least 50wpm. Secretarial qualifications - an RSA or a certificate from a secretarial college, for instance - can still be important, though, and some recruiters will not consider candidates without these.

Skills sought by employers in secretarial staff:

Jessica Large, director at Tay Associates
If candidates have an RSA or Pitman qualification, then that's great, but it is not as important as typing speed, MS Office knowledge and, ultimately, the ability to do the job in hand. If you are changing careers to become a secretary, and don't have the required typing and IT skills, then it becomes more vital to do a course and build up these skills.

Jo Tomazou, joint managing director of Gordon Yates
Qualifications will always be valued by employers, especially when candidates are applying for their first job or are seeking a career change. However, we advise clients that specifying a qualification, such as a degree, risks excluding people whose skills and experience may make them ideal candidates for a role.

Increasingly it is the total package offered by a candidate that counts. Employers seek the right balance between experience, skills and particularly attitude, which includes attributes such as common sense, initiative, commitment, flexibility, proactivity and a positive and willing approach. When qualifications and experience are equal among candidates, it is usually 'attitude' that tips the balance in a candidate's favour.

Michaella Rogers, area business manager for London at Manpower
Generally, you do not need a high level of qualification to be a good secretary, although having a degree can help. The secretarial sector has become a safety net for graduates who may not always have opportunities in their chosen field of study. Some recruiters may prefer graduates with a relevant qualification, such as a Bachelor of Laws degree for work in a legal environment. However, having a degree is irrelevant if you are not confident and presentable.

Personal qualities are as vital as 'hard' skills that can easily be learned, such as knowledge of MS packages and accurate touch-typing. Interpersonal skills, a flexible approach and a good attitude are what really matter.

Next: Part two: I didn't get where I am today...

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