Which hard skills?

Which soft skills?

Going soft
Up to 93% of bosses are looking for soft skills such as common sense, flexibility and a positive attitude in their secretaries of the future and 98% are looking for more advanced IT knowledge - especially Powerpoint - and a higher standard of English.
Source: 2001 Administrative, Secretarial and Support Staff Survey by Gordon Yates

Which standard or level of skills?
The Council for Administration uses the National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQ) level descriptors to develop definitions for each of the five levels of job roles in business administration. Fifty three percent of all new jobs to be created in business administration over the next few years are likely to be at N/SVQ Level 3 and above. This represents a substantial increase in demand for higher-level skills, and a reduction in demand for lower-level skills.

Which level?
Summary of N/SVQ levels for secretarial and administrative work as identified by the Guide to the Current and Future Trends in Administration

• Level 5: Undertake strategic and complex activities, are largely autonomous and have many responsibilities for personnel, resources and regulations.
• Level 4: Undertake a wide range of complex tasks, have a very high degree of autonomy and responsibility and will provide supervisory support.
• Level 3: Undertake a wide range of complex tasks, have a high degree of autonomy and will often be required to provide supervisory support.
• Level 2: Undertake a range of routine administrative tasks, have some autonomy but generally rely on a large degree of supervision.
• Level 1: Undertake very basic and routine administrative tasks and rely on a large degree of supervision.

Got the skills, now get the job. Check out our list of secretarial/admin vacancies here

Next: Part five: The specialists

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