Team secretary jobs in London
For anyone embarking upon a career in office administration, it is vital to be aware that the role of the secretary is undergoing constant evolution. Whereas the secretarial duties of yesteryear may have been confined to shorthand and filing, modern day PAs and office administrators are expected to be far more skilled, qualified and, most importantly, self-sufficient. This is particularly true of team secretaries and team administrators, who are charged with handling the affairs of an entire team of office executives.
Because the bar is continually being raised in terms of what is expected of secretaries in London and the UK, it is crucial that prospective candidates are well-equipped to tackle the challenges presented by this role. Although secretarial jobs in London are fairly easy to come by, it is the demand for highly knowledgeable and skilled candidates that separates the experienced from those who lack relevant expertise. Continue reading to find out how to stand the greatest chance of securing a team secretarial job in London or the UK, and to discover what type of training and skills are essential to the role.
Team secretary jobs: Skills and qualifications required
The job of a team secretary is often a stressful one, as the individual is required to manage the administrative affairs of not one person, but an entire group of staff members. The range of tasks a team secretary is expected to undertake is thus often extensive, and the candidate’s skill-set should reflect their ability to complete both basic as well as more advanced administrative tasks.
While it is not essential to have a degree or diploma, qualified team secretaries are usually far more attractive to potential employers than those who lack a tertiary education. Often, selections are CV-based or orchestrated through recruitment agencies, and thus the strength of your CV is of paramount importance when applying for jobs. Secretarial qualifications, such as those offered by City and Guilds, OCR, and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) will not only bolster your CV, but will teach you the essential skills required for a job as team secretary. These include shorthand, advanced word processing skills and a range of other vital secretarial skills.
Overall, excellent IT knowledge and the ability to type at least 50 words per minute are absolutely critical to securing a secretarial job in London and other parts of the UK. As a team secretary, you’ll also need to display excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks for a number of executives. The team secretary often acts as an important link between different members of the group, as well as between the team and the outside world, and thus excellent communication, co-ordination and team working skills are also vital. Team secretaries must be able to work effectively under pressure and amidst conflicting demands, and should have the ability to mange group conflict.
Finally, and often of greatest significance, is a candidate’s attitude and character: An enthusiastic, confident nature, combined with trustworthiness, intuition and initiative, can lend much weight to your job application. Previous employers are usually best-placed to attest to these qualities, and thus it is important to gain work relevant work experience (in the form of temporary or casual secretarial work) while completing your schooling or studying towards your secretarial qualification.
Wages, hours and outlook for team secretaries in London
On paper, team secretaries work roughly a 40 hour week, much like any other type of office administrator. However, the reality may be somewhat different, with extended hours and overtime (and the appropriate remuneration) sometimes becoming a key feature of the role. Temporary, contract and part-time work may be available, and flexi-hours are also offered by certain companies. Although relatively sedentary, the role can be highly demanding and stressful at times.
Team secretaries are generally well-remunerated, and salaries tend to be commensurate with work experience and knowledge. In certain instances, qualified individuals may command higher salaries than their non-qualified counterparts; however, this trend is usually evident in permanent employment only. Contract and temporary workers are generally paid an hourly wage (anywhere between £10 and £16 per hour), while highly skilled, well-qualified permanent employees could earn as much as £35,000 per annum. Investment and legal companies tend to offer the most competitive remuneration and benefits packages, but usually hire only the most qualified candidates for these prestigious positions.
Job opportunities for team secretaries exist in a vast array of working environments and span most job sectors in London and the UK. Team secretaries can secure employment in legal and financial institutions, utilities companies, insurance firms and virtually any other type of office in Britain.
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