Recognizing a Pool of Talent : Education: On a day to pay tribute to secretaries, employers are urged to give the gift of training and development rather than a bouquet of flowers.
Changes in technology and the economy mean that a large number of middle-management positions have been eliminated. As a result, responsibility for supervisory functions is being handed down the corporate ladder.
“With right-sizing--or whatever companies call it--we have had to become more flexible and knowledgeable,” said Sydney Alexander, a secretary for Hughes Aircraft Co. in Fullerton.
As a result, this year Professional Secretaries International is recommending that employers think of professional development, rather than bouquets of roses, when they observe Professional Secretaries Day, which is today.
“While flowers and lunch are appreciated, professional education is a much more valuable and lasting gift,” said Evelynne Thompson, president of that networking group, which created Professional Secretaries Day.
a Magazine subscriptions, money for books, tuition reimbursement, dues for membership in professional organizations--all are ways employers can show support for a secretary’s professional development, says Professional Secretaries International, based in Kansas City, Mo.
Employers vary in their willingness to support secretaries who want to sharpen their skills. Depending on time and budget, there are several ways secretaries themselves can seek professional development.
One way is by taking classes. Alexander teaches courses at Fullerton College that prepare secretaries to take certification exams.
The exams test knowledge of six subjects: behavioral science in business, business law, economics and management, accounting, office technology, and office administration and communication. The course, Alexander said, is for secretaries who may aspire to work with a chief executive or other high-level officer.
Employers increasingly recognize the value of certification, Alexander said. Hughes in both Fullerton and El Segundo has provided in-house classes for secretaries, as has McDonnell Douglas in Newport Beach and FHP International in Fountain Valley.
Certification “got me some (job) interviews I would not have gotten without it,” Alexander said.
Another way to keep up with added responsibility is to join a professional association, thus meeting peers who may be struggling with similar challenges.
Liz Rodriguez and Karen Berry, who met through the local chapter of National Assn. of Secretarial Services, got together recently to study dBase software. Both formerly worked for other people and now run their own businesses: Liz’s Paper Jungle in San Clemente and Berry Office Services in Laguna Niguel.
“Keeping your skills current is keeping up with technology,” Rodriguez said. “To me, there’s nothing more fun than learning new programs. It’s like working puzzles.”
A third way to learn new skills is from private companies that offer training for a fee.
Where to Learn More
Secretaries who want to improve their skills or meet their peers can find help in several places in Orange County. Among them are:
Professional Secretaries International. Networking group. Information: Gene Drake, (714) 873-9736. Annual dues: $89 for the first year and $74 a year after that.
National Assn. of Secretarial Services. Networking group. Information: Karen Berry, (714) 495-0417. Dues: $35 a year or $5 for each meeting.
Fullerton College. Offers course to prepare for certification as a professional secretary. Information: Sydney Alexander, (714) 732-2875. Cost: $300 a semester, including books and parking.
Women’s Focus: A Job Development Company, Tustin. Services include assertion training, instruction in salary negotiation, aptitude testing, interviewing techniques. Cost: $25 to $3,000. Information: (714) 731-8992.
Innovative Management Systems, Irvine. Offers a course for administrative assistants. Topics include time management, managing multiple bosses, project planning and delegation. Course counts as 10 credits toward certification as a professional secretary. Cost: $495. Information: (714) 724-9122.
Coil & Associates, Orange. Offers advice on career planning and advancement. Cost: $125 for testing, $600 for counseling, $1,600 for guidance in changing careers. Information: (714) 558-0223.
Center for Computer Assistance, Irvine. Develops software training programs for small groups or individuals, offers a resource library and support. Cost: $125 for a class, $285 for a workshop, $50 an hour for individual tutoring. Information: (714) 753-8050.
