Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

People in this career often have these skills:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

• Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
• Transcribe spoken or written information.
• Maintain medical records.
• Compile data or documentation.
• Schedule appointments.

• Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
• Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
• Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
• Send information, materials or documentation.
• Relay information between personnel.
• Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
• Operate office equipment.
• Operate computers or computerized equipment.
• Arrange services or reservations for patrons.
• Maintain financial or account records.
• Collect deposits, payments or fees.
• Prepare business correspondence.
• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.

• Receptionists and Information Clerks

• Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan

• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

• Court, Municipal, and License Clerks

• Office Clerks, General

• Bill and Account Collectors

• Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

• Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks

• Word Processors and Typists