Secretary

As a secretary you provide essential administrative and organisational support to keep an office running smoothly every day. Your responsibilities include answering telephone calls, greeting visitors, managing appointments, handling correspondence and maintaining accurate records and filing systems. You are often the first point of contact for clients, customers or members of the public, so presenting a professional and welcoming manner is central to the role. You work closely with managers, colleagues and external stakeholders in settings such as legal firms, medical practices, schools, government offices and private businesses across Ireland.

A Leaving Certificate is the typical starting point, with subjects such as Business, English and IT being particularly useful. The most common entry route is a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Business Administration, Office Administration or Medical/Legal Secretarial Studies, available through PLC courses at Colleges of Further Education and ETBs nationwide. Some employers also accept a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate for more senior administrative roles. No statutory professional registration is required for general secretarial work, though specialist roles such as legal secretary or medical secretary benefit from dedicated QQI programmes that cover sector-specific skills and terminology. Short courses in Microsoft Office, audio typing or bookkeeping can also strengthen your application considerably.