Medical Secretary Career Plan

It doesn’t take a long time to become a medical secretary, at least not if you have the foundation. The following tips are designed for high school students or for those with a diploma or GED.

1. Do some career exploration early on if you can. Participate in job shadowing and career fairs. You can do these things at any stage of the game, but there are advantages to beginning early. There are a lot of free or low cost career exploration programs designed for youth. Your city may have a training institute to introduce students to clerical roles. If you have a pretty good idea of your career path, you can often get into a good secondary school vocational program.

2. Work toward your high school diploma. Take four years of English composition and literature classes and get a solid foundation in math. Take typing and computer skills. Also take a vocational office management course if it is available. And if you’re ready to move beyond the basics? Taking college level classes in areas like anatomy or medical terminology now could save you time later.

3. Also develop your interpersonal and communication skills. These are very important for a secretary and perhaps especially so for one who works in a medical office. A soothing demeanor is an asset when people are stressed and ill. You can take speech or participate in extracurricular activities in the areas you are interested in.

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4. Research schools. There are plenty of certificate programs for medical secretaries. Associate level programs may give better preparation for positions as executive secretary or medical administrative assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers seeking executive secretaries often want a degree and field-specific knowledge. It’s not all about the title of the program, however. Take a long look at what classes are included in the curriculum. Ask about internship opportunities and about placement rates for graduates.

5. Work hard in your classes and seek out professional experiences beyond the classroom. If you have no prior experience, you may want to volunteer in an office setting.

6. Use your resources to find a job. Online job boards can be useful, and you’ll find one at the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Some people get jobs by maintaining contacts with people they have worked for in some capacity or by proactively hand delivering resumes.

Personality Traits: Medical secretaries have strong written and oral communication skills and customer service ability. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that discretion and adaptability are desirable traits.