What does a secretary do?

Files papers, types, and answers phones.
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Computer work, usually involving a working knowledge and experience with word processing programs like Microsoft Word, and spreadsheet programs like Excel, and should probably be familiar with the Internet and email, plus other computer programs that might be required for a particular secretarial position. Some may want you to know Access, or Quickbooks. Some secretaries do extensive bookkeeping while others do a little light bookkeeping. There is usually some kind of clerical work involved, like putting information in alphabetical order, or using an adding machine to come up with mathematical totals on something. Good typing speed and also good typing accuracy help secretaries to get good jobs. Usually there is filing to do. They may make appointments for their boss and remind him of those appointments. They need some method for typing up the boss' letters and other documents -- he either gives them handwritten documents to type up, or he dictates the information and the secretary either takes it down with shorthand or something similar, or she may type it onto the computer as he talks if she is a real fast typist and can do this. Some secretarial jobs involve greeting guests, some don't. Almost always a secretary will spend some time answering the phone, even if the company has a receptionist, so good communication skills are needed and an awareness of "office/phone language and etiquette protocol." Some secretaries do just typing, filing and answering the phone, while other secretaries function more like an administrative assistant, but their job title doesn't always reflect their responsibilities and their salary doesn't either.
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They are now called administrative assistants. They do whatever their bosses need - type letters, pay bills, do bookkeeping, filing, run errands.
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answer phone, file paper work, type, take dictation, keep up with all bosses appts.,and of course gets his morning coffee.