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OverviewNature of WorkKnowledge AreasSkills Utilized
Job ActivitiesAbilitiesJob ConditionsWork SatisfactionEducation/Training

Ability Areas

Learn about the most important abilities for Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive. Also, find out how proficient you have to be in each ability.

Importance*More Info
1.Oral Comprehension88
2.Oral Expression81
3.Written Comprehension78
4.Stamina75
Trunk Strength75
6.Information Ordering72
7.Wrist-Finger Speed69
Written Expression69
9.Problem Sensitivity63
10.Category Flexibility60
* Importance out of 100

Score Key
  Importance for success in this profession
  Level of proficiency needed

Ability Area Scores

Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
88
55
Understand a television commercialUnderstand a coach's oral instructions for a sportUnderstand a lecture on advanced physics
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
81
55
Cancel newspaper delivery by phoneGive instructions to a lost motoristExplain advanced principles of genetics to college freshmen
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
78
52
Understand signs on the highwayUnderstand an apartment leaseUnderstand an instruction book on repairing missile guidance systems
Stamina
The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
75
43
Call numbers in a bingo gameMake announcements over the loudspeaker at a sports eventGive a lecture to a large audience
Trunk Strength
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
75
55
Recognize the voice of a coworkerIdentify a former customer's voice over the telephoneUnderstand a speech presented by someone with a strange accent
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
72
52
Put things in numerical orderFollow the correct steps to make changeAssemble a nuclear warhead
Wrist-Finger Speed
The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
69
55
Read dials on the dashboard of a carRead the fine print of a legal documentDetect minor defects in a diamond
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
69
54
Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezerWrite a job recommendation for a subordinateWrite an advanced economics textbook
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
63
46
Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't workRecognize from the mood of prisoners that a prison riot is likely to occurRecognize an illness at an early stage of a disease when there are only a few symptoms
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
60
45
Sort nails in a toolbox on the basis of lengthClassify flowers according to size, color, and smellClassify man-made fibers in terms of their strength, cost, flexibility, melting points, etc.