Message #62544

[Katie G]

I can only speak for myself, but I've been an admin for 13 years and shorthand has never been a job requirement.  In fact, I believe they just removed it from our organization's job application site as a required skill.  

While it can never hurt to brush up on a skill, my boss is far more likely to jot down a few rough ideas in an email or on a notepad and it's up to me to finesse it into a finished letter/memo/email.  If he does want to dictate something, I'm more likely to type it while he's speaking -- my typing is much faster than my writing.

That said, I imagine if an organization is more "old school" they may want some shorthand ability, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary anymore.  It's probably more of a useful tool for your own purposes.  

I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this issue...