Job Responsibilities
As a secretary for an civil engineering firm, coordinating the
organization functions between the headquater and the site
offices throughout the country plays an important part of the
company's overall managenemt flow.Ensuring the humam resources
data are updated frequently as well as the mega project
contracts are ready on time for clients are both extremely
important. As a secretary, one should be well aware of the
bosses travelling schedule throughout the year. Flight tickets
and hotel bookings have to be confirmed prior to their departure
to the appointed destinations. Morover, arranging monthly or
emergency meeting for engineers are part of the life as a
secretary.
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Job Requirements
Basically, I am a graduate from business management field for my
master degree. However, I find working life is not just about
applying knowledge or theoretical stuffs that I gained from my
university studies. The nature of the work itself play an
important part of my working life. Besides, personalities plays
and important part as an employee as well. The communication
skills of each individual will determine the relationships with
colleagues. No doubt, the better communication skills you have,
the more you will be appreciated by the bosses for your
contribution to the company. I am lucky to have the chance to
undergone an english communication skills class during my
studies. Though I was only been taught about the theory of
employees communication, I find it's useful when I try to apply
it to my daily work in which I need to keep up the conversation
with the company's client during the tea break for a meeting. It
does help! For the research paper which I did to gain my master
degree, I had run an empirical study on the stress level of
employee's in the banking and education field. It is a good
experience for me as a student because I manage to find some
interesting results which I never thought of before.
Additionally, I will be able to take note of the causes of the
stress on the employees if I were to be in the upper management
team of a company one day, and to avoid it from happening. I am
lucky to have a helpful supervisor for my research. Though he
did give me a hand in running my research by advicing me on what
I should and shouldn't write in my research,the final work is
still my original hardworks. For student taking up research
paper for master level, my advice is to start as early as
possible. And always try to give a copy of draft of your
research paper to your supervisor on every single meeting
because your supervisor will be able to trace any error in your
research paper throughout your research progress. Therefore,
your final work will be an error free research paper. For the
grading, I can't really judge it from my personal point of view.
It all depends to the marker(s) who marked your paper. If you
are lucky to have written what he/she is expecting, then
naturally you will score a flying colours. However, the
university will choose in random some of the assignments or
projects for external examiners which is a very good idea to
determine the standard of the university or a particular
faculty. Workloads are quite heavy though there are no sit in
exmamination for my programme. We normally were given a time
constraint test in which around 5 essays need to be submitted
within 36-48 hours. Students were normally divided into small
groups in class for discussion and tutoring. However, lecture
were normally given in a combining class in the lecture hall.
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Uppers
I like my job though the pay is far less than what I am suppose to be given. For
me, working in a happy working enviroment is more important than anything else
such as the pay. Being a secretary is much more challenging than what I expect
before entering the company. I never thought that I need to make the tea or
coffee for the company's client when the office servant is on leave and I never
thought that I even need to give a hand to engineers in drafting the drawing of
the engineering works! All I thought of being a secretary is about making calls,
arranging meetings and some documention works. Wow... it really open up my view.
I like being on different tasks occasionally. You won't feel the dullness and
boringness of working on the same tasks daily.
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Downers
The worst part of my job is I never been paid any extra money
for working overtime!!! Honestly, every job is a challenge.
Depending to how you evaluate the workloads given to you. The
uppers and the downers of a particular job lies on your own
judgement and the way you see the job itself.
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Lifestyle
Without doubt, smart attire is required for every secretary as you need to meet
up with the clients of the company with your bosses. Business travel are not as
frequents as one might expect. Working hours are extra long when a project is
dueing soon. As for the social events, I don't really join in the group as I
don't drink and smoke. Normally, my boss will only invite me to join him for any
business oriented social event but never did him forced me to join him. Well,
it's all depend to each individual to join in the socia events. There is always
simple birthday party for the birthday guy/lady or farewell party for colleague
who is leaving the company soon. Though it's just some simple cakes and tea
during the party, it did demonstrate that every individual of the company is
treasured. This make everyone feels as a part of the company no matter what level
of management are you in.
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Compensation
Bonuses will only be given once at the end of every year
depending to the nett income of the company. Employees are
allowed to claim general medical fees which did not include
specialist treatment.From my experience, salary is normally
based on 2 criteria, educational qualifications and personal
experience.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Is you are good in documentation and looking for a job which
required frequent verbal communication, this is just the right
job for you.
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