Job Responsibilities
Most of my time is spent in setting appointments/conference
calls, arranging travel, word processing, expense vouchering and
creating files in the filing system as well as answering
telephone calls and taking messages. It's difficult to say
exactly how much time is involved in each aspect of my
responsibillities as each day brings different things.
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Job Requirements
Quite often administrative assistant's courses are valuable in
my position. Usually they are put on by careers consultants and
prove to help in managing time and in dealing with difficult
peers or superiors.
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Uppers
The uppers about my job would be when I go home at the end of the day with a
great sense of accomplishment, being able to say that I did exactly what I had
intended at the beginning of the day. Also in being able to please my manager in
completing a difficult task such as working on powerpoint presentations.
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Downers
Downers in my particular job is not being able to complete a
task because of the need to wait for further input from someone
else or in obtaining signatures. Sometimes bureaucracy gets in
the way of being able to complete a task. Also, sometimes the
nature of the job is such that something needs to be done as
soon as possible, in a rush, yet there are so many other things
that need to be done at the same time. Priortizing becomes a
big issue.
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Lifestyle
Lifestyle for this position is pretty normal. No business travel required.
Social events are very few and amounts to pretty much going out to lunch with the
group. As far as dress code, it's business casual with Fridays being dress down,
(jeans). In some areas of the company, administrative assistants are fortunate
enough to be able to work from home.
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Compensation
Compensation for the position I am in is fairly normal, in the
high $40,000 mark. We are not eligible for bonuses or stock
options any longer. Benefits are pretty good, ranging from a
dental and medical coverage to insurance for family and/or self.
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Advice to Jobseekers
My advice for people wishing to enter this field would be to
really be sure this is something you want to do for a long
time. For those interested in challenge, it's just not there
unless you are the type of person to search for it and ask to
assist in another area to open your horizons. The outlook for
this particular field is still very promising.
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