Current job title: Administrative
Assistant
Industry: Landscape Architecture Firm
Department:
Years worked in this industry: 8
Years worked in this department: 6
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): The
ability to multi-task is critical when working as support staff for many
project managers, as well as knowing how to prioritize work requests.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 5
Typical work hours: 7:30-4:30 M-TH,
7:30 –1:30 F
Weekends or overtime hours: Not often,
and I am not paid overtime
General salary range
(Note: This is a general figure or range provided by survey respondent and may
NOT be an exact salary in order to
give survey respondent some privacy. Also you must take into account that
the number of years worked in industry/department may contribute to this
salary as well as criteria such as level of position and person reports
to, required hours and geographical location.): $27,00 -
$33,000
Benefits (direct or indirect): The
greatest benefit this position offered me – why I returned to it is
FLEXIBLITY! It is a small firm owned and managed by two lovely folks who
understood what my goals were. Tangible benefits: I have health insurance,
a contribution by the company via profit sharing as retirement (not much),
the ability to participate in a 401 K plan, A flex health plan and a
generous sick leave and vacation plan.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Master Planning – planning the overall use of a site.
Storm water runoff studies – studies of water that runs after rains and
where it goes.
Agency Terms: the Corp= U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
DWQ= Department of Water Quality
A typical day on the job: Hike to the
office from the parking lot – 3 blocks. Arrive between 7:15-7:30. Turn on
the equipment, make the coffee, do what ever is in my “in” box first:
typing correspondence, pulling a plant list. Outgoing mail prep. Go for
the mail at 9:30 daily, this involves a three-block walk to the post
office. Sort the mail. Prepare and take the bank deposit if needed. Filing
to job notebooks, filing plans. Errands to the local municipal planning
departments or other office errands. Data entry for timesheets, and
accounting purposes. Project research via the Internet. Copy plans, Update
lists: plant list, job list, product/manufacturer lists. Download and scan
photos. Organize into job folders in computer. Organizing meetings and
functions as needed. Primary task is to answer the phones and greet
customers and vendors, and to facilitate the productivity of the landscape
architects by insuring they have the resources and time that they need.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: I get to see all the nifty
plants available that the general public doesn’t know about. Ready access
to folks who can tell you what to plant where. A better knowledge of the
process for site planning and municipal approval of different types of
projects.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: At times there is not enough
real work to do, and all my filler projects are done, it can be boring.
Type of workspace/office:
an open space in the reception area of the office
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
1. Customer contact – phones and greeting walk ins.
2. Data entry: for correspondence or accounting purposes.
3. GIS & product research
4. Facilitate project managers’ productivity by doing whatever is
required: copies, typing, inventory, research, product catalog management,
and errands.
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement: A good
sense of humor, the ability to handle stressful situations as well as
boredom, the ability to multi-task and prioritize work requests.
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, large format copier, copier, plotter, scanner, typewriter, and
fax machine.
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Typing for word processing and data entry. Graphics for photography
editing. Juggling a multi-line phone system. Filing, Filing, and more
Filing!
Critical soft skills: Soothing
impatient clients and grumpy contractors. Multi-tasking for multiple
managers.
Pace of this position: Average
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™