Current job title: Executive
Administrative Assistant
Industry: Credit and Collections
Department: Accounting and Finance
Years worked in this industry: Less
than 2
Years worked in this department: Less
than 2
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): Wasn’t
required, but previous experience in accounting and finance (over 15
years) certainly helped in getting the position.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: One EVP
Typical work hours: 8:30a-5:30p
Weekends or overtime hours: No
weekends, seldom have overtime. Salaried, so I don’t receive overtime pay.
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.): $47,000 -
$56,000
Benefits (direct or indirect): Benefits
are fairly standard with 16 days of PTO and 6 paid holidays, 401K with 50%
company match, medical/dental/vision insurance offered.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Portfolio: a group of uncollected debtor accounts purchased from a company
(i.e. credit card company) that our company will try to collect or settle.
Debtor: consumer who owes outstanding balance on account.
A typical day on the job: Lots of
scheduling and responding to e-mail, printing reports, reading/staying
current on industry news and competitors.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Have to stay current on what’s
happening with the economy, both nationwide and global.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Industry can be volatile and
changes happen quickly, but that’s the case for many industries nowadays.
Type of workspace/office:
Open alcove (next to another admin)
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
1. Constant scheduling of
meetings/calls/appointments
2. Assessing and responding to e-mail (mine and my boss’s)
3. Helping keep my boss on schedule for the day
4. Communicating “scene changes” to my boss (anything that changes his
world or department)
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
1.
Ability to adapt to constant change
2. Upbeat attitude (don’t let the turkeys get you down)
3. Ability to interact well at several levels: with clients, staff,
management
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, printer, scanner, copier, phone
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Microsoft Office Suite: mostly Outlook, Word, Excel and Internet Explorer
Critical soft skills: Listening has to
be the number one skill of any great admin. If you can’t learn to listen
and “read” people and situations, you should find a different kind of
career. You have to absorb your environment to know how it works. How
could you respond in the correct fashion to a request, provide feedback to
your boss regarding what’s needed in a given situation, or know what’s
happening in your office without listening skills?
Pace of this position: Average
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™