Current job title: Executive Assistant
Industry: Biotechnology
Department: Sales & Service, Corporate
Communications
Years worked in this industry: 3
Years worked in this department: 3
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): None for
this particular industry
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 2 executive level, 2
management level and numerous field staff
Typical work hours: 7:30am to
4:30pm
Weekends or overtime hours: A few hours
per week without 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.):
Benefits (direct or indirect):
Yes good benefits, medical, dental, eye/ no very expensive.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
In ovo in the egg
Flat the tray which eggs are placed on to incubate
Biosecurity insuring contamination is not transmitted between sites /
hatcheries
A typical day on the job: Wow
this could be long! Not your typical typing, dialing, smiling and filing
job!
From shipping award certificates to hatcheries to planning 65 person
retreats to registering an office in a foreign country (this project took
over a year!). Answering questions from field staff; managing various
calendars; maintaining contracts with customers.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Various duties; learning about
something I never would have imagined how does the chicken get to the
freezer in the grocery store?
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Learning the specifics of a
necropsy (the autopsy of animals)
Type of workspace/office:
partial cubicle
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
1) Ensure my managers
are efficient
2) Ensure our contracts are up-to-date
3) Assist, administratively, anyone who needs it
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
a.
Organized
b. Flexible
c. Have initiative
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, Copier, Scanner
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Microsoft product knowledge word to access to project
Critical soft skills:
Communication we do not seem to have enough that flows to where it needs
to go it sits at the top. I try to pass on to my field staff helpful
information directly to them.
Initiative this job requires that you work independently its up to
you to get the job done and find ways to make it run more efficiently.
Organization & flexibility the interruptions are endless and you need to
be able to put down a project and pick up another one at a moments notice;
then be able to go back to the other project!
Pace of this position: Average to fast
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach