Current job title: Executive Assistant
Industry: Engineering/Land Planning
Department: President of the Company,
Planning Department
Years worked in this industry: 7+
Years worked in this department: 5
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department):
Receptionist, admin assistant work
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 6
Typical work hours: 8am-5pm
Weekends or overtime hours: Yes, get
paid overtime (hourly position), come in early (1/2 hour) sometimes, and
sometimes stay past 5pm (anywhere from 5:15-6:15pm)
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.): $25,000 - $40,000
(Salary range in companies also probably depends on size of company, number of employees
supported, is the boss tight with a dollar or more generous.)
Benefits (direct or indirect): Company
pays part of health insurance premiums, 25 cents on the dollar 401K
matching, birthday day off after 1 year of employment
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
CAD or CADD - Computer Aided Drafting and Design. The use of computer
technology to create drawings, such as surveys and construction plans.
Design-Build - A construction contract encompassing the design, bidding,
and construction phases (the contractor is the leader of the team). The
traditional contract method has been design/bid/build, which places the
architect or engineer in the lead position and requires the contractor to
be separately contracted for the construction phase only.
Construction Administration - A term referring to the administrative tasks
associated with construction. Examples include assistance with bidding,
review of shop drawings, site visits to inspect work and progress, and
approval of construction draws
A typical day on the job: Return phone
calls, schedule meetings, type correspondence, greet clients, schedule
travel.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Job security – it seems that
the building industry is booming and there is no shortage of clients who
wish to hire engineering/land planning firms to develop or redevelop a
piece of property.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: It’s difficult to find
experienced help unless someone has worked in the field before.
Type of workspace/office:
open lobby area with no windows
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position: Providing all administrative
support for the president of the company, including not only his business,
but for his political and community organization membership involvement;
providing all administrative support for a five person Planning
Department, providing back up assistance to the receptionist to answer
phones and cover the front desk of our other building when she is at lunch
(rotating schedule with other admins in the office); providing assistance
for booking conference room, and assisting other departments as requested.
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
1) strong administrative skills (typing speed 50+ wpm, book travel
arrangements, type letters, take notes quickly, etc.)
2) be able to prioritize multiple tasks
3) be flexible and don’t take things personally – look beyond the “tasks”
and try to see the big picture.
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, telephone, copier, fax machine, scanner, calculator.
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Same as above
Critical soft skills: See answer to
"job applicant requirements" above#20…..you can’t dwell on “poor me” when
you have a bad day, you are there to keep your boss’s schedule running
smoothly and productive so you have to do your best to stay positive,
upbeat, and productive yourself.
Pace of this position: Very fast
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™