Current job title: Executive Assistant
Industry: Wholesale lending/financial
Department: Executive Staff
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): I had nine
years previous EA experience, but took mortgage 101 courses as well.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 2 (also support
1 CEO, 2 EVPs, 1 CFO in collaboration
with two other EA’s.)
Typical work hours: 8:30 – 5:03pm
Weekends or overtime hours: At times,
as needed for deadlines, and special projects I work Saturdays and almost
always work through lunches and stay later that 5:30pm, since I am salary
I do not get paid for 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.): $65,000 – $72,000
Benefits (direct or indirect): Good
benefits include quarterly bonuses (if we make 100% of our Project/Goals),
Pension plan, matched 401k
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Strategic Planning, FICO-the score is the score, On-boarding
A typical day on the job: Upon arrival
I check my executive's calendar’s and my emails/messages. I am usually up to
speed on emails before getting since I am connected to the network with a
blackberry. Then I review my notes form the previous day, look at my
current daily tasks, and start with the most important and/or time crucial
tasks, concurrently working on scheduling meetings and answering emails.
Each day has different projects/tasks but usually flows pretty similar to
the previous days. At times there are hot topics, and fires to put out,
and of course sudden new requests. Plan travel, events, meetings, work
Competitive Analysis Report, edit Exec. Summaries etc…
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
Casual dress
Most of the
employees are very friendly
Employee
specials for loans
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Some employees/Exec’s do not
respect AA’s/EA’s, they do give us credit for the hard work we do,
especially when under pressure to make them look good. (Recognition, AA’s
and EA’s never receive awards here)
Type of workspace/office:
Cubicle (across from executive offices)
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position: Maintain the calendars in
Outlook for my executives, must perform exact execution of all tasks, process
and prepare expense reports for executives, keep track of department(s)
vacation schedules, plan/prepare travel details, attend & create meetings.
Work with different departments to get various projects completed/check
status for executives, much more…
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement: To
support the executives that I support the three things would have to be:
Perfection and exact execution of all tasks large and small
be reliable (never sick or late)
able to work under pressure and able to adapt to different personalities
and strong minds
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, laptop, multi-functional machine: fax/copy/scan/print, multi
line phones, 10-key by touch, and blackberry.
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Email, phone, Outlook, Webex, Teleconferencing, Video-sub conferencing,
Digi-vote set ups.
Critical soft skills: good speech,
follow-through, dictation-writing skills, self-starter Why? No one
will do it for you, you are the person to get it all done.
Pace of this position: fast
Geographical region: Northwest U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™