Current job title: Executive Assistant
Industry: Manufacturing
Department: Administration
Years worked in this industry: 18+
Years worked in this department: 17
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): Needed to
know Shorthand. Still use it approximately four times a year for large
employee meetings.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: Directly support 1.
Indirectly support 60.
Typical work hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Weekends or overtime hours: Very rare
to work a Saturday. Overtime is during the week, averages about 4 hours
per week and yes I get 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.):
Benefits (direct or indirect): Company
offers the usual insurance package, we do have a pension plan in place
still for "older" employees (anyone hired after 1996 does not get), 401K
(no match), vacation and 40 hours/personal sick time per year.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Flag rod (component in gas meter)
Meter bar (bar between meter and piping from gas line)
SNAP's (sonic nozzle apparatus prover) (proves the meter
to the correct setting per the customer's request).
A typical day on the job: Meet with my
boss every morning then handle whatever comes my way. Have monthly reports
to work on, etc.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
Know how your gas meter and regulator works that is on your home or
apartment building.
Understand the importance of new housing starts for our business.
Watch the markets for aluminum, metals more closely.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
Hard to advance unless you are an engineer of some kind. Industry is very
technical oriented. Constant buy-outs/mergers of utilities makes it
difficult to know your customers true name.
Type of workspace/office:
office
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position: Keep communication between
staff and boss clear and concise. Keep the boss's calendar up-to-date.
Keep the phone system up and running. Keep travel arrangements current.
Keep expense reporting current.
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
Ability to adapt to change quickly. Previous office experience of at least
two years. Must have experience in Microsoft Office products especially
Excel and PowerPoint.
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer, calculator, printer, copier, fax, imager.
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet
Critical soft skills: Good
communication, fast work ethic. Must have these in order to maintain the
job. If you can't communicate and don't like people, you won't survive in
this office. If you can't keep up with your work, you will be told!
Pace of this position: fast
Geographical region: Midwest U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™