Current job title: Personal
Administrative Assistant
[Editor's
Note: This survey respondent is a personal assistant in the U.S., which
means in his/her case that he/she purposely does personal assistance and
personal errands along with any administrative professional duties]
Industry: Hospitality
Department: [executive level]
Years worked in this industry: less
than 1 year
Years worked in this department: less
than 1 year
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): Just my
many years of experience in the administrative field
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 1
Typical work hours: 8-4
Weekends or overtime hours: I haven’t
yet but that is a possibility; I don’t think so as I’m considered exempt.
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.): $30,000 –
$35,000 - but I’ve been working in the administrative field for 30+ years
Benefits (direct or indirect): Yes –
insurance, IRA with matching from employer; flexibility with hours when
needed
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
My employer also trades in futures. Trading long indicates you are buying
into the market to sell higher; trading short indicates you are selling
into the market in order to buy at a lower price.
A typical day on the job: I begin my
day preparing a report for my executive from the Investor’s Business Daily
with certain articles that he likes to peruse before the market opens. I
then proceed to prepare daily reports on the cabin rentals for the
management company. If my boss is trading, I will move into his office and
keep up with the market with him and take notes that he dictates for his
daily journal entries. Lately, I’ve been doing more personal errands and
business as he tries to sell his house. I can do anything from recording
highs and lows on the market to taking his cleaning to the laundry. My day
varies and I love that!
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: This is difficult for me to
answer as I am not really “in” the industry as much as working as a
personal assistant.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Again, difficult to answer.
Type of workspace/office:
office
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
Daily reports
Journal editing
Tracking trades
Bookkeeping for cabin company
Watching the market and reporting high and lows when boss is away
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
Flexibility, independent, proactive
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Laptop computer, fax, boss’s computer with six screens for watching the
various markets
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, QuickBooks Online
Critical soft skills: Good
communication – I take care of a lot of my boss’s personal business so I
must be able to talk to many different people intelligently. I also need
to make sure that I understand exactly what it is he needs. We’ve worked
together now for almost 5 months and are still learning.
Pace of this position: I would say it
is average…I have slow days and busy days but averages about the same.
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™