Current job title: Senior
Administrative Assistant
Industry: Healthcare
Department: Product
Years worked in this industry: 14
Years worked in this department: 7
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): Computer
experience, Microsoft Office experience (include Word tables and Excel).
Everything else I needed was provided on the job or in classes.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: Currently about 50,
including many at remote locations.
Typical work hours: 8:30 – 5:30
Weekends or overtime hours: NO! We
haven’t been allowed overtime for years, and I haven’t had the need to
work overtime for at least 7 years (or it becomes flex or comp time)
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.): This grade is $28,300-$50,100 – very broad.
Benefits (direct or indirect): We can
buy shares of public stock, which is a double-edge sword. We get medical
(with $1500 annual deductible, then 80-20 up to $5000 max), dental
(basically 80-20), education reimbursement, life insurance. Medical
includes FSA for medical and child care, plus the option to create a
Health Spending Account. We have automatic deposit for payroll. In
addition we get free coffee, tea, water, hot cocoa, a subsidized cafeteria
for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and have an onsite convenience store plus
many vending machines and an ATM onsite. We have free parking.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
We have an online company-specific acronym and terminology document that
is probably over 100 pages by now. Lingo depends on which business unit
we’re affiliated with. There is industry terminology and then there is
company-specific terminology. Here are three of hundreds:
OOP – Out of pocket (as in expenses paid by the consumer for medical
services)
Deductible – Amount that the consumer is obligated to pay out of pocket
before benefits are applied.
OOA – Out of area. This refers to a physician or facility that is not
“in-network” – meaning we haven’t contracted them to provide services.
Note we have shifted from referring to our subscribers as “members” or
“customers” and now refer to them as consumers (in general).
A typical day on the job: Right now,
it’s “anything goes.” Some days there is very little to do as my team is
self-sufficient (remote admin’s were laid off). Other days I’m swamped
with purchasing hardware, software, supplies, e-mail (average about 80 e-mails
a day but right now volume is less than 40), phone calls (average 5/day), etc.
I schedule, reschedule or cancel meetings, support our Intranet site,
support projects for whatever person or team needs assistance, print
high-volume documents, create information handbooks for staff and
customers, update internal lists, etc. I also coordinate all individual
and team moves, and handle all new hire onboarding including space, phone,
computer, ID’s, systems access, HR paperwork, etc.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
It constantly changes and
grows – no risk of boredom with the industry.
It’s (supposedly) a service/helping industry.
The more you find out about products and services, the more interesting it
can be.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
There is less respect for the
industry due to the rising costs of healthcare.
The medical benefits are no better for us than the average consumer.
Change comes at a price, and there is much disorganization and mis-management
– often the loss of vision.
Type of workspace/office:
cubicle (next to a window)
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
Scheduling meetings
Making travel arrangements
Handling all department purchases
Supporting our Intranet site
Uploading documents onto our Sharepoint site (on the Intranet)
“Projects as assigned”
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
FrontPage experience or Intranet design knowledge
Microsoft Office proficiency including PowerPoint
Company-specific experience/knowledge – the learning curve otherwise would
be quite lengthy
“Systems savvy”
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Xerox DocuCenter (printer/copier/fax)
My own PC
Phone
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
See answers to incumbent replacement position above.
Critical soft skills: Definitely good
communication skills – most everything is communicated via e-mails. Need
to be concise, clear. Sometimes negotiation skills are needed to get what
we need from departments that serve us (tech support, mail services, copy
services, Facilities, etc.) I enjoy a good rapport with peers and our
service organizations.
Pace of this position: Right now – very
slow. (Typical of mid-summer)
Geographical region: Midwest/North U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™