Current job title: Sr. Administrative
Assistant
Industry: Life Reinsurance
Department: Investments
Years worked in this industry: 6
Years worked in this department: 5
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): My
previous experience as a secretary (many years) is what got me in the
door. I was brought in as a temp. I was able to prove my abilities on the
job and was hired even though most positions in this company requires at
least an associates degree. I have no college.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 16
Typical work hours: 9:00 a.m. 5:30
p.m.
Weekends or overtime hours: I rarely
work overtime and when I do, it simply makes up for those occasions when I
go a little over on my lunch. I would receive overtime pay if I asked for
it.
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.): approx. $42,000
Benefits (direct or indirect): Medical,
dental, 401k, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement, 19 days Paid Time
Off, annual recognition lunch, Christmas lunch, Spring-time lunch, paid
conference attendance, paid industry exams and monetary rewards for
passing those exams.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Reinsurance Insurance that one insurance company buys from another,
called the reinsurer, to cover all or part of the risk that the original
company has assumed for itself.
Actuary technical expert in insurance, particularly in insurance
mathematics. Responsible for the calculation of premium rates, cash
values, reserves and other values.
Retrocede to transfer insurance risk from a reinsurer to a
retrocessionaire.
A typical day on the job: First thing -
check e-mail and retrieve daily newspapers for department to read. After that,
its anything goes. Pick up where I left off yesterday while being
interrupted by anyone from the department with requests. If they arent
urgent, I make a note and try to accomplish everything in chronological
order.
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry:
You dont have to be an
insurance expert to be an administrative professional expert.
Its a global industry so there is a lot of interaction with other
countries and culture.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: Theres no room for
advancement unless you pursue advanced education in finance, actuarial,
business administration, etc.
Type of workspace/office:
Cubicle
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position:
Schedule meetings
book travel
produce expense statements
track expenses and budget
sort & distribute mail.
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement:
Interpersonal skills
Initiative taker
Technically savvy
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
Computer
Printer
Copier
Fax
Scanner
Adding machine
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Outlook for correspondence and scheduling
Word for correspondence and reports
Excel for expense tracking, expense reports, budget reports and
presentations
Access for databases
PowerPoint for presentations
Adobe for transmitting, receiving and editing documents not in Microsoft
media
Critical soft skills:
Interpersonal
skills. I work with all 16 people in my department so have to get along
with everyone. Ive had to learn who will not communicate via e-mail and
who chooses e-mail over face-to-face. I have to accept that some people
require numerous reminders to provide me with information or documents
because they view it (and my position) as trivial.
Communication is critical since I may receive 10 verbal requests in a
day to handle something complex. I need to understand what is needed and
they need to know that I understand.
Pace of this position: Average
Geographical region: Central/Midwest
U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach