PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

 Cheif cook and bottle washer? or something more traditional?

Results (total votes = 86):

Office Manager	4 / 4.7%
Executive assistant	14 / 16.3%
Administrative assistant	31 / 36.0%
Administrative coordinator	2 / 2.3%
Other	35 / 40.7%

 

Just call me Secretary thank you...the wearer of several hats, travel coordinator, reception break schedule (Friday's only), file manager and support for several departments.



But Secretary works for me.



Chris68

Officially my title is Administrative Assistant.  However, I never believed that the duties for that title of that level should include receptionist.  I work for a small company though, so for me that is bulk of my duties.  I also manage the office supply inventory, minor typing, payroll entry, subcontract preparation.......and anything else they ask (or tell) me to do.  With this variety of duties, I'd prefer my title to be Office Services Specialist - sounds more appropriate to me.  But when people ask what I do for a living, I tell them I'm a secretary.  No matter what the title, that's what we all are aren't we?

Mine's more specific...



Fund Development Coordinator



 

"MINE" is even more defined:  Subsubordinated Micro Drone

Executive Secretary.......



now there is Executive Assistant to the Pres/CEO

Executive Secretary to the VP Fiance

me to Director

Administrative Assistant to a Director

Administrative Assistant to a National Manager



there really is no rhyme or reason........at least I know there is a level above me to work up to.......unless I find other places in the company to locate myself.

I'm a Personal Assistant.  

I do massive mail merges, coordinate the payment of bills, plan travel, plan events, design invitations, order supplies, and my title is.........CLERK. ('Cause that's what the union says I am.)  



 

Administrative Manager

Training Specialist

Jack of all trades, Master of none

Mom (actually, this is my main "title")

I have often been able to choose my own title.



My past titles:

Executive Assistant/Customer Care Liaison

Technical Administrator

Information Coordinator



Currently:

Speaker - Author - Trainer...

President and CEO of my own (home-based) business  



"providing executives with customized organizational systems, honed computer skills, and mentoring to develop a stronger partnership and more effective working relationship with their administrative professionals."





Marie

My job title is "just" secretary, that is: I do my admin work, and some special things, like booking private holidays for bossie, looking for a cleaning service for his private appartement, and buying gifts for his familiy. So, he sometimes call me his private-secretary  

At my last job from you-know-where, my official title was Administrative Assistant, but in paperwork and on the job, I was referred to as everything from executive administrative assistant to secretary to clerk.  The company wasn't sure what my job was, and with all the titles I had-it was obvious!    

My job title:  Program Specialist



And do they mean specialist.     I'm the Access guru and database developer for my division as well as any others that need help.  Of course, I also do the filing, typing and other secretarial duties so I'm not completely bored.

I'm a Secretary (Steno/OA).  My organization is trying to change all our Secretary titles to Program Assistant.  It won't change our jobs any..."A rose by any other name..."



Also, I only have a couple of promotion opportunities available in my current career path...Secretary to the Executive Director (he's an SES) and/or Secretary to the Commanding General (he's a 2-star General).  (I don't think either of these Secretary's titles are changing.)



JusPeachy in GA

Mine is Practice Administrator.

Administrative Assistant/Supervisor



I'm hoping to have that changed to be more descriptive...

Well, when they hire us, the offer letter says Administrative Assistant and that's what we're called in the office. However, our official title is Secretary and that's what's on all the paperwork, the firm directory, our mail slots, etc.



Either one works for me, although I think I prefer AA if I had to choose. They were going to make a push to change it to Administrative Associate but that seems pretty generic. Titles are a BIG deal where I work, with each title having a specific definition, so it takes a long time to change them.



Not that it matters because we aren't allowed to put our titles on our business cards anyway, but at least we HAVE cards now. Is there anything more embarrassing than having to hand someone a piece of paper when they ask for your card, because you don't even have blank business cards?

Just changed from "Secretary to President" to "Executive Assistant".   And the change probably prompted by the person that works with the next lower level of managers than I do (I support the CEO). She just started calling herself Admin Assistant (used to be Admin Secretary) without telling anyone, just put it on correspondence.... so it seemed that my title should change.

 

A bit misleading for both of us because we don't get too involved in budgets or supervisory aspect or other activities that Admin or Exec Assistants usually do.  Our jobs are more in the line of organizational and clerical support for projects, etc.    

Officially on the corporate paperwork it is Administrative Assistant, but with bossie's approval, use Sr. Administrative Assistant on pretty much everything.  The job restructuring team has provided new titles - when implemented in October mine should be Administrative Specialist if nothing changes (like the promotion to Office Manager/Admin Support Manager that we've been discussing for way, way too long).    

Officially, it's Senior Administrative Assistant (by virtue of the fact that I'm one of the longest-tenured admins here).



Unofficially, it's "Assistant to the Executive Assistant, CEO, CFO, and COO" (no, they're not all the same person!).  And occasionally, fill-in receptionist, extra hand for mailings, etc.



When we recently had new biz cards printed (and yes, everyone here including admins gets them), I made a point of leaving my title off.  Not because I'm ashamed of what I do -- but sometimes, with certain people, the biz card makes a better impression without a title.

During one of my annual reviews I only asked for one thing --a more descriptive job title. Got a 3% raise and promises that both attorneys would use my title, which is administrative assistant (they wouldn't agree with the use of "legal assistant" --which I what I do--but to them it conveys certification and I'm not certified as a legal assistant--only certifiable on days they drive  me crazy .) But no one uses my title. Mainly, they refer to me as "my secretary", which is o.k. Sometimes I only get the "She" and the "Her" as in "She'll do it" or "She'll get that" or "I'll get her" or "Tell her". At this point I figure as long as they don't say "Hey, You", that's as good as I'll get. Geez!  



Kat

My business cards say "Sales Administrator" the official employee directory says "Office Administrator", I call myself "Secretary".  When all is said and done, a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose. . . . .



WS  

Receptionist aka "Jack (or "Jackie", in my case) of all trades". In addition to my receptionist duties I also answer boss's & co-workers' software questions; troubleshoot/fix copier & printer because no one else seems to know how.

Administrative Assistant is my title, but I don't think that covers what I do.  I do Human Resources, Payroll, all the accounting (payables, receivables, etc),  I am the network administrator (college major was in computers), I also am an internal auditor to some of our departments, and then the typical admin duties of doing memos, ordering supplies, fixing office equipment, etc.  I like Jack of all Trades/Master of none, but if someone can clue me into a better title--I am all ears.

 

DW how about Office Goddess?

    oooooooooohhhhhh......RadarO   I like that    

 

DWreath,



You are definately what I consider an Office Services Specialist.  You do a little of everything which to me says you are a specialist at running the office.  



Now, on the other hand, I am wondering if I can sell the bosses on changing mine to Office Goddess.  Of course, that would mean I would have to be given a throne to replace my steno chair and few nice looking young men to carry me around.    

My Title:  Administrative Specialist



OOOOoooo I know you like that one!  Hahaha!  



Bridget

It's Administrative Assistant and that's fine with me.  My boss introduces me by saying, "This is V___; she's my brains."

That reminds me, at my previous job my boss refered to me as her right frontal lobe (she was a psychologist by training and used a lot of psych references).

One of my attorney's refers to me as his "right hand." I'm not sure that's compliment--he's lefthanded!!!  



Kat

But I still consider myself a bottom feeder!

Solargal,



If you consider yourself a bottom feeder, you certainly can't expect other people not to perceive you that way.  Take pride in yourself and what you can do and people will reflect back to you what you project to them.



WS

Thanks WhiteSatin.  I'm only partially kidding when I say that.  Us folks in our department feel like we are treated like the scum of the earth around here sometimes and we make the money for the company. Sales gets all the glory, but when the machinery breaks down who does the customer call?  Go figure.

I support 4 bosses.  My newest one (we have been working together for 3 months now) has just started to refer to me as "Wonder Woman".  I asked him if I purchased a red cape could I expense it  

Oh good Solargal! I know what you mean about being treated badly and you are so right. It's hard to keep your attitude positive about yourself when those around you give off the air of being so superior.  My concern was your attitude towards yourself may cause other people to treat you the way you actually don't want to be treated.  I didn't catch the humor in your post. Thanks for clarifying.  And don't let the @!$%^& grind you down!  



WhiteSatin  

I have actually never minded the title Secretary. I love my job and love what I do.  I do enjoy the title Administrative Assistant, though, mainly because it means a little more respect from some of the people in the office.