Senior Administrative Assistant Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Administrative Assistant or Senior Secretary? Please help me to make a decision! I have a Senior Secretary position and am not happy at all. The bosses position is still empty and people avoid me and give me menial jobs. Today I have interview for Adm.Asst. and probably the job involves receptionist work too. Is it a step down to my career if I accept this job? Will I demote myself if I accept to be Administrative Assistant? And is it less paid job?

Answer: Definitely, you will be degrading yourself if you opt for Administrative Assistant's post, which involves receptionist work also.

Question: Doing the job of a Senior Associate, but being paid for an Administrative Assistant - Help? Under company classifications and job duties, I am performing tasks of a Senior Associate and have clerical staff that is trained and reports to me. Since the position was originally posted as Administrative Assistant and I have been given duties of another person which the position was not filled, they decided not to fill it and justify it as "other duties assigned". I have asked to be reevaluated for my job duties and given compensation by personnel. the employer agreed that I was in fact a Senior Associate, but took my state funded cost of living raises (past 5 years) into consideration and just added on $1200 more a year to put me in the minimum salary of a Senior Associate. I believe that they should have started my salary at the base pay of an Associate, then added in my cost of living state raises...otherwise when you subtract those state wide raises, I am not even in the pay bracket for my duties and title. It's like my tenure is their advantage. What are some suggestion?

Answer: Start looking for another job & when you find one, approach your supervisor with the news. If they still won't give you what you deserve, then resign & take the new offer.

Question: I am looking for a job as PA, Administrative Assistant in CANADA? I am from South Africa currently working as TEMP Senior Accounts Administrator in Cayman Islands and I want to move to Canada to work on an administrative related post. I have over 10 years experience. My boyfriend lives in Winnipeg, MB. So MB is my first preferred location btu am happy to relocate to any area. Does anyone know any employment agencies that work with foreign candidates? Any assistance and answers will be greatly appreciated. thanks guys, all the comments and answers are very useful.

Answer: you're going to have to emigrate rather than apply for jobs, because employers here will NOT interview any applicants who are not in the same town or province they are. The questions is whether or not the position of admin assistant is in demand. Read through the below details, check the NOC list link and find out if you qualify to emigrate. If you dont qualify, then the only thing you can do is to upgrade your skills and/or qualifications to get to a job that IS in demand. Skilled worker qualifications You need to have at least 1 years work experience in your chosen field before you can apply. 4 years is better - gives you more points. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/s… You must meet the following minimum requirements to apply as a skilled worker: You have at least one continuous year of full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment. Your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC). You must have had this experience within the last 10 years. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/noc.as… NOC list http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/s… assessment test - you must get 67 points to qualify. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information… application processing times in Skilled worker category You will need $10,000 saved up - before you apply as you will be required to show this proof that you have this money when you apply. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/s…

Question: I would like to change careers.after 10 years of being an administrative assistant. Any tips? I have over 10 yrs of administrative experience supporting senior level executives but see no signs of moving up in my career, I have been trying to become an executive assistant to a VP or a CEO but no luck so far. I have a master's degree in English and very good at multitasking, coordination and very detail oriented. How can I use my education and experience to move up in my career OR use these skills in any other suitable job? I have even tried to apply for entry-level office manager positions but to no avail. I am really frustrated and depressed. I know I deserve to be in a much higher position but don't know why I have not been successful in getting it.

Answer: I too have over 23 years experience in administration, and like yourself am getting nowhere. I've tried applying for receptionist, office manager, data entry and assistant to the administrator, but to no avail. There are so many others out there applying for the same position that it's very frustrating when you know you are qualified for the job, even if it means stepping down a bit just for a change. I wish I could answer your question with some great insight, sorry. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your search. I just wish they would just come out and tell you what your doing wrong or whatever the real reason is that you didn't get the position, so we could change or strengthen our weakness'. Good Luck!!

Question: Higher Admin Question? "Describe ways in which a Senior Administrative Assistant would ensure that time is managed effectively" My brains not working I'm so tired but I have to get this done for tomorrow and I'm totally lost on this question any help would be much appreciated ! thanks :)

Answer: That is to have a working plan that manages your work time into sections.!!! I'm a bit tipsy so I'm going to bed, sorry.!!

Question: Is this career transition even possible? I have worked in both technical jobs (10 years as a QA Engineer) and administrative jobs (5 years as a Senior Administrative Assistant) and the administrative career path is by far the best fit for me. I had my resume professionally written to highlight my administrative skills/experience and downplay my technical experience and have posted it to many job sites and have applied to several HUNDRED administrative job postings in my area that fit my skills/experience. The result is that I had two interviews and in both instances the interviewer looked at me and said "but you are an engineer, why would you want to do administrative work?" After I explained that while I learned a lot from my technical jobs, I received the most job satisfaction from my administrative positions in which I was able to contribute to the success of other people and be part of a team effort. One person looked at me like I was out of my mind and the other one looked like she did not believe a word I was saying - has anyone ever been able to transition from a technical career to an administrative career? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Answer: Without Seeing your resume, its hard for me to answer this in too much detail. I know you said you had your resume professionally done, but that doesn't mean it was done WELL - especially if interviewers are questioning your career choice. I happen to be a resume writer, and I can't tell you how many times I've redone a 'professional' resume (quite honestly, its kind of scary how much I do!). If you send me your resume (you can take out all the personal info) I'll take a look at it and see if I can't give you some tips (no charge) to help. It could very well be a great resume - like I said, without seeing it, I don't know. But, I am willing to look and see if I have any comments that may help you make it better! :) You should be able to contact me through my profile on here.

Question: Which is the best career?? A Senior Administrative Assistant working with the Group chief Information Officer in an international bank Or An office Administrator in an Oil & Gas recruitment Company the bank pays more than the other company by 400 usd Please specify why the one you choose is better??

Answer: the bank cuz first they pay 400$ more and then in the bank you have more holidays and more advantages (like better insurance and stuff like that)

Question: How can we find donations for our non-profit? I work for a non-profit in the heart of the South Bronx that helps seniors. We do everything from help seniors read thier mail to Elder Abuse. We really need to do something to get more funding. The Board has not been very effective in the past few years and as the Administrative Assistant here for 20 years, I really want to help. Maybe someone knows where we can get a mailing list of donors so we can ask for donations? Thank you.

Answer: I agree with the answerer who said buying a list is like spamming and the response rate IS low. There are other ways to raise funds. How about applying for grants? Your local library will have books on how to write grant proposals and where to direct them. There's probably good info online, too. You could also ask the local newpapers (the Post, the Times) to write a feature story about your organization and the need for funds. Do the same with the TV stations. Another idea is to make a video about the work your organization does and show it on public TV (public TV is free). Have a phone number where people can call in donations on the spot and an address where they can mail checks to.

Question: What occupations have you had in your lifetime? Most of mine have been general office work, then Administrative Assistant type jobs, then business owner, then Senior Account Representative, now Office Manager. Oh, forgot, radio personality for about 6 months.

Answer: This list gives every indication that I have no idea what I am going to be when I grow up ! Serving and food industry ... HS, college Janitor: College years Cancer Research ..... after college (far too many years wasted) Night Club Owner....sex, drugs, and rock and roll Gymnasium Owner.... (not vastly different than owning a night club) Construction Company Owner....High end renovations (a story in itself) Event Production .... the same as owning a night club, but you are not open every night. Costume design and production: My own company, did the ballroom thing for many years...always something new and fun...until I grew tired of the client's thoughts that a ball gown would make them look 20 again ! Try that one on for size ! Owner, On-line sales of successful business selling to the clothing embellishment trade and individual. (this one has been the most fun, always someone new to talk to, always someone wanting to know....... Talk to people all over the world daily. Haven't a clue as to what I will do next, but there always seems to be a next associated with my life.

Question: Appropriate Dress Code for Work? I am an administrative assistant for a Senior Partner. She recently came to me and told that I should always wear skirt suits to work as that is professional attire. She also said I should wear closed toe shoes and hosiery. Is this appropriate and legal? Can someone tell me I have to wear pantyhose and a skirt to work?

Answer: If you are really an admin assistant for a senior partner then you should know how to dress professionally. You should not have to be told. If you want to stay with that firm you will be wise to adhere to her suggestions. She can fire you or at least demote you for not doing it. Why try to fight a senior partner. That is not the way to survive/succeed in the business world. My office requires dress suits and hosiery everyday. The pay and benefits are VERY good so we are all smart enough not to complain about something as trivial as a dress code.