DUTIES

Jobs in the administration or office-management industry are by their very nature incredibly varied and intricate. Although the expectation of employers is that the secretary will be able to handle computer-based jobs (such as typing up hand-written minutes and letters or typing from dictation-tapes) and phone-answering duties, it is also possible that the secretary will be called upon to deal with enquiries, customers, clients, and the ever-changing needs of other office members. On a daily basis this may mean basic letter-writing, accounting, negotiation, problem-solving, customer service, Microsoft-Word based document design, and other related duties.
personal-assistant

If you are lucky enough to get a position in a specialised area – perhaps as a legal secretary, or working for a large firm or company – you will have unique duties specific to the industry you are employed within. For example, government-based administrative secretaries may also handle staff time-sheets, petty-cash and stationery ordering requirements, and taking the minutes of any meetings.

Manufacturing company secretaries may be more concerned with order sheets, organising maintenance of equipment, handling staff rosters and leave requests and sorting out the fortnightly pay runs. PR and advertising company secretaries will be expected to liaise with clients, sit-in on meetings, help-out with campaigns and attend functions and parties. Educational secretaries will deal with academic enrolments, registrar duties, child management and teaching staff requirements. There are many more examples but the above should emphasise just how varied the role of a secretary or office assistant can be.