Like “receptionist” or “secretary”, the title of “administrative assistant” is outdated and needs to be replaced. Experienced administrative professionals around the world have been plagued with the title of “assistant” throughout the duration of their careers. It’s 2017 and we need to let the job title of administrative assistant go!
While living in New York City as a full-time graduate student, a former manager thought that I would be great at performing administrative duties and suggested that I look into these roles. So I accepted an administrative assistant position to supplement my income. With my bubbly personality and ability to communicate with almost anyone, I found myself excelling in these positions. However, I am now back on the job market and find myself more and more reluctant to consider roles with the title of administrative assistant. Here’s why:
The Job Title is Extremely Ambiguous
Depending on the company and industry, an administrative assistant could be doing as little as answering phones oras much as managing the calendar of a Fortune 500 CEO. Speaking generally, some companies can hire administrative assistants with zero to two years of experience while some larger firms require an assistant to have a minimum of five to seven years of experience. This also extends to executive assistants whom are often required to have five to eight years of administrative experience supporting a senior-level manager or C-suite executive. Because of this ambiguity, I’ve seen firms hire exclusively experienced, “career” assistants or much younger, recently-graduated assistants.
No Clear Career Path/Advancement for Assistants
Because of the ambiguity of the administrative assistant title, there is often no clear career path or room for advancement within a company. Logically, an administrative assistant should move on to become an executive assistant, but once you have reached that milestone, where do you go next? It’s not surprising that you can find administrative/executive assistants with over 15 years of experience but have absolutely no change in title. Although these individuals may have added responsibilities and potentially more money, their job title simply does not reflect those changes.
“Assistant” = Administrative
The administrative field is the only field that I can think of that relies heavily on using the word “assistant” in the job title. It would be rare to find a finance assistant or marketing assistant with over ten years of experience. Those individuals go on to become financial analysts or sales representatives. Why must an individual with the title ofadministrative assistant retain this name for the duration of their career?
Not Inclusive of Men
Although men in the workplace are performing administrative functions, administrative assistants are always thought of as women. If the title were to be changed, I believe it could change the way the position is viewed and would encourage men to take on this type of work.
So, how do we fix this? If you’re reading this right now at work, get up and talk to your nearest administrative assistant. Ask him or her if they like having this particular title. I believe many would say yes. Now, if you were to inquire about what their future career path looks like….I would be inclined to believe that it wouldn’t include the word “assistant” in the title. Fortunately, many companies are wising up and changing the way they address administrative professionals. For example, if you’re looking for an administrative assistant position at Google, your title would be Administrative Business Partner. If you are looking for an executive assistant position at Freddie Mac, you would be considered an Executive Coordinator.
Administrative professionals and their respective companies must come up with innovative, new titles to describe the functions of their day to day responsibilities. Administrative professionals do much more than answer telephone calls and send e-mails. They serve as gatekeepers for senior-level management of companies and assist with deals that bring these businesses revenue. I am so appreciative of my administrative background and hope to use my experiences to enhance my career path further. However, I and many of my administrative counterparts deserve better titles than “assistants.”
FAQs
Job titles that are often used interchangeably with an Administrative Assistant are: Executive Assistant. Administrative Coordinator. Administrative Specialist.
What is a good professional summary for an administrative assistant? ›
Proficient and energetic organizer with excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to control inventories, appointment schedules, and customer communications. Proactive self-learner with flexibility and able to succeed in high volume and fast-paced environments.
What is the new title for assistant? ›
The "assistant" moniker of yesteryear is now evolving into titles such as “strategic business partners,” “administrative leads” and “management associates.” The new titles reflect a desire to break away from past stereotypes and to acknowledge the increased expectations these jobs now demand.
What is the best answer for an administrative assistant interview? ›
Example Answer:
I'm always looking for new ways to streamline processes and increase efficiency. I'm also excellent at problem-solving and have a knack for quickly understanding complex systems. Beyond that, I'm confident, personable, and always willing to learn new things.
What is a better title than assistant? ›
Some of the preferred, new titles raise eyebrows, such as strategic business partner, administrative partner, administrative lead or coordinator, business project manager and management associate.
What is another word for administrative assistant work? ›
What is another word for administrative assistant?
| file clerk | filing clerk |
|---|
| office clerk | information clerk |
| document clerk | filing assistant |
| office assistant | records assistant |
| records clerk | |
To be an effective administrative assistant, you need skills in: Organization: Managing tasks, schedules, and information. Communication: Clear written and verbal communication. Time Management: Prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
What is a good headline for an administrative assistant? ›
Administrative Specialist LinkedIn Headlines
Describing yourself as a 'reliable administrative specialist proficient in planning, coordination, and project management' establishes you as a seasoned professional with a broad skill set. It gives potential employers an idea of the scope of your expertise and experience.
How do I make my administrative assistant sound good on my resume? ›
How to demonstrate strong administrative skills on your resume
- Talk about events you have organized.
- Describe times when you had to manage the schedule of a whole team.
- Give examples of times when you had to resolve conflicts.
- Demonstrate technical skills by mentioning your knowledge of specific software.
For example, if you're looking for an administrative assistant position at Google, your title would be Administrative Business Partner. If you are looking for an executive assistant position at Freddie Mac, you would be considered an Executive Coordinator.
Office Assistant Job Description
They may go by other related names, such as administrative assistant, office clerk, or secretary.
What is a fancy name for an Executive Assistant? ›
Executive Administrative Assistant, Executive Secretary, Executive Admin, Executive Administrator, Executive Coordinator, Executive Administrative Asst, Executive Asst, Executive Administrative Associate.
What is your greatest strength as an administrative assistant? ›
Some common strengths for administrative assistants are communication, organization, problem-solving, attention to detail, and adaptability. However, you may also have other strengths that are specific to your role, industry, or personal style.
How would you describe yourself as an administrative assistant? ›
Example: “I consider the administrative assistant role to be critical for making sure an office runs smoothly. In order to ensure the office runs smoothly at all times, an administrative assistant needs to have excellent communication, time-management and organizational skills.
What is an administrative assistant also known as? ›
An administrative assistant may also be called a secretary, clerk, or receptionist.
What is a better name for office admin? ›
An Office Manager, also known as an Office Administrator, or just Administrator, acts as a liaison between management and employees in and organization.
What is the fancy name for executive assistant? ›
There was a time when these professionals were known as executive secretaries, but the name “secretary” was dropped when companies started acknowledging that it was not accurate. For example, Microsoft uses the term “executive assistant” and “executive business administrator” interchangeably.
