Do you have any MEN who are Secretaries or Administrative Assistants where you work?
Asked by Conversation
We have a few highly qualified men who are interviewing for open admin assistant jobs at our company. Currently all the people doing administrative work at our company are women but I would like to add some diversity to the mix. Others say no, they want to hire only women because they say being a Secretary is for females. The men actually have higher scores on the typing and Microsoft Office test. I think that scores are not everything though, maybe fit is more important. So should we just keep hiring very young women so they fit? Your thoughts.

Best Answer:
Yes, In Manufacturing industries male administative assistants are common. But on secretarial job, i've encountered less than five companies, and these are in high risk job site. If you are only filling one position with a male then I do not think this mix will work. You have to fill at least 2 position. The retention factor will be lower. as the saying goes "the odd man is out".

Yes! I worked for a company not to long ago that had a male Admin assist and he was the Asst to the CEO!! I thought he was awesome and I admire his diversity. I am looking for clerical work myself but I think when you have men mixed in all areas then it seems to "even things " out in my opinion. At my part job now we have a male assist store manager and he has been one of the best managers during my tenor of working. He's leaving to move on to better things (I could just cry).
Answered by Barbie doll lover

One of the assistants at my work is a male. He knows what he is doing and he is not emotional like the rest of the female assistants.
Answered by Caitlyn

I asked to transfer from the sales floor into the offfice as an assistant, and when I went ot the manager she was surprsised that I was interested in the position. Turned out good as she saw that I was capable of handling multiple tasks as where the office assistants that were in place could not. I was then promoted to Human Resources Assistant. I have gotten some surprising reactions from various visiting managers that come in and see a male working in the office and they are shocked when we meet. We communicate thjrough email and sometimes phone and they think because in their store there are only women, that is how it is everywhere. I have recieved various recognition from corporate for my performance and am up for another promotion, so it just shows just because I am a male and went to job that was supposed to be for just women you never know if it will be a fit unless you give them a try.
Answered by dpvillarreal79

I would definitely consider men for these positions, especially if they meet the qualification requirements that you seek. I work in the financial services industry and we have several gentlemen working in the administrative/secretarial area. They are well liked and get the job done on the same level as women. I believe men are becoming more common in these roles because as we advertise for open positions the candidate pool is usually 50/50 women to men. If a man is comfortable being an Admin Asst then who cares what others believe about the role. You also don't want to run the risk of a discrimination suit if it looks as though you are hiring women because that is a traditional women's role when you've had qualified male applicants express interest for the position.
Answered by CrookedHalo