Administrative Assistant or Senior Secretary?
Asked by inkognito
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?

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

your question depends on the company you are getting a job with. Executive Admin Assistants make more than a Receptionist. Company a pays more than company b etc etc
Answered by Rob

No its not a less paying job, it just depend on the company you working for to their policies and procedures, accept the position, it will work for you and will create an advantage for you to get a better job in the future
Answered by Nonjabulo M

senior secretary probably pays more, i made like 700 quid a month doin admin while secretarys made like a grand or sumthing
Answered by Paul R

It depends on the job responsibilities. To me - the sound itself - Admin Asst sounds better than Senior Secretary. The two positions may be of the same level but are called differently because of the type of the company that you work for. Pay wise - depends - small company maybe less pay than a big company. Hope this helps!
Answered by vano

Hmmm, it really depends on the hirachy in the organization. Anything with Senior in the title will pay better. Additionally, don't worry so much about the tasks. I moved from an AA job to an EA job and I do sooooo much less, but I have access to company officers, my boss has significant signing authority, and I am wayyyyyy more in the know(whereas in last position, I helped/dealt with only middle managers). Now, I don't use any Microsoft office products - but I represent a company officer; if he wants something I can walk into someone's office, strut into meetings to pull him out - all things that I had no power to do before. Doing this job, I've met the CEO of a company whose products I've used for years, and he wasnt some piddly cheeseball CEO (this dude has some serious name recognitition, and I'll be putting it in my resume however it fits) Additionally, don't move over if the money is not better - because if you choose to leave that position, you dont want to have a lower starting point if a salary history is requested. Also, you have to consider the job description; if SS allows you to see what supporting C-level people is about, continue on that path. Again, at times I get frustrated that I do no powerpoints, spreadsheets, letters and very rarely order lunches/set up meetings like I used to - but I have that access and I am a full representative of my boss; when I show up, they know he wants something. Don't let this politically correct world of - being called an Assistant is better than being a Secretary fool you. Receptionsts (in theory) are AA's... And a Receptionist is not a Executive Secretary and they cannot make that leap when job hunting.. Hope this helps.
Answered by Anie

No. Some administrative assistant jobs have the same job description as an Executive Administrative Assistant, which is like a Senior Secretary. So, no, it's not a step down. Good luck.
Answered by CEM