What does an executive secretary, administrative assistant do?

An assistant secretary is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of various departments and management personnel and ensure the efficiency of business functions. Assistant secretaries usually assist in business communications, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, reaching out to existing clients to schedule appointments, welcoming guests on the office, and routing calls to the appropriate department. They also handle data entry procedures, updating customer information on the database, as well as creating reports on business and financial transactions.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an executive secretary, administrative assistant are more likely to require skills like "conference calls," "purchase orders," "expense reports," and "clerical functions." On the other hand, a job as an assistant secretary requires skills like "computer system," "federal agencies," "travel arrangements," and "logistics." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

An executive assistant to the executive director is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties on behalf of the executive director to ensure smooth office operations. Executive director assistants manage the executive director's appointments, address the clients' inquiries and concerns, process business transactions, create reports, and monitor financial transactions. They also advise the executive directors on business decisions, as well as suggesting business opportunities to identify services that would increase the company's revenues and achieve profitability goals.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real executive secretary, administrative assistant resumes. While executive secretary, administrative assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "purchase orders," "expense reports," "clerical functions," and "direct calls," executive assistant to executive directors use skills like "data entry," "financial reports," "calendar management," and "human resources."

An Administrative Assistant/Personal Assistant performs daily and time management tasks, meeting schedules, note-taking, and correspondence. Administrative Assistants answer and direct phone calls to the appropriate staff. They are in charge of ordering and purchasing office supply stocks. Their duties and responsibilities depend on the company and the industry they are working for. They serve as the point of contact for external stakeholders and staff. They must develop professionalism, inventory control, and administrative writing skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, executive secretaries, administrative assistant are more likely to have skills like "purchase orders," "clerical functions," "presentation software," and "defense travel system." But a administrative assistant/personal assistant is more likely to have skills like "run errands," "office management," "data management," and "calendar management."

As the name entails, administrative assistants to the vice president (VP) provide administrative and secretarial support to an organization's vice president. They are responsible for managing the vice president's administrative and operational activities by managing the VP's schedule, arranging meetings and teleconferences, and organizing the incoming workflow. Also, administrative assistants are responsible for reviewing policy compliance, updating the VP's travel and vacation details, and auditing the reports on travel expenses.