Secretary and Administrative Assistant. This isn't a joke post I honestly want to know because I managed to piss off someone this morning by calling her a secretary. She was getting her boss coffee, she was taking notes on a pad, she was handling his calendar...

Whats the difference except for the title?

2/6/2007 8:53:18 AM

from my experiences, AA is just the PC term for sectretary.

[Edited on February 6, 2007 at 8:54 AM. Reason : e]

2/6/2007 8:54:04 AM

One is PC, one is not

it's basically so it can sound better on a resume, even though by now we all know whats up

amiright?

2/6/2007 8:54:26 AM

The term Administrative Assistant is used because feminist got so bitter about having women called secretary (aka the bossman's servant). In addition, now men commonly occupy the position another reason for it not to be called that. Lastly, the duties of this position have increased dramatically, well at least in my department (programming, websites, random technological shit).

[Edited on February 6, 2007 at 9:05 AM. Reason : .]

2/6/2007 8:59:57 AM

administrative ass.?

lolz

2/6/2007 9:01:15 AM

same shit, different verbiage.

2/6/2007 9:10:25 AM

hey secretary get me some fucking envelopes, they don't like that hahaha

2/6/2007 9:11:44 AM

yeah, secretary, admin assistant, office coordinator, office manager. Pretty much the same thing. I guess thats what my position is, but as was stated earlier, I do so much more than your typical stuff. And since my company has had a high turnover, everyone comes to me for questions about anything

2/6/2007 9:12:12 AM

Quote :

"Lastly, the duties of this position have increased dramatically, well at least in my department (programming, websites, random technological shit)."

yeah, i was going to point that out, too. Historically, I believe secretaries were almost no-skill jobs - they did whatever the boss wanted - get coffee, type letters while he dictated (ok, that's a skill), answer the phone. There are probably still a lot of jobs like that, but administrative assistants now will take over other functions, like a lot of HR functions - dealing with PTO for large groups of people, making travel arrangements, negotiate with vendors, processing resumes and helping in hiring. And depending on the company, maybe some basic accounting or bookkeeping, updating the company website, etc.

if you just called someone a secretary to her face, though, then you're really behind on what's considered appropriate in the workplace....

[Edited on February 6, 2007 at 9:13 AM. Reason : .]

2/6/2007 9:12:52 AM

Yeah as has been pointed out administrative assistants usually handle much more than a traditional "secretary" role.

Also, in my experience, a "secretary" is usually secluded to only one person that he/she works with, while an adminstrative assistant works with many people.

All the administrative assistants ive come into contact with work with the manager and the entire group that the manager manages, instead of only the manager.

2/6/2007 9:30:09 AM

say it like me

securtary

2/6/2007 9:32:52 AM

It was more of a snafu on my part, but the fact that they got so mad over a simple statement really surprised me.

I don't get offended if someone calls me the web guy, or the web page person or web nerd. I guess it's a point of view really. I don't see it as offensive just a mistake in the title. You do more than a secretary and thus your title changes.

Makes sense to me. Admin Assis it is.

2/6/2007 9:44:57 AM

My ex was/is an "executive assistant" and from what I could tell it was secretary work.

2/6/2007 9:49:05 AM

Our "secretary" at the plant does most of those "admin assistant" things but everyone still calls her a secretary. She doesn't mind it one bit because

she's not a whiny bitch

2/6/2007 9:50:35 AM

I hope those rotten feminists don't get riled up and try to change the name of executive offices to something stupid like Administrative Assistant of State.

2/6/2007 12:02:06 PM

she's not a whiny bitch

2/6/2007 12:20:04 PM

I think technically they are the same fukin thing as well and an Ad. Asst. is a more PC term but there are still both job titles and I think AAs get more $$$!

2/6/2007 1:12:05 PM

so how long before its called "administrative assistant of State"??? since the word Secretary isn't PC anymore

2/6/2007 1:39:57 PM

when Hilary Clinton gets that job...LOL

2/6/2007 1:46:00 PM

Admin Assitant of the Navy...sounds so much more macho than secretary

even better..

admin assitant of defence....we may as well throw up the white flag and surrender.

[Edited on February 6, 2007 at 1:48 PM. Reason : fda]

2/6/2007 1:47:57 PM

at Cisco, the secretary's working the front desk are called "Lobby Ambassadors"

2/6/2007 2:27:32 PM