For a CEO level? I've worked directly under owners, co-founders, CEO's, VPs, and directors. For a CEO level you are helping organize their work and worklife. It's an extremely important position. They're steering the company. Quite often you're gathering work from other execs. It takes more than having a clear inbox. You should really collaborate w/ other assistants to make sure the workflow is steady and timely. You have to be proactive, know about the different projects going on, make sure everything is running ok and assist if you can / if appropriate. Let's take a VP weekly meeting example. Last week you noted action items for directors and emailed them after the meeting. This week you're checking on their progress and contributions for this week's team meeting. you're also doing their expense reports, your expense report, and your VP's expense report. If there are any department charges, like maybe outside counsel expenses, you're reviewing them for approval and submitting summaries. You're also coordinating her or his schedule, reminding them of meetings and or trips. You'll take care of any IT issues for them like synch contacts, load contacts to their phone and outlook, fix their mouse, change their screen resolution, organize their digital files, prepare their powerpoint(s), and maybe even help a director or two with a project. An assistant in a large multinational will be very busy, must be very organized, always trustworthy and dependable, and of the highest caliber. It's interesting work that I don't really want to do again. Nothing bad about, I just have other passions. You do occasionally get odd requests. I had to pick a lock once, unsubmit a document- they slid it under a locked door, it had to be delivered to their backup b/c they were out of town for a week, I had to use a drill and cutting disk to free a locked up laptop... You can't have an "I don't know (let's pass the buck or hope it goes away)" attitude, you have to have a "if I don't know, I'll figure it out or otherwise have it handled somehow" attitude. If that makes sense.

As an Administrative Assistant, I was responsible for 12 managers and 66 staff members. My day was always interesting. Had many deadlines to meet and many things to do. You have to prioritise your workload once you know what it is they want, but it all can be done if you multitask!

It depends on the position you are hired for. I was responsible for 3 - 5 people at once as a Administrative assistant and asked numerous times to be upgraded to an Executive Assistant title. After I left the position, the co-worker I trained became the Executive Assistant I would have been. Go figure!

Ask about your specific responsibilities and also if there are any additional future requests you need to prepare for. Blessings, Donna

I was a Secretary for my Division Chief when I worked for the Gov't. I enjoyed the position. It is sorta like being a babysitter for an adult. You have to look out for their best interest and keep them informed of upcoming meetings and events. Make travel arrangements, answer phones, open and sort mail. I also did payroll. You have to be highly organized and be a buffer for them when fielding phone calls etc. Overall if you have a good relationship with your boss it can be a rewarding position. I hope it works out for you Dannie, best of luck!

Just remember to interview them while you’re being interviewed. It can be the most amazing job or the worst if you don’t get along.

Hi Dannie Sanford - I am not a secretary, but I imagine it's pretty fast paced and requires EXCELLENT organizational abilities.

Have you found any positions as a secretary, is that why you ask?