Today is Administrative Professionals Day, which means today is the day we celebrate all those people without whom the printer would never have any paper, the mailing would never get done, and we would probably never know where our keys were. Truly, they are the unsung heroes of our world.
Well, today, we sing them.
I was a receptionist and a secretary and a clerical assistant when I was getting started in my career, before life led me into customer service, and that shit is harder than people give it credit for being. All my admiration, and all my love, to the administrative professionals in my life.
Amen. My grandmother was an elementary school admin for most of her career, and it was tough work. I spent about a year as a part-time legal clerk/secretary/gofer and it was rewarding but yeah, it's one of those 'respectable yet very spoons draining' jobs for a lot of people, demanding a lot of emotional labor and social skills, and being very very organized. All hail the clerks and secretaries, for they Get Shit Done.
For a few summers when I was in college/grad school, I spent a few weeks doing administrative work in my father's office. I left there every day feeling completely exhausted. And I only did it for a few weeks at a time. So yeah, much tougher than many people realize.
Now, I'm a teacher, and I am grateful for all of the hard work that the school secretaries do.
I have vowed that if I ever have an administrative assistant, or a secretary, or anything like that, then this holiday will be marked with them getting the day off. (If company policy would prohibit that, then I would let them go home after lunch two days in a row.)
Ooh! That's me! I manage 90 or so scientists and help them understand arcane funding rules. And make the photocopier work. Nice to know I get an official day.
I have two Divisions to look after. And I now have someone managing the finances for both of them, which helps a lot - I was single-parenting my lot for four years before that, and they are a lovely group, but it was a bit much!
I agree with you enormously that administrative staff need recognising for their amazing achievements. I also, however, think customer service is even harder, so I hope you're celebrating yourself today too.
When I look back on the jobs I did part time while studying while 16-23, I always preferred those which involved admin, because I'm a bit obsessive about organisation and having things in the right place (which is not the same thing as tidiness).
The jobs in customer service were the ones I have tried to forget about, because customers are usually wrong. And this is the UK, where we culturally are quite withdrawn and apologetic by nature... in any country that thinks "customers are always right" (so mainly the US, as I've always thought Canadia is more like the UK) I can only imagine things being worse.
Although, mind you, the general quality of customer service in the UK is probably second only to that of French waiters for being bad!
THANK YOU. I've been a litigation secretary since 1987. It is a difficult and frequently thankless profession that gets little or no respect (culturally or in the office). I've often felt like a failure for not doing something more important or splashy. Sure - I've done other things with my life - but this has been my profession for a very long time. Reading this today (from one of my favorite author's no less), means a lot. What a lovely thing to read while having my morning coffee before going into the office!
Aw, thank you! (I was in retail for several years before switching into admin, and find this much less stressful... but I'm sure it depends on the position.)
April 28 2016, 02:00:07 UTC 1 year ago
April 28 2016, 03:36:00 UTC 1 year ago
Now, I'm a teacher, and I am grateful for all of the hard work that the school secretaries do.
April 28 2016, 04:21:23 UTC 1 year ago
As an admin of 15+ years, it is nice to be appreciated.
Admins
April 28 2016, 05:45:28 UTC 1 year ago
RE: Admins
April 28 2016, 12:59:45 UTC 1 year ago
April 28 2016, 07:13:58 UTC 1 year ago
To us! *cheers*
April 28 2016, 11:21:08 UTC 1 year ago
April 28 2016, 12:15:09 UTC 1 year ago
April 28 2016, 13:00:24 UTC 1 year ago
April 29 2016, 04:08:12 UTC 1 year ago
I am backwards
April 28 2016, 12:26:05 UTC 1 year ago
When I look back on the jobs I did part time while studying while 16-23, I always preferred those which involved admin, because I'm a bit obsessive about organisation and having things in the right place (which is not the same thing as tidiness).
The jobs in customer service were the ones I have tried to forget about, because customers are usually wrong. And this is the UK, where we culturally are quite withdrawn and apologetic by nature... in any country that thinks "customers are always right" (so mainly the US, as I've always thought Canadia is more like the UK) I can only imagine things being worse.
Although, mind you, the general quality of customer service in the UK is probably second only to that of French waiters for being bad!
April 28 2016, 13:01:27 UTC 1 year ago
April 30 2016, 22:05:01 UTC 1 year ago
Well, supposedly I can get a transfer out of in October...hopefully....if nobody change their mind on that....*crosses fingers*
April 28 2016, 13:32:55 UTC 1 year ago
April 29 2016, 12:53:41 UTC 1 year ago
I love my job as an academic/research admin, and it is so nice to hear appreciation.
I would kill people in a customer support job, but I love my chemists and their students.
May 2 2016, 18:03:02 UTC 1 year ago