Personal Assistants

This occupation may include associated occupations with varying tasks.

• liaising with other staff on matters relating to the organisation's operations
• researching and preparing reports briefing notes memoranda correspondence and other routine documents
• maintaining confidential files and documents
• attending meetings and acting as secretary as required
• maintaining appointment diaries and making travel arrangements
• processing incoming and outgoing mail filing correspondence and maintaining records
• screening telephone calls and answering inquiries
• taking and transcribing dictation of letters and other documents
• may supervise other secretarial and clerical staff

If you like to help others and enjoy working with computers, phones and other office equipment, then the administration, clerical and support services field could suit you. You’d need to be a good communicator and be well organised, cooperative and flexible. Some of the tasks you may be given would be to: respond to internal or external enquiries; set up schedules and office systems; book meeting rooms; take minutes; manage records and basic accounts and maintain databases. Specific duties would depend on the field you are employed in – there are many opportunities in the medical, automotive, business, education and tourism fields, to name just a few. However, most businesses need administrative staff, so the possibilities are almost endless.

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