What's the difference between Administrative Assistance, Office Assistance, Secretary and a Receptionist?
by 
NotSure
ANSWERS: 6
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the wages
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The receptionist generally is the person who sits at the front desk and greets visitors/customers and answers the phones. A secretary, admin assistant, and office assistant are pretty much the same thing. You assist the boss, basically. You might do any number of office procedures including typing, filing, answering phones, paying bills, ordering supplies. Depends on the company. I've been a secretary and an admin, and it was the same job. A couple of these jobs I was also the receptionist because I was the only one in the office!
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A receptionist answers the phone/switchboard. A secretary remembers how to use a typewritter. An administrative assitant knows Microsoft Office and has computer skills. An executive assistant delegates their work to the administrative assitant. A receptionist is still used today, a secretary often is working for someone who still uses the phrase "Girl Friday"(and is propably doing the work of an administrative assistant), an admin. assistant is unappreciated, overworked and waiting for the 60 year old executive assistant to retire so she can actually move up.
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Yup, the pay.
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Administrative assistant, office assistant, secretary, and receptionist are all different titles for what amounts to the same job. All used to be called secretaries but now administrative assistant or office assistant is more popular because it more closely describes the duties performed. Usually an administrative assistant is expected to know bookkeeping, accounting, data entry, phones, mail, document processing, office software, and office organization and management. I am about to graduate with an Associate Degree in Office Systems Technology which means I will be qualified to work in or run any kind of office. It depends on the size of the office as to how the work will be divided and who will do what. Some assistants do everything while others only do reception work, process documents, accounts receivable/payable, data entry and so on. The pay is based on experience and schooling not on the job title although usually a receptionist title usually means only phone, mail, and greeting duties and usually less pay.
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I do all of those things and I answered a job ad for "Gal Friday". Hey, today is my day.
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