National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

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1241 - Administrative assistants

Administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative duties in support of managerial and professional employers. They are employed throughout the private and public sectors.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • administrative assistant
    • executive secretary (except legal and medical)
    • office administrative assistant
    • private secretary
    • secretary (except legal and medical)
    • technical secretary

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Court reporters, medical transcriptionists and related occupations (1251)
    • Executive assistants (1222)
    • Legal administrative assistants (1242)
    • Medical administrative assistants (1243)
    • Office managers (See 1221 Administrative officers)
  • Main duties

    Administrative assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Prepare, key in, edit and proofread correspondence, invoices, presentations, brochures, publications, reports and related material from machine dictation and handwritten copy
    • Open and distribute incoming regular and electronic mail and other material and co-ordinate the flow of information internally and with other departments and organizations
    • Schedule and confirm appointments and meetings of employer
    • Order office supplies and maintain inventory
    • Answer telephone and electronic enquiries and relay telephone calls and messages
    • Set up and maintain manual and computerized information filing systems
    • Determine and establish office procedures
    • Greet visitors, ascertain nature of business and direct visitors to employer or appropriate person
    • Record and prepare minutes of meetings
    • Arrange travel schedules and make reservations
    • May compile data, statistics and other information to support research activities
    • May supervise and train office staff in procedures and in use of current software.
    • May organize conferences
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a one- or two-year college or other program for administrative assistants or secretaries
      or
      Previous clerical experience is required.
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