Administrative Office Procedures

Why is the job market for administrative professionals growing? What effect do you think the economic downturn of 2008-2009 had on this field? Since the economic downturn of 2008-2009 recessions, the job market for administrative professionals in on the rise. The field is anticipated to grow because administrative professionals work in areas of the economy that are expanding and generating new jobs—such as education, social service, legal service, health care, and finance. With so many jobs lost during the recession and the recent turnaround in economy, employers are looking to refill those positions.

1. Where do administrative professionals work? Name at least two factors that would be the same and two factors that would be different in the various setting. Administrative professionals work in business, government, education, law, medicine. Some secretaries and administrative assistants, such as legal and medical secretaries, perform highly specialized work, requiring knowledge of technical terminology and procedures. For instance, legal secretaries prepare correspondence and legal papers such as summonses, complaints, motions, responses, and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney or a paralegal. They also may review legal journals and assist with legal research. Additionally, legal secretaries often teach new lawyers how to prepare legal documents for submission to the courts. Medical secretaries transcribe dictation, prepare correspondence, and assist physicians or medical scientists with reports, speeches, articles, and conference proceedings. They also record simple medical histories, arrange for patients to be hospitalized, and order supplies. Most medical secretaries need to be familiar with insurance rules, billing practices, and hospital or laboratory procedures.

2. What technical skills do administrative assistants need? With the rise in technology administrative assistants need to possess technical skills. Good knowledge on handling...