Job description Administrative Assistant in Canada

Find out what work is like for an administrative assistant in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Administrative assistants (NOC 13110).

Administrative assistants

Description

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

Work week duration

Administrative assistants usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Administrative assistants have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • 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 coordinate 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.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Sitting
  • Making repetitive motions

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Administrative assistants are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Establishements throughout the private and public sector

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 13110), and a list of similar occupations:

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

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

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