• Administrative assistants perform administrative duties.secretary image by T.Tulic from Fotolia.com
  
  Administrative assistants, also known as administration assistants, are employees responsible for helping an organization's managers and executives perform administrative tasks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of their duties are the same as those of a secretary, although administrative assistants tend to perform less clerical work and more information management.
  
  

Meet Clients and Visitors

• Administrative assistants often act as representatives for their supervisors. When guests or clients arrive, it is generally the administrative assistant who greets them and informs their boss of their arrival.
  
  

Coordinate Office

• Many administrative assistants organize and coordinate the workflow of an executive's office. This includes liaising with other relevant offices, as well as administrative tasks such as ordering office supplies and arranging desks.
  
  

Scheduling

• Administrative assistants often double as schedulers, arranging meetings and making appointments for their supervisors. This includes setting up conference calls with colleagues and clients.
  
  

Arrange Travel

• When an executive must travel out of town, it is the administrative assistant who makes the arrangements, including researching and booking flights, accommodations and rental cars, as well as drawing up a trip itinerary.
  
  

Review Incoming Paperwork

• Administrative assistants sort incoming paperwork, including memos, letters and email. The assistant filters out unimportant paperwork and prioritizes that which needs immediate attention.
  
  

Clerical Work

• Many administrative assistants perform clerical work, organizing and filing documents, photocopying, faxing, answering telephones and mailing letters and packages.
  
  

Operate Office Technology

• The administrative assistant operates office machinery, such as photocopiers, computer hardware and software, and faxes. The assistant should be prepared to train other employees in the use of these machines.
  
  

Take Meeting Minutes

• During meetings, administrative assistants often take minutes of what is said and what business is conducted. These minutes are typed up and distributed to relevant parties.
  
  

Supervise Workers

• Administrative assistants often supervise other employees, such as clerical staff. This includes familiarizing new employees with assigned tasks and office procedures. When volunteers or interns are present, the administrative assistant acts as their contact person and assigns them duties.
  
  

Conduct Research

• Unlike secretaries, many administrative assistants are required to conduct research and prepare presentations. Findings may be presented as written documents, spreadsheets, databases or PowerPoint presentations, requiring the assistant to be familiar with all of these technologies.