I hate job titles on Craigslist that have NO bearing on the duties listed.
For example, I was intrigued by a job titled “Proposal Coordinator/Editor” under Writing Jobs. Now, tell me how the following job is anything but a secretary? :crazy:
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manages telephone coverage and assures coverage of the reception area at all times. Answers phones according to the office’s procedures, routes calls to appropriate staff, takes accurate messages, maintains a record of telephone messages, and holds messages for pick-up. Retrieves messages from voice mail as appropriate. Greets all visitors and assists them while waiting; directs and distribute deliveries to the appropriate staff. Presents a courteous and cheerful attitude to visitors and staff. Assists the Vice President with all building management calls and helps to develop appropriate protocols for fire drills, key maintenance, security, and other building related matters. Provides clerical support for the Vice President and staff, assisting with research activities and special projects as requested. Writes, edits and types correspondence, reports, memorandums, and other materials as assigned. Schedules meetings and tracks project timelines. Assists with mailings, including federal express and UPS, copying, assembling, stuffing and posting. Maintains all office supplies, equipment and other office support activities. Performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President Fishery Conservation and Management.
One of my friends commented:
The first section I have cut out 100% describes a receptionist position:
- Manages telephone coverage and assures coverage of the reception area at all times. Answers phones according to the office’s procedures, routes calls to appropriate staff, takes accurate messages, maintains a record of telephone messages, and holds messages for pick-up. Retrieves messages from voice mail as appropriate. Greets all visitors and assists them while waiting; directs and distribute deliveries to the appropriate staff. Presents a courteous and cheerful attitude to visitors and staff.
Now in between “assur[ing] coverage of the reception area at all times” the candidate is supposed to sandwich in three other jobs:
- Assists the Vice President with all building management calls and helps to develop appropriate protocols for fire drills, key maintenance, security, and other building related matters. Provides clerical support for the Vice President and staff, assisting with research activities and special projects as requested.
- Writes, edits and types correspondence, reports, memorandums, and other materials as assigned. Schedules meetings and tracks project timelines.
- Assists with mailings, including federal express and UPS, copying, assembling, stuffing and posting. Maintains all office supplies, equipment and other office support activities. Performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President Fishery Conservation and Management.
The proper job title for the non-editing tasks would be “Administrative Assistant” (which is NOT just a high-falutin’ euphemism for ‘secretary’ — it reflects the fact that the job requires more skills and responsibility than an ordinary secretary would have).
So this job description describes three different jobs.
1) receptionist
2) AA
3) proposal writer/editor
Translation: we need someone to write and edit proposals, but that only happens once a year. You’ll really be a receptionist most of the time, except during proposal time, when you’ll have to make the proposals appear like magic, on top of your regular workload. Oh, and while you’re in the office, you may as well keep busy, so do all the stuff we need an AA for as well.
:crazy: