Career Questions and Answers
What is the difference between an assistant and a secretary?
Asked by yolanda
I am an assistant to a director, yet sometimes people call me a secretary. I find this irritating since there is a distinct legal difference between the two positions.
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Best Answer:
You are right. My daughter in law has the same job. An executive secretary is really a manager because she exercises planning, organizing, leading and controlling functions.
Just ignore them and be hard nosed about your title.
Peace and every blessing!
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Linguistics!
Answered by Vampyric Masterpiece
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An assistant might be responsible for more tasks than a secretary
Answered by tweetyda2002
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An assistant is more of the right hand man, and knows more than anyone else. they draft document, diarize, sit in on important meetings, take minutes, etc, and a Secreatry just looks pretty, answers, phones, and takes messages.
Answered by luvin21_f
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No, there is no "legal difference" between the two. There is only an emotional one or "status" one. All of the above 'descriptions' work for both a secretary and an assistant. You can always tell them - no, my title is "assistant to the director" as the director also has a secretary.
Answered by Kathy M
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