Pulse of the office

Administrative professionals have ever-changing role

This year’s Administrative Professionals Day theme is: “Admins, the Pulse of the Office.” Not too long ago, “Administrative Professionals Day” was known as “National Secretaries Week.”

The role of the administrative professional has changed largely as a result of information technology and the use of technology in the office setting. Gone are the manual and electric typewriters, correction tape and duplicating paper — now administrative professionals utilize computers, fax machines, smartphones and other mobile devices, and copying machines to perform their duties and responsibilities.

Today, more administrative professionals hold academic degrees and have extensive experience in office-technology software (Microsoft Office) and must be able to multiple-task and communicate effectively with clients, customers and other staff.

Looking at the theme for this year, administrative professionals still play an essential role as the “gatekeeper” of the office.

Personal secretaries are now executive assistants who not only perform traditional secretarial duties but also have expanded responsibilities in the day-to-day operations of the office.

Administrative professionals write business correspondence, manage special projects, conduct research and create reports, maintain schedules for multiple managers or bosses, and coordinating meetings and events while performing traditional administrative duties such as answering the phone, ordering supplies, filing, and sorting incoming and outgoing mail.

—Roberta clark is the breast Cancer program administrator for the university of arkansas for Medical sciences in little rock and an adjunctin structor for john Brown university and arkansas Baptist college. she is also president of the central arkansas Human resource association.