Ridiculously overblown job titles.

[blueg33]

Countdown said:

nick s said:

I don't think people truly realise just what a good PA does. Everyone assumes they make tea and book meeting rooms. My GF is EA (executive assistant) to the MD of a large tech company. Sounds overblown, but really, really isn't. She presents to the ILT on his behalf, puts proposals to the board and is currently restructuring the UK function and reporting structure. She's also implemented a new KPI & bonus structure for all the sales guys without any input from her boss. He didn't even ask her to do it, She just identified it as something that needed improving and started working on it. She came up with it and he will just approve it. She does these things all off her own back. She thinks for her boss and eases his workload massively. Huge responsibility. Yet most people we know make assumptions based on what the old image of a PA/EA does.

I think another problem is that there is such a difference I what PA's do, as all assistants have that title. Granted there are some low level PA's that do basic diary management, but it all depends on who you're working for and how senior the role is?

You're right there is a huge difference. My PA mainly makes the tea, arranges meetings, types up minutes/notes, and various other admin stuff for the Department. The only people who present to the Board are Directors or senior/specialist managers - PA's don't tend to be experts. And bonus structures would definitely be a HR thing as it could be contractual.

I have a shared PA these days not as good as having my own. My previous PA was superb, documents I had finished with just disappeared, but I could say, "remember that letter I had 2 years ago about xxx, I need it", and it would appear in seconds. She managed my diary, arranged meetings, took meeting minutes and had the added bonus of being extremely easy on the eye, the downside is that the lads from the office tended to congregate in the vicinity of her desk

[littlegreenfairy]

NRS said:

Never used it, but if I did then mine would be quite ironic in that way - MSc DIC!

An imperialite. All dicks if you ask me.

[PAULJ5555]

After a merger here all our directors with this in their titles changed to "the head of xxxxxx" they were not at all happy.

We also have accountant titles for people who are not qualified at anything.

[R8VXF]

Just skimmed past this thread and read the title as "Ridiculously overblown job titties".

[marksx]

I am an Operations Support Engineer.

I am not a qualified engineer. I really don't like the title.

[rxtx]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I hoped it was that picture (I'm using a text-based web browser), Shing is a right twit

[Streetrod]

blueg33 said:

Countdown said:

nick s said:

I don't think people truly realise just what a good PA does. Everyone assumes they make tea and book meeting rooms. My GF is EA (executive assistant) to the MD of a large tech company. Sounds overblown, but really, really isn't. She presents to the ILT on his behalf, puts proposals to the board and is currently restructuring the UK function and reporting structure. She's also implemented a new KPI & bonus structure for all the sales guys without any input from her boss. He didn't even ask her to do it, She just identified it as something that needed improving and started working on it. She came up with it and he will just approve it. She does these things all off her own back. She thinks for her boss and eases his workload massively. Huge responsibility. Yet most people we know make assumptions based on what the old image of a PA/EA does.

I think another problem is that there is such a difference I what PA's do, as all assistants have that title. Granted there are some low level PA's that do basic diary management, but it all depends on who you're working for and how senior the role is?

You're right there is a huge difference. My PA mainly makes the tea, arranges meetings, types up minutes/notes, and various other admin stuff for the Department. The only people who present to the Board are Directors or senior/specialist managers - PA's don't tend to be experts. And bonus structures would definitely be a HR thing as it could be contractual.

I have a shared PA these days not as good as having my own. My previous PA was superb, documents I had finished with just disappeared, but I could say, "remember that letter I had 2 years ago about xxx, I need it", and it would appear in seconds. She managed my diary, arranged meetings, took meeting minutes and had the added bonus of being extremely easy on the eye, the downside is that the lads from the office tended to congregate in the vicinity of her desk

Edited by Streetrod on Thursday 7th May 14:30

[R2T2]

I'm a Network Support Engineer?

What do I win?

[Streetrod]

Good PA's can be worth their weight in gold and are paid accordingly. I have recently employed one on a basic of £70k plus a 30% bonus

[Crusoe]

Mine is pretty good for this thread.

EPSS CAD, PDM, CAE, SAP, CT EA

or without the abbreviations

Principal Engineering Support Specialist for Computer Aided Design, Product Data Management, Computer Aided Engineering, Systems Applications and Products, for Completion Tools division for Europe and Africa

[richarda0109]

Sandwich Artist for Subway

Rgds
Richard

[KFC]

Streetrod said:

Good PA's can be worth their weight in gold and are paid accordingly. I have recently employed one on a basic of £70k plus a 30% bonus

If someone told me a PA was on £91k a year I'd just assume the boss was shagging her and using company funds to pay for it.

[BrabusMog]

KFC said:

Streetrod said:

Good PA's can be worth their weight in gold and are paid accordingly. I have recently employed one on a basic of £70k plus a 30% bonus

If someone told me a PA was on £91k a year I'd just assume the boss was shagging her and using company funds to pay for it.

Depends on industry, my mum gave her career as a PA to look after me and my sister in the mid-80's and she was earning a very good crust at that time.

[KFC]

BrabusMog said:

Depends on industry, my mum gave her career as a PA to look after me and my sister in the mid-80's and she was earning a very good crust at that time.

Do you or your sister by any chance look like your mums old boss

[omgus]

KFC said:

Streetrod said:

Good PA's can be worth their weight in gold and are paid accordingly. I have recently employed one on a basic of £70k plus a 30% bonus

If someone told me a PA was on £91k a year I'd just assume the boss was shagging her and using company funds to pay for it.

I have worked in two comapnies where EAs have got PAs.

In one case the EA to the "EMEA Blokey" had two PAs and each PA had an Admin Assistant.

[BrabusMog]

KFC said:

BrabusMog said:

Depends on industry, my mum gave her career as a PA to look after me and my sister in the mid-80's and she was earning a very good crust at that time.

Do you or your sister by any chance look like your mums old boss

I am the spitting image of my dad, even down to mannerisms etc, so we can rule that one out although it did make me laugh

[northwest monkey]

rxtx said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I hoped it was that picture (I'm using a text-based web browser), Shing is a right twit

Blimey, he looks like a woman.

I used to be "Head of Internal Sales".

I ran a small telesales team of 3 staff, so technically correct although very stupid.

[troc]

My official job title is 'Examiner'

Apparently it's not important to specify what it is I am examining

[Blown2CV]

IBM have "master inventor" and "distinguished engineer" but they aren't actually dished out willy nilly so maybe not overblown. Do sound a bit silly though.

[Blown2CV]

If you're a VP but not an EVP, then yes you're a loser.