Men is admin roles?

magenta22

Why not?

It's the whole stereotyping thing that a woman should do a certain type of job while a man does another.

westv

So if "administrator" is the new word for "secretary" then what do people use to describe someone who does clerical back up?

The sort of job that doesn't involve typing per se but involves analysis of documents, spreadsheets, phone, email etc.

spidersandsprinkles

I don't see why not. I've worked with a few male secretaries and administrators and by and large they were all great at their jobs. Only problem is you'll be the first person to be asked when any boxes of paper or files need lifting!

Horace

Many moons ago when I did my secretarial training we used to think it odd when we saw the next class coming into the room - all men, all learning to type and do shorthand and all of them policemen.

I spent a large proportion of my working life working in higher education and there are a lot of admin jobs there carried out by men, not many male secretaries though although seems to be more male secretaries in the public sector working in government departments.

I did RSA Stage II and Stage III Typing - even now I get remarks on my ability to touch type - I even use my laptop at home and still manage to touch type.

Typing onto a computer is a doddle - no real skill required and you can certainly teach yourself to type two fingered. I remember the RSA III exam was about typing diagonal headings and ensuring they all lined up perfectly.

To me an admin role doesnt necessarily involve typing.

thorsoak

The original PAs were men, women only started to take clerical/secretarial jobs in the late 1890s/1900s. Until the 1970s over 60% of the civil service clerical (admin) jobs were taken by men (women were not encouraged to stay on after marriage, remember).

At school, I trained as a touch typist (on the old Imperial manual typewriter) and attained 60wpm. Last typing test I undertook, I passed at 85 wpm.

You can always tell from a computer keyboard who is a touch-typist ......the characters a,s,d,e,l,w,o,i,u,e, r,c,m & n (or any combination of thes) are generally worn away! My family hate having to use my keyboard/laptop!

blossomhill_2

Touch typing is a secretarial skill but not necessarily an admin skill - if you want so many words a minute, you should include that requirement as "essential" in the job description so you only employ people who meet your standards - blaming those who have computer skills but not necessarily fast keyboard skills is unfair if you haven't clarified the expected standard

Savvy_Sue

westv wrote: »

So if "administrator" is the new word for "secretary" then what do people use to describe someone who does clerical back up?

The sort of job that doesn't involve typing per se but involves analysis of documents, spreadsheets, phone, email etc.

I am not sure administrator is the new secretary, although there are fewer and fewer secretarial jobs ... and I'd call what you describe 'clerical' or 'reception' if it's 'first line of defence' phone calls / email.

blossomhill wrote: »

Touch typing is a secretarial skill but not necessarily an admin skill - if you want so many words a minute, you should include that requirement as "essential" in the job description so you only employ people who meet your standards - blaming those who have computer skills but not necessarily fast keyboard skills is unfair if you haven't clarified the expected standard

I agree.