PA or Secretary

[emero]

Ok i need a little bit of advice, I've always been an administrator and now have moved on to do PA work,(i have had many jobs as a PA,  for different companies) my boss (he's an operations director) insists on calling me his secretary (he is rather old fashioned)

I have compiled a desk manual(thank you desk demon) to show him exactly what I do and I'm due  for an appraisal this month and  will also ask for pay rise (i have been with the company a year now)

The girl who left occasionally answered the phone and filed, typed a couple of letters.
I have made the job my own and have taken on a lot of responsibility this year, and another director. 99%   of the company know i'm his PA,

Please don't think I'm being unkind to secretaries, we have 2 secretaries , whose jobs are nothing like mine, our MD also has a PA

I just need to convince him, (in a concise manner) what the difference is.

your feedback would be appreciated

[countrigal]

My thoughts might not prove helpful, but I think that as long as your PD and official job title reflect what you actually do, does it really matter what he calls you himself??  If bossie is old-fashioned, you might not have much luck changing his habits, one of which is referring to you as his secretary.  Does it hurt you any??  As long as your pay and official title reflect your true job, then it shouldn't matter, unless there are other problems involved.  You say that others already know that you're his PA so...


But then, I might be off base.  Maybe what you're looking at doing is getting Bossie to approve your title change and pay difference.  If so, then simply looking at the PD that your predecesor had and what you are currently doing (written up into a PD) would be helpful, as well as maybe samples from other PA's in your company.  Then highlight the additional duties that you perform and how these correspond to similar duties performed by these other employees under the title PA.

I'm sure others will speak up soon, so never fear -- you'll get more advice than mine.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[Jackie G]

I agree with CG on the name thing.  I have clients who say I'm their 'secretary' but I describe myself as their PA - it doesn't matter cos I know what I do and they know I do what I do and we're all happy!

keep us posted.

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[beaintheuk]

My official title is secretary, however soon to be changed to PA - I am going to remind him at my appraisal but this had been discussed in the past.  
Some colleagues call me PA, some secretary.  I am actually not sure what my boss calls me as he always say my first name.
I would let the boss call you his secretary if he wishes.
Bea

[bethalize]

I would much rather be a PA than a secretary.  We might know that it's only a title here, but the use of "PA" confers a lot more respect on someone than "secretary" in my experience. Maybe because people have a perception of a secretary as being a more passive role. I wouldn't quit a great job over it though

Bethalize
Peer Moderator

[akara]

I think too much emphasis can be placed on titles.  My boss refers to me as his secretary, too; I am not only his PA, but Office Manager, IT Manager, Customer Services Manager and numerous other roles.  I know what I do, and I know he couldn't run the office without me!

As long as your boss understands the value of the work you do and gives you the remuneration you deserve, what does it matter what he calls you?  Old fashioned (male) Bossies do not understand the difference between a secretary and a PA and are are usually too set in their ways to change.  I've worked for plenty of them in my time.  Try not to let it get to you; be content in the personal knowledge that your role is a valuable one.

Akara

[emero]

Thanks everyone for all the replies.

I multi task like a lot of us do, PA work is my main full time job, i've also been a complementary therapist for 13 years too. (my god is it that long)

I needed to be clear in my own mind, I feel better now I know I'm not the only confused soul out there
The respect & recognition thing is important as my boss doesn't trust his "secretaries" much, as he used to do most of the work himself as the standard of work was shoddy.(not mine)
Patience is the key here, i feel
I have worked hard to get respect in my company, and I'm very proud of what I do

[nickless]

I think the others have basically said it all. Just one thing: you're lucky when your boss refers to you as his secretary. My boss is very old fashioned, and he keeps calling me "his girl". I won't be able to ever change this, and there's no point since he will retire in June.

What matters is what you do, not what title you have to do the same job.

Annegret
Preston,UK

[carolineg]

I would suspect that a lot of us have a similar issue, I know I do.  However, given our multi-tasking abilities, all the company / industry info that we have and all the little extras that we do I think something along the lines of "She Who Knows Where Everything Is" or "Office Goddess" would be far more appropriate.

Any suggestions?

[peana]

I love Office Goddess!!!  Just about sums up everything we're expected to do (including those little miracles that get taken for granted).

I once saw a speaker who went through a list of all the roles she'd had to satisfy in her career as a secretary and then PA.  One that made me laugh was 'Mum - to "hold their hand", bandage cuts, administer sympathy, ...'.  When you really think about everything we end up doing titles do tend to become irrelevant, as long as you receive the respect you're due.

[dwreath]

I vote we all change to Office Goddess!!

All those in favor.....  

D.

[jahdra]

Aye to Office Goddess!

We had a director whose title was "Goddess of Career Development." I've always wondered how she pulled that off, considering this is a Big 4 accounting firm. And what pay grade would a be goddess in, anyway? Heh. The next time they ask us what we would like our "new" titles to be, I'm voting for Office Goddess. Beats the heck out of Service Coordinator!

[mathwhizchick]

I personally like "She Who Must Be Obeyed".  My MIL has that one.  When my FIL jokes about it, she gets a steely glint in her eye and he clams up IMMEDIATELY.

[execsec]

Okay, I'll bite.  I'm from the United States. Please explain what the difference is between a "PA" and a "secretary."  I've been on this site for several years and still don't recall seeing anything that spells out the difference.  Is a PA like an Executive Assistant?

[nickless]

"Agony Aunt" represents a great amount of my daily work, but I suppose it wouldn't look as impressive on my business card as "office goddess".

Annegret
Preston,UK