Women Selling Themselves Short: The Underemployed Administrative Assistant

Your resume screams Marketing Director, yet you want to be an Admin?

After my time with the United States Navy ended, I began looking at the level of opportunity that was available in the job market.

These were the mid-90′s. Bill Clinton would be re-elected shortly after and businesses were encouraged by the passing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 to assist the government in the hiring of welfare moms to various company roles. Many women were transitioned into the role of receptionists, administrative assistants/secretaries, and even executive assistants.

Although the role of an “Admin” can vary in complexity and responsibility from one industry to the other, these positions have never been looked at as requiring a formal education. Can you imagine attending a 4 year college/university, majoring in Business Management or Leadership, only to see that path end in a $30k a year admin job? (Even when some “out-of-touch” companies, normally in concentrated areas  of the country with many college graduates ask for it?)

What would have been the point?

The reality of you taking a job as an underemployed Admin as opposed to a position that was more suited to your credentials speaks volumes about how you define your value to any company.

Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon.

Rewind

Let’s rewind back to 1996. As I was evaluating my best option for entering the civilian job market, the administrative assistant path was not ever considered — although it possibly could have been. Many women who began as receptionists, moved on to roles as administrative/executive assistants and were then promoted to other more vital internal areas of the company.

If that were the case, that these women were given the option to take on more responsibility… I’m sure it took a great deal of encouragement by her peers/supervisors to make it happen. And I’m not sure why?

Was it there goal in life to simply become an admin? Didn’t they want more? Is there something inherent in some women that causes them to limit their exposure to more company involvement?

Awww... Wifey yelled at you again?

No wonder men always get involved sexually with their admins. These women suffer from a major lack of confidence & have self-esteem issues.

During this time, I took on this role as a Jr. Recruiter for a medium-sized staffing firm.

Present Day

The duck.

Most of us really stumbled upon this opportunity, speaking of insurance, but we made the most out of it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten better at evaluating resources that are going to be a benefit to myself, but have learned the patience not to be so quick to not consider an opportunity as well. And I’m glad I didn’t. Sure, our career paths were going in a different direction, but you won’t see a lot of regret on our faces…trust me on that.

I’m presently the Regional Director of Recruiting in a 100% commission-based role. Although I spend a lot of time looking at resumes, most of what makes an Insurance Agent successful are skills that a resume does not promote like drive, ambition, motivation, and commitment.

What many resumes show me is that many women never seem to break out of that “support role”. They just gravitate between Administrative Assistant to HR Generalist to Financial Services Clerk to Accounting Clerk with no upward mobility in their career history.

The women that do though… and I have met my share… I am looking for you.

Because the role of a sales agent for an insurance company is so dynamic, the reactions to a commission-only position are to the point of violent dismissal on behalf of the job-seeker.

If they just took the time to look into it, they’d see that what we do is more of a “strategic advisor” and far less than a salesperson. Not everyone is suited for this role, but some of the experience and education these women have, selling themselves short as the “office underachiever” is a crime!… whether they choose to come onboard with us or not.

In Closing

There is a reason why women are earning .77 to ever $1.00  a man makes — because the industry is run by men. Men who still operate in very primitive realities of what a woman’s role is within the company…. and others who are more than willing to hand the job to an overqualified woman at 25% less than what her predecessor was making.

I am in the process of opening my own Office and take a guess… I need an Admin! I have spoken with a few Admins over the last few weeks… all with expectations of a big, beautiful office, a $48k a year salary, and a whole of menu of benefits.

Uh, are you insane? Get a grip! An Administrative Assistant is a necessary evil…a steep business expense. You are not driving business to the company, refining processes, training staff, or saving any money!

Sorry to say, the economy has changed and those type of middle-level support positions are being scrutinized…and becoming extinct. It might be better for you to look at other opportunities.

Have you thought about supplemental insurance/employee benefits? We need agents! Quack!