Administrative Assistant 

How did you get your current job?
I was referred to this job and actually I started out helping out temporarily and with the accounting portion of the business.

What was the application process?
I submitted a resume had an informal interview… that’s about it.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
I didn’t really have to interview for this position I got the position by working my way up… getting more education volunteering my ideas and volunteering to learn more… even though the material made my head hurt and was slow going at first.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
Mostly I was asked if I knew how to perform certain accounting tasks. To rate my reliability. To talk about my career goals and what I thought were important things to have in a job.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I do. I am a very good estimator and can estimate the cost to build something very close to the real amount.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, mostly on the job training… over a long period of time.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
It did a little, Although now I wish I would have studied construction estimating instead of spending so much time and effort in those silly accounting classes.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
NA

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I’d recommend getting at least a 2 year degree with a focus in drafting or engineering and some office classes. A bachelor’s degree in business or construction management is preferrable. Also, starting out young and from the bottom getting a construction office job and working your way up by taking on more and more responsibility and learning new skills voluntarily.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Having good thinking and reasoning skills is imperative, I think. Ofcourse, you’re not going to get far without your technical skills. Having a working knowledge of estimating software and a background in construction is very important to completing your tasks. For doing contracts it is important to be good with words and have a good grasp on things like legal documents and shakespeare).

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes, I do. Most clients that we meet with are very well educated and hold white collar positions for the most part. Being able to interact professionally with them and give them a sense that you know what you are talking about is vital. I also, am required to attend seminars related to our field to keep myself and my boss in the know how.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
I’d say learn as much as you can about the construction business. And practice getting along with people because you’ll be working closely with your boss and you have to learn to agree even when you don’t really want to or don’t think that its the right way to do things.