The Perks and Downsides of Working as an Academic Secretary

by Alex A. Kecskes

Academic secretaries work in the epicenter of scientific research. They learn about breakthroughs in science and other fields before the rest of the world catches wind of them. They get to interact with brilliant people from the four corners of the world. And they also help students reach their educational goals. Finally, today's academic support jobs allow many to learn advanced technologies, which can help a person enhance their administrative skills.

While administrative secretaries form the largest work pool in academia, there are other interesting jobs to be had. For example, academic administrative staff members also provide support for libraries, laboratories, admissions and the offices of deans, provosts and other university administrators.

And there are perks. State-run colleges and universities generally enjoy generous government benefits. There's usually lots of flexibility when it comes to time off and vacations—more so than in other industries. And lest we not forget one other important perk: Most colleges and universities often cover partial or total tuition costs for employees and their children. For families with college bound seniors, this can mean a savings of thousands of dollars.

The downside of working for a college or university is that salaries are often lower for administrative secretaries and assistants than in private industry. Another negative is that promotions and advancement can be sluggish, and competition for state jobs, especially nowadays, can be fierce. The fact is that in today's economy, cuts to higher-education funding mean fewer administrative professionals are being hired. But if you are competent, you may escape the budget-cutting ax.

For an additional perspective, check out this video: