As you know, the job of Administrative Assistant has become much more complex, professional, and demanding. We now expect these staff to enable and problem solve for entire departments.
What advice can you offer on how to recruit candidates who can meet today's variety of needs? Do you know of resources to reach and attract the best administrative professionals without engaging search firms?
Background:
Our city's Social Services department has an Administrative Assistant vacancy; the position supports the Chief of Administration, one of three team leaders (the others being Benefits and Social Work). The assistant has duties in personnel support, office operations, and management support, ranging from reception, employee timekeeping, and supply purchases to budget work in SAP, helping with the annual report, and background checks for recruitments --a whirlwind variety not unusual for the job title these days. We have competitive pay in the $40s and great benefits. We've tried two rounds of recruitment and received nearly 800 applications without finding just the right fit.