regarding being hired on spot and probationary period for a job on Admin Assist

United States
May 27, 2012 8:51pm CST
Hi there! i currently applied for a job as Admin Assistant Intern for some company. I applied a few days or a week before. Then i got interview on Friday.. Interview I think was good. After questions and answer, he said verbally to meet on tuesday may 29 - like hired selection on the spot. I did accept it since I do need experience and something to do. And this job is for those who are wanting to start immediately. However, I did have some phone calls but I will start the job intern paid on this tuesday. However, I'm nervous for this because I don't know indepth on what Admin Assistant (Interns) do. I don't know if it's easy or stressful. But I would give willing to try. At same time, I've been collecting unemployment. I'm nervous because I just hope to pass the 3 month probationary period. The interviewer said that salary can be negotiable or adjusted after 3 months probationary period. Also what are your thoughts of accepting a job you thought is interesting right on the spot? Any tips for 3-month probationary period? lol. Admin Assistant is a different setting than my last job although on this position also needs strong computer skills as well. lol I know i worries a lot but i guess I'm excited or anxious. I just hope I get a good review. Any backup plan suggestions you have in mind if in probation period don't go well? I just hope to make the most of this probation period since its a 9 to 6 pm job M- F with an 1 hour lunch break. Also it is like 10 to 15 minutes away from my house but pay is okay.. Any thoughts or comments, appreciated. Thanks.
6 responses
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
28 May 12
Congratulations! We all need a start up and by working with others and learning by little by little we will pursue our duties and few thing to be noted is - try to learn things quickly, understand things better, always ask you are in a double minded state, always show positive attitude and willingness to accept work and be pleasant and energetic. Try to be in time and if possible, complete the assigned works. Make to-do-list, prioritising, etc. Express efficiency and note down the things which are kept pending. We all are learning through experience and you should have self confidence and knowledge about what you are doing. Discipline and dedication will prove your efficiency. I am sure that you can do a better job and it is nothing to scare anything about admin jobs and really simple as I am also worked with admin for 5-7 years and wish you all the best. By the by, where is the chocolates??? Nice day.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Jul 12
Hi dear, It is long time someone marked nicely on my words. Hope you are settled and doing well. It's quite some time to have a word with you and thanks for your best response comments. All the best and regards.
• United States
28 May 12
hey there thanks1961. Thank you for your input and as well thanks for congratulating me. I see those tips are helpful too. I just hope I'll be fast learner and being able to understand and listen well. I'm generally a shy and quiet person but I hope that won't affect me being admin assistant intern. As for make-to-do list, I do hope to improve my organizational skills, written and verbal skills. I also need a neater penmanship. I kinda don't like my writing. I tend to write and its rushed. By the way, how was it when you worked for admin for 5-7? can you tell me your experience? was it fun, easy? did you do alot of computer stuff? or written letters in professional manner? Wow, chocolates seem a good idea for the morning. I thought you'd be asking, where is the coffee? hehe. :D thanks again. Keep in touch too. :D
1 person likes this
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
28 May 12
hi, Congrats and best of luck for a new role. The company would likely to provide you training for the post and in case they are not offering, you can discuss as what your KRA will be. KRA (key responsible areas) usually list about your job/tasks to do and i am sure you will be able to handle the admin work. Please remember work is work and not stress. To be sucessful during probation, always treat everyone with a smile, don't be too open with all, show a positive attitude to learn new things, attend every task with 100% and in case of doubts and queries feel free to discuss with your immeidate boss, always remember to be punctual and in case you make a mistake - dont's forget to apologize, ensure the assigned tasks completed within the time frame. I am sure you'r going to rock on... best of luck.
• United States
28 May 12
Hi there! thanks for the congrats and wishing me best of luck on this new role. I do hope the training would be good. I do hope I can complete assigned task and anything. I guess admins assistants do have a given assigned tasks a lot of times, right? Thanks for your tips and I will try my best. I'll keep all this tips in mind. =) I've never actually done admin phone. I generally don't like much phone talking too much even if I have answered phones on my previous work but that's just because my boss on previous work was checking upon me. I hope there will be protocol guidelines or script on how should u answer the phone and write letter, drafts, correspondence. I hope to learn a specific script to writing decent emails, letters, anything that boss would require me to do.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
29 May 12
Hi, Glad to know you liked my tips. Regarding usage of phone - whenever there is an incoming call, try to greet the person with good morning/afternoon/evening etc and while hanging up don't forget to say thanks / have a nice day etc. This usually gives a good impression of yours to the caller/s. Be polite while replying and don't pass on any information / details without proper knowledge and choose your words short. Avoid long chats on phone as it may represent that you have 'free time', which is not good initially. Hope you would also require to do coordination for meetings, conferences etc which you may note in down in a notepad. Also I would suggest you to note down all the 'tasks to do/ work to do' for the day and finish them based on their 'priority.' Focus on the subject of the email/ correspondences and try to KISS (keep it short and sweet) as these days people usually use blackberry/smart phones for reading mails and they have no time to waste on full 2-3 pages of mails or letters. Don't be nervous and best of luck. Please don't hesitate to ask/share with me if there is any problem you face at the new place. Do share how's your first day.. cheers.
• Philippines
28 May 12
There was that point in my life when all I wanted was just a job and I was even so willing to take any kind of job. But, in your case, it seems like a good one though. Sometimes, you've got to take risks and see if a certain job that you might not have any idea about, could actually turn out to be your dream job in the long run. Just enjoy work and who knows? You might actually see yourself being in that same company until your retirement years. It seems like a good deal to me. Good luck and congratulations.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 May 12
Hi there! thanks for your input. Yeah I was willing to take jobs mostly data entry, clerical, social media, computers. I do hope to enjoy the work. I'm just nervous and excited. I just hope I will do a good job with given directions and all that stuff. At the same time, I may be worried if i should still answer job interview or offers. Thanks again for the congratulations and good luck.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
28 May 12
The moment you will be hired, there will be an orientation on the description of your job, my friend. In it, you will know more or less if you will be able to deliver it. I would advise that it would be best to take notes on new things in a small notepad. At night, review them so the next day you will remember them and be able to do them, without having to ask again how it they are done. Always put on a happy face when you work. A nice attitude at work is a must.
• United States
28 May 12
Hi there simplyd! I see, there will be orientation on first day. this is actually paid internship. Speaking of notepad to take notes, well after the interview when I sent him a thank you for interview and the offer, he did say thanks. When I asked him questions if I can take or bring or notebook on first day to take notes, he said "No" and that he will provide me with a notebook. Even if he says no and I still bring a notebook, will that affect anything? The reason why I want to bring one for myself is because I want to remember each day what I will be doing or am doing.. And i can put that on resume as well if all goes well on this position. Thanks for the tips on this. I'm generally semi shy and quiet. I hope this position suits me. I did find the position off of Indeed.. And interviewer said after 3 months, those concerns of pay can be adjusted depending on performance. I just hope it's a fun interesting job. I'll try taking good notes and stuff. I also need to improve my communication skills - written or verbal. I do not like the penmanship of my writing. Out of people's writing that I know of, I feel i may have the worst writing or signature and I do hope to be orderly and neat on writing as well as good in verbal skills.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
29 May 12
Well, don't worry on the penmanship webgirl. Usually, in big companies, the written communications are done on computers.
28 May 12
You are excited and at the same time very anxious about the outcome of your performance. The secret way to have a successful probationary period is to do your best in every tasks that will be assigned to you. Never limit yourself to those tasks rather find some things to do beyond what is expected of you. The probationary period is your chance to show who you are as a worker and why you are the best person to be in that position. Never failed them by being unconscious to your performances rather always seek ways to get their attention and let them think this way "I want this employee". So wish you all the best and may you bring out all the best in your new job.
• United States
28 May 12
Thanks for your tips and insights, Jobfindonline. Yeah I'm excited but nervous. I wasn't really like this on the last intern job which was Digital Marketing assistant. But learning admin assistant is different in this case. I may be doing computer tasks and managing social media like how i did on my last job but i think there will be more clerical duties and other tasks. I just hope the coworkers or the manager or hiring person would like me. I know I will have strive hard, but I'm nervous. I did ask if I can bring notebook to take notes, but hiring manager said, he will provide notes for me. Eventhough I really want to bring a notebook, so i can learn it at home as well. I just hope as time goes by, probation would be good and end fast so that I may hear if i get good performance. Thanks for wishing me good luck. i hope all goes well too. :D
• United States
28 May 12
congrats on your new job..i did admin asst wen i was in college..i worked for the personell office. i jus actually did data entry of pay roll..it was pretty laid back..but i learned alot from it, and plus it was actual employees there close to my age that pretty much helped me along. so you shouldnt be nervous because the corporate world actually will hire someone with a job before they hire one with out..so just gain the experience and you will be fine.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 May 12
Hey there! thanks for the congrats. hope you enjoyed admin assistant in college. I just hope it's not stressful and that it can be fun and interesting. I just hope the interviewer or manager (boss) would like me. I hope I can learn alot but I know I can't be mastering everything all in one day. They want a fast learner and I have to prove to that to them. It's may be a low pay and local instead low pay and work far, and I guess it's a good thing. I was surprised he said meet on tuesday to start which is tomorrow (may 29). I just hope coworkers and people there will like me. I'm generally can be the quiet and shy type. I just hope to make most of the intern probation period.