"Being organised is an incredibly important part of an administrative assistant's role. I like to use a specific filing system in my email but I also use Trello to help me schedule things. Of course, I like to be a little old-fashioned and keep a paper agenda as well that I can carry with me to meetings."

"In my current role, the office is actually quite small so it's made it easier for me to stay on top of inventory. Having been there for 10 years, I know how long it takes for certain office supplies, like envelopes, to diminish so I set calendar reminders for myself on a cyclical basis. In my last job the office was so large, I carved out an hour each week to see what we were running low on."

"In my last position, the company would host a large conference every year and invite our top suppliers. It was a really big deal because we would often renew key accounts or gain new ones. Thanks to my organisational skills, I was designated as the events manager. I worked alongside the marketing team to make sure everything went smoothly."

"I definitely think some aspects of an administrative assistant's role will be digitised but I think we do so much more that can't be translated very easily to technology. For example, preparing a boardroom for a meeting or booking travel for key executives cannot be fully done by technology. To help prepare for the future I've started taking more training courses so I can support my executives."

"At one time I was managing the calendars of three of our company's top executives. The work was busy but I managed to stay on top of it by using the calendar function withinMicrosoft Outlookand keeping notes for everything. I made sure to set calendar reminders for myself a few days before an important date or meeting."

"I am really passionate about meeting deadlines and ensuring priority tasks are taken care of first. I have also spent some time really improving my basic computer skills. Currently, I'm taking a course in Salesforce so I can better support the sales executive I work with. Additionally, I am a meticulous notetaker so I make sure that no date or important project goes unnoticed."

"I had a job in one of the top salons in Toronto. The phones were constantly ringing and while at times it could be a little overwhelming, I always managed to stay calm on the job. If I needed a moment to relax I would often pick up the phone and ask the person on the other end of the line if they could hold for a minute."

"I prefer a manager who is available for questions if I need them but lets me do what I do best! I am great at working independently and because I have been working as an administrative assistant for over 15 years, I'm quite confident I know what it takes to get the job done."

"I would say my greatest weakness is putting together expense reports for office supplies. I am actively trying to work on this by getting one-on-one coaching with the individual that handles our finances. She's been great at walking me through everything I need to know to submit an error-free report."

"While I do prefer to work independently, I am great at working on a team too. I have fantastic communication skills that allow me to work efficiently with all kinds of team members. I have also been told I am quite amicable and that others enjoy working with me."

"I am proficient at using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. I have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel so I am in the process of taking some additional training courses to better understand how the programme works. In my current role, we also use a booking system for logging appointments so I've become quite the resident expert at the programme."

"If there is ever a time that I'm not completely sure what I am being asked to do I make sure to repeat the question back to the person. I use a method of saying 'if I understand you correctly you are asking me to do XYZ' and then I make sure to ask any follow-up questions I might have. I'm always sure to take notes so that I can prioritise them later."

"Every day before I leave I make a to-do list for the next day. While I'm creating this list I try to put them in order of what is more urgent. When I come in in the morning I start working on the highest priority items on the list and as the day goes on I add or subtract from the list as required."

"We recently had all of the district managers from across the country attend the annual meeting. I was responsible for setting up the conference room for the 3-day event and ensuring everyone was well-fed and hydrated. I pre-ordered all of the food a week ahead. I also made sure there were office supplies in the room each morning and the daily agenda was printer out for each place. I also helped to tidy up at the end of the night."

"I've been lucky that I've never really had anyone I report into be that demanding but there have been times when the job itself was really demanding and I had multiple managers expecting something from me at the same time. When that happens I try my best to be up front about timing and expectations. Usually remaining calm and being organised always helps."