- The role is part of the bigger admin team and operates in a shared service model. The role, however, does not necessarily just share tasks with other EA's with similar tasks. The expectation is to "share" the tasks of the whole admin team including the client service rep (receptionist/front desk person), the studio administrator and the project coodinators.
- Due to the above model, the tasks assigned are broad and unfocused. Aside from the core EA tasks, it can also include reception coverage, physically setting up for numerous small or big events in studio (which can happen multiples times in a week regularly) and other office services related activities. This is on top of handling project team requests and supporting the partners,
- The role is not embedded properly in the project teams. This means that you get pulled into requests last minute with very little information but with a tight deadline.
- The volume of work. There's a lot and qvertime is a given.
- The studio hosts many events weekly and you'll be expected to set up and take down for those events. This is very distracting when you have contracts, agreements, travel, expenses and reports to prepare or on the go.
- You'll be supporting. a lot of partners while also being expected to share tasks with other admins (as per above). It can be overwhelming.
- Strangely, most of the members from the other teams in the various disciplines (architecture, electrical, mechanical, structural don't have much interaction with the role. My predecessor was there for many years yet people struggled to remember who she was, for instance. The role, therefore, does not as relevant or respected as in other organizations.
- The role differs from one studio to another differs. So you will often find EAs from other studios who never have to cover reception or set up and take down for events.
- For what is required, the salary doesn't seem commensurate. While a similar role in another organization might get paid the same, you'll also be doing much less work (and more focused tasks) at those organizations.
- The organization has various initiatives to promote a certain culture, and this role plays a big role in executing those initiatives. The effectivity of the culture initiatives are not necessarily evident or measured.
