How to address an "administrative assistant"

[Chemdude]

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Is it ok to use their first name, or would it be more polite to call them Ms./Mr. _________

 

[BigChubbyMD]

Always start with Mr/Ms. until they tell you otherwise. I'd say that for pretty much everybody older than me (although some people clearly aren't Mr/Ms)

 

[Stratego]

Giving them the respect of a title is a good idea if you want them to do something for you.

 

[DrYoda]

I'd use a title unless they introduced themselves to you as their first name.

 

[Ignition]

No one will fault you for using too much respect at first, as long as it's genuine.

 

[MissIrish]

In all professional communication, use a formal salutation unless you are well acquainted with that person.

 

[Engineer2MD]

I currently have a job AS an administrative assistant while I'm applying. I'm a secretary to a surgeon - and he evaluates quite a few medical students. If you are speaking to her (assuming female, I could be wrong), first name is probably ok. If you are writing to her, use Ms.

The really important thing to remember though, is that I ALWAYS tell my boss about the med students, etc. So if you are genuine, polite, and helpful, I tell him how great I think you are. If you are rude, arrogant, or talk about him behind his back (yes, it's happened), then he knows that too.

The cool thing I learned about this job is that the secretaries can make or break you. It's also funny how the doctors depend on the secretaries to tell them things like that. 🙂

So just err on the side of polite and you'll be fine!

 

[Chemdude]

Thanks for the responses!