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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
For Debbie Baert-Reid, working as an administrative assistant is much more than a job, it's a career.

Debbie Baert-Reid, seen here Monday at the Arthur Laing Building where she works for the Department of Finance, has been an administrative assistant for 21 years. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

Baert-Reid, who is currently the executive secretary for the Department of Finance, has been working in the field for 21 years.

"One of the points that I would like to drive home for other people who are interested in this is it's more of a career than it is a job," said Baert-Reid. "There's a lot of opportunities, at least through the GNWT, for advancement. I mean, I started at a lower position. I started in at a director's level and made my way through the ranks and now I am where I am today with exposure to the premier's office and the deputy minister's office."

She said working as an administrative assistant involves much more than typing documents and answering phones.

"Admin staff are invaluable and they are the main face that you're going to see when you walk into an office, they are what keeps an office running efficiently and organized," said Baert-Reid.

"And, you know, at my level now that I work at finance, I work for three senior managers. So I keep their days running efficiently as I can and make sure that they have the materials put forward that they need so things can run smoothly."

Baert-Reid said she developed an interest in doing administrative assistant work in high school at Sir John Franklin where she took a secretarial arts course.

Shortly after graduating she entered the profession in 1985, working with the Native Communications Society of the NWT before landing a position with the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum in 1987.

She said in the beginning it was a bit of a challenge, learning all the procedures and protocols and making sure everything was where it needed to be on time.

Since then she has worked for the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, and the Executive before moving to the Department of Finance in November, 2011.

She said while there are a lot of responsibilities associated with keeping things running smoothly, she said she loves her work.

"You know, I work with great people, the work is very interesting, because I've been exposed to so many departments I've gotten to see a broader picture of the entire government. I just enjoy my job," said Baert-Reid. "The level that I'm working at and being senior management I get to see a lot of subject matter and see where this government's going and in terms of program service delivery."

She said the job comes easy to her now after so many years.

"Maybe it's because I've been doing it so long and I enjoy it so much that I don't find it a challenge, like it just comes to me easily," said Baert-Reid. "The key to this job is organization. If you don't have that ability to organize and prioritize then you can easily become buried in workload."

Baert-Reid said she has had opportunities to do other work in the government but has always opted to stay in her administrative assistant position and that she expects she will continue with the work until she retires.

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