CONSTANCE V. COOPER
***** ********* *******, #***, ********, Virginia 20165 (willing to relocate).
EXPERIENCE:
Assistant for Elderly Parent (August 2003 - “Present”)
Caretaker: administered all caretaking responsibilities, consulted with doctors (2/14 - 1/17), with file-keeping/accounting (to Present). Social and Administrative Assistant (1/07 - 2/14). Typist and Assistant for a project (8/03 - 7/10).
Driver -- (Honda of Dulles, originally Leesburg Honda) (part-time/as needed, August 2010 - March 2012)
Administrative Assistant (specific duties listed on next page) (15+ yrs., accumulated December 1980 - July 2009)
Positions included:
Administrative Assistant; Executive Assistant; Secretary
Legal (3 yrs.): Secretary; Floater; Temp (within law firms, legal departments); Transcriber of Court proceedings; Freelancer
Production Word Processor (e.g., for proposals for Government contractors SDC, Mitre)
Data Entry Typist (such as for membership databases)
Project Administrator
Receptionist; Switchboard Operator
Proficient with:
Secretarial software such as Word, WordPerfect, NBI, and Lexitron
Data entry, using Excel, Access, and billing software such as RainMaker and Timeslips
Transcription machines and telephone systems
Document production, including correspondence, pleadings, proposals, and technical documents
Typing (general correspondence, proposals, etc.): 100 words per minute with excellent accuracy (per temp agencies’ tests)
Typing (data entry): 13,407 keystrokes per hour with 100% accuracy (per All-Pro Placement Service’s ProveIt test, 1/24/18)
Employment as an Administrative Assistant included:
Part-time employment, including freelance employment in law firm (law firm specifics on next page) -- (9/07 - 7/09)
Legal Secretary/Floater -- Linowes and Blocher, Bethesda, MD (specifics on next page) -- (7/06 - 1/07)
Legal Secretary -- Walton & Adams, McLean, VA ($500 bonus; $2,000 raise; $41,000 as of 1/1/02) -- (8/01 - 7/02)
Temporary Secretary/Administrative Assistant, Typist, Projects, Receptionist -- for agencies including, among others:
-Adecco/Adia -- Alexandria & Vienna branches -- (8/05 - 12/05; 11/96 - 8/01; 10/91 - 7/92; and 1/87 - 7/87)
-Manpower -- VA & CA branches -- (4/04 - 7/05; 6/94 - 2/95; 7/93 - 12/93; and 4/81 - 6/82)
-Kelly Services -- Herndon, Vienna, & Falls Church branches -- (1/97 - 8/98; 2/90 - 12/92; and 12/80 - 2/83)
-Legal Resource People -- Sacramento, CA -- legal assignments -- (3/95 - 12/95)
-Legal Personnel Services -- Sacramento, CA -- legal assignments -- (5/94 - 10/94)
-Temp-Placements, Inc. -- Washington, D.C. -- legal assignments -- (4/89 - 6/90)
-Contemporaries, Inc. (later purchased by Adia, which became Adecco) -- Vienna branch -- (5/84 - 7/86)
Freelance Writer -- (The Sound of McLean and The Sound of Vienna, editorial office in Vienna, VA) (April 1982 - July 1983)
Wrote 8 feature articles, 4 of which were cover articles, for this monthly, 15- to 40-page, magazine-style, local-interest publication.
Writer, Fifth Staff Member -- (McLean Providence Journal and Fairfax Herald, McLean, VA) (November 1981 - December 1981)
Helped to produce this weekly, 16- to 20-page, local newspaper. Worked directly for the Editor. (Part-time)
Foreman and Assistant Grower (greenhouse) -- (Baucom’s Nursery, Charlotte, NC) (September 1979 - November 1980)
Greenhouse Manager -- (Wakefield Farm Nursery, Herndon, VA) (July 1978 - September 1978)
Receptionist and Clerk -- (Dominion Federal Savings & Loan, McLean, VA) (June 1976 - September 1976)
Distributor -- (Amway; at-home business; headquarters in Ada, MI) (August 1974 (6/12/1975 on paper) - December 1984)
COMMENDATIONS:
“Of invaluable assistance . . . sound intelligence . . . good work ethic . . . would highly recommend.”
(Crawford & Company, a temp assignment through Adecco, 10/21/05)
“Excellent” in all categories, and “Yes” in answer to “Do you recommend . . . without reservation.” (Manpower, 3/2004)
“Dependable . . . diligent . . . skilled . . . dedicated.” (Adecco, 8/10/01)
“Exceeded expectations . . . dedication to hard work . . . commitment to excellence.” (Adecco, 7/21/99)
“Highest possible rating . . . very reliable . . . good office skills.” (Manpower, 11/4/94)
“Performance befitting a Norrell employee.” (Norrell, 6/22/84)
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
SPECIFICS
Regarding
“Administrative Assistant” Experience (December 1980 - July 2009)
(above):
Used many types of hardware and software (primarily as a result of going on many temp assignments), including, among others: Word; WordPerfect; company-specific software, such as software for accounting (at Booz-Allen & Hamilton), procurement (at TRW), and customer service (at The Hecht Company), as well as SAP and ISSAIC (at SAIC); data entry software (Access, AS 400, vTech, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, Lingo Provisioning, RainMaker, Timeslips); transcription equipment; receptionist telephone systems; e-mail.
- Worked for: executives, non-executives, partners, associates; defense contractors, law firms, companies large and small.
- Was granted Government security clearances, used on assignments at, for example, Mitre, TRW, BDM, and SDC.
- Learned on the job how to use word processors, computers (hardware and software), telephone systems (reception, secretarial).
- Followed instructions, operating guidelines, policies, procedures, regulations.
- Used transcription machines such as Dictaphone and Sanyo, or typed from handwritten originals.
- Typed correspondence, tables, pleadings, technical documents, statistical documents, proposals.
- Proofed the grammar and logic of all types of text, including technical text.
- Entered data into Excel spreadsheets and database software such as Access, RainMaker, Timeslips, and Lingo Provisioning.
- Answered incoming lines and transferred to extensions (20 lines to 60 extensions at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, for example); greeted, signed in, and badged visitors.
- Performed all secretarial duties and created and maintained files, calendars, meeting and travel arrangements, expense reports.
- Entered attorney time into billing software (RainMaker and Timeslips); witnessed signatures as a Notary Public; prepared hearing notebooks; mailed pleadings to individuals indicated therein; closed out files for shipment off-site.
- Transcribed taped court proceedings following rules set forth in numerous booklets and handouts.
- Transcribed taped interviews of drivers describing auto accidents (ten-week assignment at State Farm Claims Service Center).
- Tested computer-related telephone devices to ensure indicators (VOIP, etc.) and telephoning capability operated correctly.
- Telephoned vendors and various departments within TRW to resolve still-open TRW purchase orders that were a few years old.
- Assisted in writing descriptions of the functions of departments within the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) for a manager’s annual budget review presentation.
- Re-classified SAIC employees’ resumes in order to obtain highest possible pay level for each, per number years of experience.
Legal Secretary/Floater -- Linowes and Blocher (Bethesda, MD) -- (7/06 - 1/07)
-This firm of 55 attorneys dealt with real estate law and bankruptcy. As a permanent employee, I filled in for short periods of time for secretaries throughout the firm who were temporarily absent, and for four months as the secretary for the bankruptcy section. Received $2,000, semi-monthly ($48,000 annually), as well as a $700 Christmas bonus.
-Transcribed tapes using Sanyo transcription machines. Typed correspondence, pleadings, tables, and labels using Word, iManage, and some Excel. Created new versions of documents. Created redlined documents using either iManage’s DeltaView or Word. Occasionally used a Ricoh copier/printer as a printer. Mailed pleadings to appropriate individuals as indicated by their certificates of service.
-Used Outlook for e-mail and to maintain attorney calendar and contact lists. Maintained physical desk calendars. Used digital senders to scan and attach documents to e-mails as PDF documents.
-Input attorney time into Rainmaker software, selecting appropriate client and matter numbers. Picked up attorney’s paychecks from Accounting. Created expense reports/requests for reimbursements. Some interaction with Accounting’s billing department. Made client-related long-distance calls utilizing client/matter numbers.
-Helped begin to reorganize the bankruptcy department’s filing system. Helped prepare hearing notebooks for bankruptcy partner. Logged boxes of closed-out files before their removal to offsite storage (a project all secretaries were involved in, firm-wide). Used helpful notes provided by each secretary whose desk I covered and created my own instruction sheet for each desk, as well.
-Answered and announced telephone calls, transferring callers to attorney or to attorney’s voice mail. On a rotating basis with all secretaries, relieved receptionist during lunch hour (occasionally covered the reception position all day): handled calls, greeted visitors, logged incoming deliveries, and notified employees of incoming deliveries.
-Reference obtained at the time (not currently in use): the Executive Director, who filled in as the head of Human Resources during the time that I was there.
Freelance Temporary Secretary -- Duncan & Hopkins (Fairfax, VA) -- (9/07 - 11/07)
-Small firm (three attorneys, three secretaries, office manager) focusing on worker's compensation and insurance lawsuits.
-First assignment was as secretary for Mr. Duncan, involving primarily transcription, some phones, and general secretarial duties. Subsequent assignments were as transcriber (primarily for Mr. Duncan). Assignments totaled 11 days. I charged $23.56/hour.
-Used “WordPerfect 12-Home Edition.”
-Input time into “Timeslips by Sage” software.
-Around the end of 2017 I learned that Mr. Duncan was in the process of retiring and closing his office, and that his wife, the office manager (who had consented to being a reference back in 2007), had already retired.