A Computer Support Technician and Secretary in one?!: On Trend spotting and Diversification of Roles

I’ve begun to notice an interesting trend in this economic climate. Employers are beginning to merge typically divergent organizational roles into one. For example, I have seen two job descriptions today alone in which employers are seeking to hire someone who would provide level one helpdesk technical support and serve in an administrative support capacity (“Seeking Computer Support Technician/Secretary”). This speaks of the need to be flexible in your willingness to perform a role where 40% of the duties may not be those that you prefer and the importance of portraying well-roundedness during the interview process. I would expect this trend to continue as employers look for ways to consolidate staff and incorporate what would typically be two or three line staff positions into one, even when those roles seem to be unrelated.