Jen Perkins is the founder of one of my favorite jewelry stores, the Naughty Secretary Club. Turns out the name isn’t a coincidence – Perkins was a secretary when she started working on jewelry in her free time. Eventually, the side job became a full time one, and she hasn’t looked back since. We talked about how assistants with creative dreams can make them happen and pay rent in the meantime.
How long were you an assistant, and what kind of work did you do?
I was an administrative assistant for close to 3 years at a telecom company in Austin. I didn’t do much of any work, hence why I was naughty. I had the occasional phone to answer or fax to send but for the most part I made jewelry at my desk, worked on my website and made copies of my husband’s band fliers when no one was looking.
What’s your worst assistant horror story?
While I was an assistant I had two bosses and most of the time not one at all. The first one was very stern and serious and the second, who I am still close friends with, was very laid back and fun. Once when the first boss was sneaking out of the office I jokingly said to her “where do you think you are going” and apparently she was going somewhere she shouldn’t and I had busted her because she tore me a new A-hole when she returned. Needless to say I toned the sarcasm down after that because apparently she could not take a joke.
How did the Naughty Secretary Club start? Why did you choose the name?
Naughty Secretary Club started while I was working as an administrative assistant. All through high school I had done a print zine called Scratch-n-Sniff. I thought it would be fun to re-launch the zine online and with a new name. I started with a free Geocities website called Pink that I created while at work. Eventually I decided to get my own domain and at first considered “Fire in Cairo” after the Cure song, but later decided on Naughty Secretary Club. Naughty Secretary was already taken as a porn site so I had to add the Club. The rest is history.
Did you have a mentor while you were an assistant?
When I first started there was another assistant named Joann who I sat near. I was bright eyed and bushy tailed at the start of my career as an assistant and every time the original mean boss gave me some work I finished it as fast as I could, which meant I spent even more time bored and twiddling my thumbs. Eventually Joann informed me that we were given very little to do and the best thing was for me to take as long as possible on each small task asked of me in order to pass the time. With my ADD this was not going to keep me entertained from 9-5 5 days a week so that is where the idea for starting my website came about. I needed something to keep me busy.
What is the difference between an assistant and a secretary? Do you think it’s just a semantic difference, or is there a real distinction between their jobs?
I joke that there is not a difference, but I actually think there is. Where I was employed there was no distinction made between the front desk receptionist and the Administrative Assistant to Business and Government Relations other than job title. I answered phones and she could have typed memos.
Did any of the skills you honed as an assistant help you in your current job?
The sad thing is I didn’t really have skills to hone when I was an assistant. Before the job I had very little computer skills and I left with a broad self-taught knowledge. I also learned useful things like how to properly address a letter, make an Excel spreadsheet, send a fax and print labels. Those are actually all useful skills to have when running a business.
Do you have an assistant of your own now? If so, what is he/she like and what kind of relationship do you two have?
Actually, my younger sister works for me 1 day a week at the moment. Through the years I have had several assistants. At one point I even had 2. I have slowed my business down currently, since I just had a baby 3 months ago. I have had a good relationship with all my assistants and am still in contact with all of them. One is a very successful jewelry designer and another is now an artist and author. They were all my friends and still are.
What advice do you have for someone who works as an assistant to pay the bills but wants to take on a creative side career?
I would say remember that is how most of us got started. I wanted to have a career doing something creative, but I had to pay the bills and that is why I was an assistant. Make the best of the job. I actually really liked the people I worked with and we often went to lunch and had happy hours. I’m still in touch with a few. Just because it is not your dream job, make the best of it. Maybe if things are slow you can be a little naughty and work on your creative endeavors when no one is looking.
For more on Jen Perkins, check out her excellent Etsy post where she teaches you how to make an “Office Hanky Panky” bracelet.
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