Sara Farina

When she took on the job, she stumbled over basic issues such as introducing guests and the correct hierarchy for pouring tea. But the job offered 15,000 to 30,000 yuan ($2,300 to $4,700) a month, so she went for it, little knowing the duties that would be involved.

'Will you cry on the job?'

Her job interview with the CEO, whom she pseudonymously refers to as "Boss Wang," started with routine questions like "How much do you know about the company?"  Her honest answer, "Not much," didn't seem to offend him.

Instead, he gave her a long introduction of the history of the company, but then suddenly seemed to remember she had come for a job interview. Then slowly, as if something sensitive had occurred to him, he asked "Will you cry on the job?"

She was so taken aback that she laughed. She reassured him that she had never cried at work and doubted that she would ever cry at a wonderful company like this. She was hired.

Kind boss, cruel secretary

Boss Wang seemed to be a very understanding boss. Farina thinks perhaps he was a little amused as she made mistakes on a daily basis. He never criticized her. But her Chinese predecessor in the post, who stayed on to train her, laid into her enough for two people.

Farina's predecessor "caused her more psychological pain than anyone in her life, even her parents." She chipped away at Farina's self-confidence and self-worth by constantly criticizing her work, her cheap cell phone, the handbag that she bought at the supermarket and her over-sized suit pants. Farina was being criticized on a daily basis and "Even when sometimes no one says anything, I would know that I had done something wrong."

But her predecessor did her a favor. She gave Farina a list of tasks for her daily routine. That was the moment Farina realized that her duties extended well beyond just administrative tasks. The list stated:

•Every morning, you need to prepare the CEO's breakfast along with his medicinal tea.

•Remember to occasionally check that his pens have enough ink and that he has enough stationery in his office.

•Check each fish tank. They should be clean and contain only live fish.

•Check each potted plant. They should be clean and have only live leaves.

"A secretary's job revolves around anticipating the boss's needs and satisfying them before he has a chance to realize them," Farina said.

Most importantly, she learned that it was difficult to say "no" to her boss, no matter what the circumstances are. He never acted inappropriately, but he expected her to be at his beck and call. One time Boss Wang called her and invited her to dinner but she was out of town, and told him so. He hung up. Later his driver called and told her to fly back immediately. "I knew I messed up. I should have said yes," she said.

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Skilled staff

Farina observed that the secretaries working at the company all met certain criteria: young, slim, attractive, well-groomed, polite and unobtrusive.

But "they are not empty vases," she remarked. "They are all very capable women." Most secretaries in her company were later promoted to lead a department.

She once helped her boss exchange credit card points for gifts. She was told by the bank that he had to present himself at the office in person. She told them he had no time for that but they did not listen. So one of the secretaries told her that "just go with a male friend who pretends to be him." Problem solved.

Her capable co-workers also taught her how to act like a caring mother. For example, if she went and asked the boss what he wanted for dinner, and he said he wasn't eating, she had to say something like "No, it's not good for your health."

"I thought it's awkward, a 20-something girl trying to convince a 40-something man that he is hungry. I knew I should convince him, but I just could not bring myself to do it," she said.

Lessons of failure

Despite her best efforts, half a year later, she was transferred to the international business department in another city. A Chinese woman replaced her. The history of foreign secretaries in that company ended then and there. "The transfer made me feel that I was a bit of a failure, It was really hard knowing that I couldn't do a good job," she said.

After two years of "embarrassment and self-abuse" in other posts at the company, she eventually quit. Now, looking back, she believes the whole experience made her a more confident and careful woman and gave her valuable knowledge of Chinese business culture.

Farina says the experience has taught her only respect for secretaries in China. "It is a thankless job, but it doesn't mean it doesn't require your brain."