A gentle reminder to those of you who are looking for work:
Don’t be rude to The Managers secretary. Just don’t. No matter how many other places you applied and how weary of the process you are, No matter how many times you were transfered before you were sent to her. This is the first time she’s talked to you. She’ve given you good information. You’ve got an e-mail address and a mailing address for the correct person.
If she said to send a cover letter, resume, and clips or writing samples. It would not be a good idea to counter with, “Well I know what a cover letter is, but what should I say?”. When you ask for salary range and she says the salaries are negotiable and she is not at liberty to discuss them." Take her word for it the first time. She is not going to discuss it with you. Saying, “Oh come on you can give me an idea, surely you know.” Isn’t going to convince her. She works for Him not You. Yes of course she knows, she’s got everyone’s contract in the locked file in her desk. The reason she has them and no one else, is because she doesn’t discuss the details of other people’s contracts.
She is his secretary (or assistant if you prefer) for a reason. They work well together. If they didn’t he would probably find another secretary. He has ample opportunity, she passes on cover letters and resumes from other secretaries or assistants looking to work for him on a fairly regular basis and he hasn’t opted for any of them over her yet. And not she’s not a sexy young thing keeping the job on her looks or skillz either, she’s the kind of secretary the wife is relieved to meet. Rather plain, plump and motherly, competent, makes sure he has a moment call the wife back before heading into the next meeting and wise and kind enough that when the wife sounds stressed to ask her if there is a problem or emergency and she’d like his meeting interrupted.
Her office is just in front of his office, he hears her voice and she hers his voice all day long. They can tell when the other is dealing with a difficult call or solving a problem, or just answering routine questions. He knows her voice well enough that he can recognize by her responses, however polite, and tell if someone on the phone is giving her a hard time.
When he says, “You ok?”
She’ll respond, “Yes, thanks for asking, I’m ok. Just a potential applicant that didn’t like being told to send a cover letter, resume and clips or writing samples, instead of getting to speak with you on demand.”
He’ll say, “What’s the name?”
She’ll say, “John Doe, the fifty-seventh, a recent honors graduate from A University.”
He’ll say, “I’ll remember that. He’s not working for me if he can’t be polite to you.”
Folks if you are looking for work, no matter how educated and above “the process” you are, the secretary is the gateway. Be polite. I’m not saying you have to bring flowers and chocolate. Just don’t behave as if you think everyone that answers someone elses phone is a maroon.
I tried to write she/he and his/hers, but that’s just too burdensome. I am fully aware that some secretaries are men and some managers are women. I’ve used my situation, because it is my post. 
Aside to the boss: I liked hearing that you cared about how others treat me, thanks. 
