EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT IN BRAZIL: PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION?

This article presents the development and results of an analysis that aimed to evaluate the profile of Executive Secretariat in Brazil as a profession or as an occupation. The general purposes were to present the concept of profession and occupation; to draw up a framework of reference, according to the existing literature to show the distinguishing characteristics of a profession; to conduct a historiographical survey of Executive Secretariat in Brazil; and to verify the importance of creating the Federal Secretariat Council. Therefore, an analysis of job vacancies was performed in the Southeast region of Brazil; some interviews with members of Secretariat associations as Fenassec and two syndicates were conducted; and a literature review was carried out using qualitative research. The content analysis was chosen in order to obtain a proper interpretation and explanation of the data.