gofer

Office errand person

A gofer is a person who runs errands and does minor tasks for others, especially in an office or on a film set.

The word comes from "go for"—as in, go for coffee, go for supplies.

The role is low in status but essential to operations: She started as a gofer and worked her way up to producer.

errand

errand

Short task away from home

taskWork to be done
choreRoutine domestic task
deliveryConveyance of goods

message · commission · assignment · fetch · pickup · dropoff · run · trip · coffee run · lunch run

subordinate

assistant

One who aids another

aideSupporting staff member
helperOne who aids another
underlingPerson of lower rank

lackey · flunky · minion · peon · dogsbody · factotum · jack-of-all-trades · right-hand · girl Friday · man Friday

menial

grunt work

Tedious, unskilled labor

drudgeryHard, boring work
busyworkMeaningless assigned tasks
legworkPractical preliminary investigation

dirty work · thankless · low-level · entry-level · unskilled · manual · unglamorous · mundane · routine · tedious

workplace

office

Professional work location

studioCreative professional's workspace
film setMovie production location
productionMaking or generating something

newsroom · mailroom · backstage · corporate · agency · startup · executive · boss · supervisor · staff

Categories

helpersnurse, helper, volunteer, aide, assistant
assistantsassistant, helper, aide, aide-de-camp, PA
celebrity entouragebodyguard, bodyguards, assistant, assistants, manager
lackeyslackey, minion, flunky, underling, errand boy
underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
support roleshelper, assistant, aide, support staff, backup

Opposites

organizational authority

goferboss

Workplace superior

chief · manager · leader · commander · executive

task autonomy

One who assigns tasks

decision-maker · taskmaster · authority · shot-caller · principal

Family

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G