The Position Of Administrative Assistant Is A Support Role Vital To Any Company

Administrative Assistant positions are not hard to find, as there are a variety of different opportunities within this field. With the right education and training, you could be anything from a receptionist to an office manager. For many people, working as an Administrative Assistant is rewarding and pays a comfortable salary. But are you cut out to be an Administrative Assistant?

Administrative Assistants, in general, provide support to a company or office. Depending on your position, you may assist a single executive of a company, or you may serve the typing, filing, and communications needs of many people. Some of your duties may include answering phones, making travel arrangements, proofreading documents, and writing business letters.

To excel in this field, you should have excellent writing, proofreading, and communications skills. You may be responsible for composing your boss’s emails or letters, so you will need to have a professional business writing tone as well as an eye for catching mistakes. Materials that you send out will be a reflection of your company, and you will often be the last person to see a letter or document before it is sent to a client.

You will need to have excellent typing skills. Many Administrative Assistant positions require a great deal of typing responsibilities, so you must be fast and accurate. Often, before being hired, you will be asked to take a typing test. An Administrative Assistant certificate program at a community college or trade school will generally offer typing classes.

You must have a pleasant, professional demeanor in order to be successful in an Administrative Assistant position. Often, you will be the representative of the company that the client first sees and hears, since you will generally receive walk-in customers, answer phones, and handle correspondence. You should be courteous and well-spoken at all times.

You will also need to possess any specialized skills that may be required for your position. For example, if you are an accounting assistant, you will need to have a background and education in accounting. You will also need to have extensive knowledge of the computer programs required by your office. You will need to be familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite at the very least, as well as any other programs specific to the field you are working in.

If you feel that you have the potential to be an excellent Administrative Assistant, a degree program or certificate program can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this job. The more education you get, the more potential you have to attain a higher-level position. A candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field will likely be more qualified for a higher-paying position or hold a managerial position within an office. If you have at least an Associate’s degree, as well as the essential general office skills, you should be employable in your field.