Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant can go by many names such as secretary, executive assistant, receptionist, and personal assistant. No matter the specific title, all perform similar types of duties within an office. The video below does a great job of explaining the daily activities of an administrative assistant.

Typical Duties

As an administrative assistant you can expect to perform tasks such as:

• Greeting and communicating with the public
• Organizing equipment and inventory
• Coordinating office workers’ schedules
• Managing Boss’ appointments, meetings, and interviews
• Submitting invoices
• Ordering supplies
• Solving operational problems
• Writing letters, answering emails, and sending faxes
• Sending and receiving mail
• Research
• Supporting and assisting other office workers
• Delegating assignments
• Generally, assisting the boss in various tasks

There are many more responsibilities of an administrative assistant as their overall job is to keep the office running smoothly.

Benefits

Those who are good with people and who have strong writing and organizational skills often enjoy jobs as administrative assistants. It is a great career for those who want a professional position in a comfortable, indoor environment.

If you are efficient and hard-working, you may find that you progress to a head-assistant position relatively quickly. Employers are always looking for someone whom they can trust to run their office effectively, and as you move up the ladder, you will not only enjoy a position of authority, but you will also be rewarded with increased pay. Experienced administrative assistants can expect to make around $44,000 per year with those working in large offices or companies making even more.

Required Education

There is no specific educational requirements needed to become an administrative assistant, although most employers seek applicants that have at least an associate’s degree in office administration. Similarly, they tend to hire candidates who have bachelor’s degrees and those who have completed some type of certificate program.

Where to Get Education

There are many traditional and online colleges offering bachelors, associates, and certificate programs for administrative assistants. While many of these schools provide quality educations, many students find that online colleges are more convenient and efficient. There are several that even let you work at your own pace so that you can earn your degree or certificate faster.

Also, if you know that you are ready to begin your career as an administrative assistant, many online colleges let you enroll and begin your classes immediately, instead of waiting for a new semester as done in typical colleges. This easy process helps you to finish your schooling quickly, so that you can start reaping the benefits of your professional career.