Job Responsibilities of an Administrative Assistant
All the basic functions and tasks that build up into the day-to-day function of an office are performed by an administrative assistant. This would be inclusive of correspondence drafting, telephone manning, etc. As an administrative assistant, it would be your responsibility and duty to receive and deliver all vital messages, packages etc. It is also the responsibility of the administrative assistant to maintain the calendar and schedule of his or her supervisor, providing support to the supervisor in executing his functions smoothly. When the supervisor is not present, then it is the job of the administrative assistant to cater to the needs of the clients or staff in his absence.
Educational Qualifications
To attain success as an administrative assistant, candidates must have at least a diploma or a graduate degree. Added to this, he or she must also have training in specific areas related to the day-to-day running of a corporate outfit. However, there are many employers who prefer candidates with four-degree in the field of business administration or any other similar field. Apart from the educational qualification, candidates having a couple of years of experience would be more capable of getting the job.
Skills Required When Being an Administrative Assistant
First and foremost, all aspiring to have a steady advancement in this field is expected to possess great communications skills. To quickly further one's career to the next level, one has to have great eye for detail and strong interpersonal skills. As an admin professional, you are expected to have a sixth sense of every unfavorable situation beforehand and handle it smoothly without causing a fuss. An admin assistant will have to have the capability to foresee a requirement and meet it promptly. An admin assistant is the representative of the supervisor who in turn represents the organization. Basically, this translates to the fact that an admin assistant is expected to have exceptional oral and writing communicational skills, through which he can swiftly edit a draft to a client or hold his ground against irritated staff members. To the professional admin assistant, multitasking is a way of life as he or she will be the connecting person for all the departments in the organization and will be expected to execute the administrative requirements of these departments with flair.
Career Growth and Pay
There is an expected growth in this particular field and the average salary of an administrative assistant is around $35,000. There is an anticipation of 9% increase in this post of an administrative assistant in the next 5 years. The nature of salary would also depend on various factors, like location, firm, expertise, and experience that an applicant has etc.
Gaining success in this job requires hard work and determination. The job outlook is really positive as more and more companies are employing administrative assistants, for schools, hospitals, and universities and even hospitals. Irrespective of the fact that the organization is a profit or nonprofit nature, employment in this aspect is open to all deserving candidates. One can apply directly or through relevant agencies, for landing a job as an administrative assistant.
