If you are currently still in high school, it is a good idea to begin working on your office software, typing, and word processing skills. It is very important for this type of career that you are also very proficient at grammar, writing, verbal communication and spelling. These are skills that you will find yourself making use of on a daily basis in this line of work.
Believe it or not, college is an important step that must not be overlooked when thinking of this type of career path. You need at least an A.A. degree, which can be obtained through many of the different schools around you. Some people will tell you that you can get an administrative assistant position fresh out of high school, but this would only be an entry level position and it does not mean that you can always find that work later on in life without a college degree or certificate. Those who are better educated will be the ones who get the job more often.
You also need to make sure that you are looking at this employment as a long term thing or a temporary thing. If you want this career to be yours for many years, you might want to consider a specialty that you are interested in, such as medicine or law. By earning a certificate in the field that you have the most interest in employment in, you will be able to impress various potential employers, which means you might find yourself one step ahead of all of the other candidates for the position.
While looking through the various schools around you, you might also want to look for ways that you can get additional training. When you work as an administrative assistant, you have to be very proficient with spreadsheets, graphics, and word processing. You want to find office software training that can help you learn the ropes. By getting additional practice and training outside of the schools, you will be all set for quick employment after you graduate.
In addition, do not worry about those who tell you that there is not any room for promotions or advancements as an administrative assistant. While small companies with only a couple of employees may not be able to give you the career growth you need, the medium to large sized firms can. So once you are nearing the end of your college stay, make sure that you are seeking out companies that you feel have the best chance to give promotion and advancements.
The higher you aim, the better you will get. You want to make sure that you are working hard to send out as many resumes as possible. While there is always a need for new administrative assistants, there are a lot of people out there going through the same training and schooling as you are to land the same positions. Because of this, you have to make sure that you are on top of your game. The more resumes you send out, the more interviews you will receive, and the more job offers you will have.
Once you are working in your career, do not be afraid to think about returning to college, even if it is just part time while you continue to work. If you have the chance to further your education, you might want to deeply consider it. Remember, the person who is the most educated and who has the best looking resume over all will be the shining star. You want to be that person who gets all of the raises, the promotions, and the job offers. While you might be naturally talented and outgoing, you have to have the college degrees to back you up.
