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One of the things I enjoy most about my chosen profession of Executive Assistant is that no two days are alike. It can also be one of the most frustrating aspects. Admins MUST be flexible and be able to switch to new tasks and change priorities at the drop of the dime.
Everything you need to know about a career in this field. One minute you’re making sure the CEO is prepared for his meeting with investors and offering your opinion on what he should say, the next you’re sorting through mail and fielding phone calls. You’re definitely not limited to one type of task and there’s no doubt that without you the office would come to a screeching halt. So, who are you? The administrative assistant. Being an administrative assistant: this job is not what you think Okay, wait. What? If I asked a bunch of people what their “dream job” was, how many do you think would say it was an administrative assistant? Probably not many. This job does not exactly have the reputation for being exciting or particularly rewarding. And yet, when you really look into the position, it has the promise to be both of those things. Today’s administrative assistant is pretty different from yesterday’s secretary. Lisa Leslie explains in her blog post which contrasts the two that as an administrative assistant, you’re very much involved with what is happening in the company and must be able to anticipate the needs of the business. You’re really the person who is making sure that everything is running smoothly. Because administrative assistants are support systems to executives, managers, and other professionals, their days will vary depending on the schedules of those other members of the company. Is there such a thing as a typical task list for administrative assistants? The kinds of things that an administrative assistant does will also change depending on what industry they’re in and what type of company they’re working for. At a lot of smaller companies, the role of the administrative assistant is more like that of an office manager or an executive assistant. Not only are you going to be in charge of all of the minor clerical duties, but you’ll be working with higher-up executives and taking care of the human resource needs of the company. This means you’re doing everything necessary to keep employers and employees sane. We’re a pretty small company here at AfterCollege and we don’t have an administrative assistant. But we certainly do have an office manager and he keeps this place going, doing everything from ordering new chairs to organizing and participating in meetings with the CEO. Apart from basic clerical knowledge, administrative assistants working in legal offices have to have an understanding of criminal procedures, technical writing, legal transcription, and court proceedings since they’ll be making sure that documents are all set to go to court. Those who work in healthcare facilities will need to be familiar with healthcare terminology, medical transcription, and the software used in this industry. Bayt.com shares a day in the life of an administrative assistant at a hospital in this post and CareerStep does a good job of showing the difference between an ideal versus real-life day in the life of an administrative assistant at a high school. Although the job will vary depending on the industry and size of the company, there are some tasks that almost all administrative assistants will want to know how to do. Some of those typical duties include: Bookkeeping Scheduling appointments Coordinating meetings Taking notes Answering emails Transferring or setting up calls Mailing out packages Maintaining filing systems both electronically and on paper Entering data So those are the typical duties of an administrative assistant. Now let’s start exploring why this job might appeal to someone—and why others may choose to go in another direction for their career. Pros:
Microsoft Office – You’ll be doing a lot of data entry, note taking, presentation preparation, and document/spreadsheet organization. Reading and writing – Because you’re constantly sending and responding to emails, sending memos, and updating and editing documents, you need to have proficient writing and proofreading skills. You’re the person that all outside communication will be going through. As a representative of the company, you’ll want to have impeccable grammar and composition. Accounting – There may be an accountant already working for a company, but a lot of the time, bookkeeping will fall on the administrative assistant. Having a working knowledge of the principles of accounting will help you to take over this role if necessary. Necessary soft skills: Communication skills – You’re responsible for greeting and interacting with executives, managers, employees, and clients both in person as well as over the phone or via email. This means that you not only have to be personable but also capable of getting the point across. Organization – Administrative assistants are jacks of all trades. You’re keeping everything sorted and organized including schedules, files, and the office in general. You have to be incredibly organized to keep track of everything and make sure that your company runs smoothly. Problem solving – This is not a position for the easily flustered. Because of the largely human element, there are constantly problems that will arise and you have to be able to think on your feet. Such-and-such client has a sudden change in their schedule and needs to come in for a meeting a week early. What can be moved around to make it work? Who should be called if the new document accidentally got deleted? Want to know what it’s like to be the office manager at a recording studio? You can read all about it in this post and find out why it’s a lot like playing Tetris. Then check out all of the similarities and differences between that administrative job and this front-desk manager’s position at the funkiest hotel in downtown San Francisco. Homework time! Think you might like a job as an administrative assistant? Start thinking about what industry you might want to work in. Then, start checking out courses that will equip you with the knowledge for working in that field. Today's post is from the After College blog by Kellen McKillop.
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AuthorThe Audacious Admin is Debbi L. Shaffer, an outgoing, resourceful and highly motivated executive assistant with 20 years of experience specializing in C-Suite Executive Support. Archives
April 2019
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