Administrative assistants perform a variety of secretarial tasks to help with organization and productivity in a professional or business setting, typically in an office setting. Most administrative assistant jobs, on the other hand, necessitate skills and a level of professionalism that go far beyond that of a typical secretary. Administrative assistants’ primary responsibilities, as the title implies, are primarily related to the administration side of the company or organization, with the goal of assisting senior and executive level employees.
Even so, most administrative assistant jobs include some clerical duties, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, typing correspondence, filing, and so on. They may also be expected to inventory and reorder office supplies, maintain accounting records, and perform other routine office management tasks. Administrative assistants, on the other hand, are expected to be equally skilled in the use of a variety of computer software and database systems, as well as possess exceptional communication and project management abilities. Many administrative assistant jobs entail taking on more significant responsibilities, such as coordinating trade shows, giving presentations, and creating various marketing collateral materials.
Many administrative assistant positions necessitate specialized knowledge and skills. Some administrative assistants work as executive secretaries, medical secretaries, or legal assistants, for example. The basic responsibilities of running an office remain the same, but these positions also require industry-specific skills such as data analysis, patient records, and legal document drafting. Additional administrative assistant positions requiring specialization can be found in real estate, insurance, research and development, government, education, and a variety of other industries.
In general, becoming an administrative assistant does not necessitate any additional training or education beyond a high school diploma. In fact, many people prepare for the job putting in long hours of on-the-job training in a variety of office settings and working their way up the ranks over time. Professional certifications are available for administrative assistant jobs, at least in the United States. The International Association of Administrative Professionals, for example, offers the Certified Administrative Professional designation (CAP). Other organizations offer training and certification for specific professions, such as the National Association of Legal Secretaries’ Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) and Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) certifications.