Administrative specialists are professionals who have been trained to perform all of the duties of an administrative assistant, but also have the ability to design and manage special projects. Someone in this position will typically have some computer science training, be qualified to write or edit sales copy, and perform a variety of tasks that go beyond the typical clerical duties of most offices.
Administrative specialists are capable of handling the majority of the traditional tasks required to keep a business office running smoothly. They may handle incoming and outgoing mail, file documents, answer inbound phone calls, or arrange travel for executives to achieve this goal. Simultaneously, they may be asked to troubleshoot a variety of common workstation issues, such as dealing with a locked hard drive or assisting office staff in learning new programs. It’s not uncommon for an administrative specialist to be heavily involved in new employee orientation as well as continuing education programs for current employees.
The average administrative specialist has at least some formal computer science and technology training. In general, the specialist will have excellent oral and written communication skills, leadership qualities that will be useful when leading a team project, and some creativity that will be useful when designing and evaluating new promotional materials and advertising campaigns.
The administrative specialist, also known as a super administrative assistant, can be useful in both small and large office settings. Such a specialist can handle a wide range of tasks that would otherwise be handled other people in a large office in a small office. With a larger office, he or she will frequently serve as a complement and support person for Information Systems, Accounting, Sales, and General Administration.