How to Become an Administrative Assistant

Office administration is not a one man responsibility. It is the combined duty of junior level management, middle management and the senior management to render their respective services to manage the day-to-day activities of the office in an efficient manner. Traditionally, secretaries used to do most tasks related to office administration and management. However, in today's corporate set up, they have been replaced by the administrative assistants or officers who handle much more responsibilities. Given below are the steps for becoming an administrative assistant.

Study Relevant Subjects at High School
Among the steps to become an administrative assistant, the first one is your high school preparation for this career. In high school, you need to study business, economics, commerce and mathematics. Also, focus on English language as this is the language of communication in the corporate world.

Get Your Graduation Degree
The requirements to become an administrative assistant in well-known companies include getting a Bachelor's degree in fields like accounting, finance, economics, statistics, mathematics or marketing. Knowledge of any of these subjects will help you to render services as an administrative assistant effectively. Business administration programs offered by major universities will train you in areas of business, soft skills, communication, and help you build confidence to move ahead in your field. Certifications such as Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) programs can increase your chances of getting a high paying job along with your basic master's degree.

Acquire Necessary Skills
All those who wish to become an administrative assistant, need to acquire necessary skills required for this post. Learning accounting software can be very useful to do accounting related tasks accurately. Also, possessing excellent typing speed and ability to write grammatically correct English is a must for these administrative assistants. At most places, you will be required to have a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute with a high level of accuracy. Grammar and spoken English skills can be achieved by taking lessons from corporate trainers. Talking politely over the telephone, using photocopiers, fax machines and franking machines are also certain skills you must possess to become an administrative assistant.

Work as an Intern
Practical work experience is a must for becoming administrative assistant at many places. So, while studying business administration, it would be a good idea to intern at a connected firm to learn the working techniques in the job. Getting a certificate of successfully completing your internship from the company adds a lot of weight to your resumé when applying for a full-time job.

Job Search
The US economy is recovering from an economic recession and hence, jobs are being created. However, the situation is not as bright as it was in the boom period and hence getting jobs is not a cakewalk. This requires patience and you must do some things that will increase your chances of getting a job. These have been listed below:

• Upload your resumé on job sites with complete and true details of your educational background, personal information and work experience (if any).
• Check job openings in admin department given on websites of companies and send your resume via e-mail.
• Be in touch with industry insiders and be aware of any additional requirements for applying for this post.
• Register yourself at a placement agency which will send your resume to potential recruiters in your field.
• Follow the written test and interview time-table strictly and be at the venue given to you to make the most of an opportunity.

The salaries for these professionals can be between $40,000 to $60,000 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the assistant jobs to grow by 13% in the period from 2008-2018 which means that more and more candidates will be able to enter this secure career. So, make the most of this opportunities and achieve your career goals.