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What type of qualifications do I need to become an administrative assistant or manager?

I have basic certifications for Microsoft Office and am attending college for a degree in Information Systems Technology, but I wonder what all I can do with that degree in terms of network management and administration. #management #information-technology #administration #project-management #microsoft-office #network-administration

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Jessica’s Answer

Experience. The best thing about an IS degree is that its in every field. Figure out what it is about IS that you enjoy and go that route. I have had a career in Application Administration in procurement areas and in the finance areas. I maintained procurement applications, running/building reporting, user administration, and training. In the finance field it was more of a complex area of reporting and process management. I have now worked on larger IT projects implementing new software into our company and updating/upgrading current processes and applications. My main focus is training users on the new applications that are implemented and coordinating the training aspect. Its where I found my niche of work that I enjoy doing. My back ground has opened those doors for me though. I think you are on the right track, just try to get some experience with internships or volunteer work. Employers really want to know that you can do the work.
Thank you comment icon I thank you for your answer, and to reply: I truly respect your experience, and I am definitely looking into volunteer work and internships in the field. Brandon
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Juliana’s Answer

Hi Brandon,


You could certainly work in any leadership level administrative or operations position with your degree. I would suggest trying to get your foot in the door with some big companies as an administrative assistant while you finish school. Then when you get your degree, you will have already had experience within that company to where you might be able to be promoted more easily than if you were to go for a leadership role on the first interview with them.

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Jessica’s Answer

During college, I signed up with a temp agency during my breaks. This allowed me to be exposed to different office environments, various desktop applications, and allowed me to hone in on my computing skills. This is a way to gain experience while still in school.
Thank you comment icon I thank you for your answer, and to reply: I actually do work-study with my college so I am trying to gain experience with the field I am in. Brandon
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Heather’s Answer

Your current certifications are a start; however I would look to advance those skills by taking higher level courses to master those skills. I was an Executive Assistant for over 12 years before I moved into Project Management. Most of my skills I developed from the various positions I held at a young age. I worked in retail initially, which focused more on day to day management operations and marketing. I did have some college under my belt at the time but decided to work full-time and then seek my bachelor's later on. The best skills to have in an administrative role would be organization, calendar management, expense management along with excellent communications skills. All of these skills can be developed in a wealth of areas and not just degree specific. For me, I found Business Management to align more appropriately along with a minor in Communications.

Good luck to you!
Thank you comment icon Hi Heather - I've observed that most executive assistants transition into project management and later become PMPs (Project Management Professional). Thanks for sharing your experience. . . • https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp Sheila Jordan
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Kendra’s Answer

I have been with my current employer for 10 years....and was working towards the executive assistant role when I began. Five years of getting all the experience I could in customer service I finally got an assistant job. I had applied many times, and had not gotten it. I asked for and accepted feedback and the number one thing was experience! Get to know all aspects of the business. Develop relationships. You do not need to know everything, you just need to know how to get it!
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M. Lavern’s Answer

It depend on what area of study medical, legal or corporate. The basic administrative assistants generally work in an office environment to support business functions. They perform tasks such as answering telephones, scheduling appointments, coordinating meetings, and editing documents. Most entry-level positions require a high school diploma, but associate's or bachelor's degree program in the desired field may be helpful. If you looking for some training try lynda.com and keep your LinkedIn profile page update.

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Mary Ellen’s Answer

This is an interesting question. When I started my career many years ago, I had just graduated from high school. Over the years, the term/job position of "secretary" has changed to "administrative assistant" or "executive assistant" and everything in between. To be a good administrative assistant, you have to be good with details. You have to be organized. You need to be adaptable and flexible because your priorities can change in a moment. It would be helpful to have formal training and/or a college degree, but I think that life experience and professional experience, gained from other jobs, is very helpful as well.
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Lani’s Answer

My career started as an Administrative Assistant to an Executive Director and took me up to working with C-Level Officers. One of the most important things is to anticipate your leader's needs and prioritize/protect their time. Things such as if you know they have a meeting coming up that requires certain documents, have them ready. If they have to travel from one building to the next for a meeting, book a few minutes for travel time. Build the relationship with transparency and trust and never let them be blind-sided. In that role you work very closely with leadership and they have to be able to trust that you will keep them abreast of anything coming down the pipeline.
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