Administrative Assistant
Job Description
Secretaries and administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. They serve as information and communication managers for an office; plan and schedule meetings and appointments; organize and maintain paper and electronic files; manage projects; conduct research; and disseminate information by using the telephone, mail services, Web sites, and e-mail. They also may handle travel and guest arrangements.
All administrative work takes a great deal of dedication, motivation and tact. It also calls for a comfort with technology and openness to training. When figuring out if becoming a legal secretary is the best fit for you, ask and answer the following questions:
• Can you keep close track of confidential information?
• Can you multitask with great accuracy and attention to detail?
• Do you like greeting and helping people? In person and over the phone?
• Are you willing to learn technical and office terminology?
Educational Paths:
According to BLS.gov, employers of executive secretaries increasingly are seeking candidates with a college degree, as these secretaries work closely with top executives. A degree related to the business or industry in which a person is seeking employment may provide the jobseeker with an advantage in the application process.
Job Outlook
Projected employment varies by occupational specialty. Above average employment growth in the healthcare and social assistance industry should lead to much faster than the average growth for medical secretaries, while moderate growth in legal services is projected to lead to faster than average growth in employment of legal secretaries.
For more information about the education, training, salary or job outlook for administrative assistants, please click here to visit The Bureau of Labor Statistics.