Pondering a career move? Starting a career as an administrative assistant may be the answer you’re looking for to land an entry-level position with high-level career growth possibilities.
Let’s get one thing straight, though: The job description for an administrative assistant is evolving, and it’s moving in an exciting direction. The parameters for what the profession entails are expanding to allow for more innovation in this important role.
Administrative assistant jobs are not simply secretarial or clerical jobs anymore. Because many of the mundane, repetitive tasks once assigned to support staff are now automated, administrative assistants — sometimes referred as to admin assistants — are free (and expected) to take on a wider range of responsibilities that can eventually include more creativity and decision-making. The days of simply following long-established procedures while going about their work in the office are fading fast.
This new development in the administrative assistant profession gives those in the role the ideal environment for gaining a wide variety of on-the-job experiences while developing valuable skills in the latest technologies — a combination that can propel your career in many rewarding directions.
The role also gives you the chance to learn the nuts and bolts of an industry and build a professional network. You’ll interact with a wide range of people, from company leaders to supply chain vendors and lots of folks in between. You’ll see firsthand how decisions are made, problems are solved and deals are brokered.
This all combines to make the administrative assistant role not just a good job but a great job for those who are interested in gaining insight into how things work at every level, from knowing the details of day-to-day operations to learning more about long-term organizational goals and the challenges faced in achieving them.
Need more persuading? Here are six more reasons why you may want to consider becoming an administrative assistant.
The typical day of an administrative professional is rarely dull and often fun. You’ll likely engage in a wide variety of activities, deal with different personalities and manage changing priorities.
Since administrative assistants are taking on a far broader range of responsibilities than they formerly handled, you may find yourself:
Managing budgets
Making purchasing decisions
Planning company events, including webinars and other virtual meetings
Preparing PowerPoint presentations for managers and other team members
Helping colleagues get up to speed with new software and technology
Managing communications with vendors, clients and employees
Managing social media accounts
Assisting in hiring and recruitment
Handling accounting, payroll and HR functions
In today's job market, many employers are struggling to find talented administrative professionals. The latest Salary Guide From Robert Half lists administrative assistant jobs as one of the hottest U.S. job opportunties in the customer service and administrative support field. And if learning new skills appeals to you, 48% of managers responding to a Robert Half survey said they address skills deficiencies by upskilling administrative and customer service employees in areas such as AI platforms, database software and advanced Excel.
Additionally, 39% of managers in the survey report paying for employees to obtain professional certifications, with another 35% engaging contract talent in administrative roles as a strategy to address skills gaps. If you’re a quick learner with the drive to succeed, working at an administrative assistant job is a good place to be — but don’t be surprised if you find yourself rising quickly through the ranks as you grow your skills and experience.
Curious about how much an administrative assistant can earn? Use the Robert Half Salary Calculator to discover location-specific salary ranges and research national comparisons of administrative assistant salaries.
No matter where you live (or want to live), employers are likely looking for promising administrative assistants. Wherever there are offices of a certain size, there will be jobs for talented administration professionals.
Although not all, many companies have administrative roles that allow you to work remotely. You’ll find a variety of remote, contract and contract-to-hire administrative assistant roles up for grabs on our jobs board. Flexible work arrangements are here to stay, so if the traditional 9-to-5 workday doesn’t suit your style or availability, there are other options available.
Just as admin assistant work exists in virtually every geography, it also cuts across nearly every industry. If, for example, you want to work in the advertising or legal industry, you can begin with an entry-level administrative assistant position while building up your resume and learning the business.
Once in the door, you can observe the industry up close, start to build your professional network, and find out if it offers the kind of career track you want to follow.
Administrative assistants find their work satisfying for many reasons, from the variety of the tasks they perform to the satisfaction that comes from helping colleagues do their own jobs better.
Support staff roles can be very rewarding, especially with increasing responsibilities and opportunities for administrative assistants. Employers appreciate professionals who can multitask while paying attention to detail and those who are able to demonstrate grace under pressure.
If you’re wondering about the career path for admin assistants, there is no shortage of intriguing opportunities, especially for those with organizational and leadership skills. In some cases, administrative assistant career paths can lead to high-level or managerial positions. Here are just a few examples:
Senior executive assistant. Working with the most senior managers can be a fast-paced and rewarding career.
Facilities manager. In this role, you’ll oversee teams of administrators, with responsibilities ranging from operations workflow to planning office moves.
Senior data entry specialist. Even in the age of automation, the ability to input high volumes of data with speed and accuracy is a valuable administrative skill that can open many doors on your career path. At the senior level, data entry specialists need those skills along with the ability to supervise others.
Medical coding manager. Healthcare is a very hot industry, and if you have experience in coding used by medical practices, hospitals and insurance companies, your specialized skills could help you earn an attractive salary.
As you can see, the administrative assistant role isn’t just a fulfilling job in its own right — it can be both an enjoyable and educational step on the career ladder as you work your way up to high-paying, high-profile positions.
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