Common questions about for an Administrative Assistant

Aside from the education requirements, which are more demanding for executive administrative assistants, administrative assistants usually focus on a department or work process. Executive administrative assistants focus more on people and positions. Also, executive administrative assistants tend to be involved in event planning, project management and strategic business planning.

Administrative assistants can advance to become executive administrative assistants. This normally requires having a bachelor's degree and may also require having CAP certification. You will need to have some years of experience and also, preferably, knowledge of the business. With the knowledge and experience you gain as an executive secretary, you could possibly move up to become a manager.

Some of the most ideal skills for an administrative assistant include:

• Organization: A quality secretary makes sure no one misses a meeting, files are easy to find and the office runs smoothly
• Communication: You need to be able to speak clearly, communicate information accurately and write well
• Attention to detail: Your writing, data entry and reporting have to be error-free to present information accurately and professionally
• Time management: You may work for multiple people, perhaps within multiple departments, which makes your own time management very important