You might have “assistant” in your job title, but that doesn’t make you an unimportant part of the office. In fact, plenty of professionals place a significant amount of reliance on the performance of their assistants — which means the assistants who can’t meet their standards will need to find a new employer sooner rather than later. If you want to improve your job prospects, or if you want to impress your current bosses and stay in the job you got, here are a few ways to make yourself more invaluable as an administrative assistant.
Gain Additional Credentials in Your Specific Field
There are many different types of administrative assistants, from legal administrative assistants to accounting administrative assistants to medical administrative assistants and more. Usually, specializing unlocks more advanced and more lucrative career opportunities, so you might consider pursuing credentials that demonstrate your aptitude in working in a particular field. You should be able to find certifications, degree programs and other credentialing opportunities online, like this program for medical administrative assistants. You can also ask your boss for guidance in finding the most advantageous credentials based on your career aspirations.
Experiment With New Tech Often
Administrative assistants are often asked to utilize new software solutions designed to improve the functionality of an office space. These applications might serve to improve the scheduling process, streamline office supplies management or help team members stay coordinated. In any case, learning a new computer program can be difficult, but it is essential that administrative assistants can undertake this task quickly and efficiently.
You might try to stay ahead of your boss by examining the latest administrative software releases on your own. Most software companies offer free trials or free tiers of their programs, so potential customers can get a taste of available features. You might use this opportunity to gain familiarity with applications that have the potential to improve your office, so you are ready to deploy these solutions if asked.
Learn How to Prioritize Important Tasks
As an administrative assistant, you have to field all manner of requests from various members of your office. However, not all requests are created equal; some are much more pressing, and it is imperative that you develop a keen ability to determine which tasks matter more and which can wait. There are many different methods professionals use to prioritize effectively, and you might experiment with them to find a system that works well for you.
Train Under the Customer Service Department
In many ways, administrative assistants are not unlike customer service representatives — just that your customers are the workers within your office. Like a customer service professional, you need to understand what someone is asking, deliver the services they need and keep everyone appropriately calm throughout the process. The best customer service providers are unendingly patient and have excellent emotional intelligence while also managing to communicate effectively and solve problems. If you struggle in any of these areas, you might consider enrolling in some customer service training, either through your current employer or online.
Understand How to Function as Office Manager
Low-level administrative assistants may have only a few duties, and with more responsibility comes higher pay. Often, in smaller offices, administrative assistants wear multiple hats, functioning as front-office staff as well as support for leaders in the back office. Senior administrative assistants may even be awarded responsibilities associated with office management.
Office managers take charge of the physical workspace, ensuring that staff have the right supplies to do their work. They may also contribute to the decoration and maintenance of the office space, so the premises look professional, function efficiently and feel comfortable for all. By demonstrating your proficiency in office management tasks, you may be able to elevate your status as an administrative assistant to unlock new paths up your career ladder.
Assistants are as critical to the function of an office as almost any other employee — especially when they go out of their way to make themselves critical cogs in the business machine. By investing in your own professional development, you can prove your worth to your employer and create the career of your dreams.