Administrative Assistant Duties and Required Skills

Administrative assistants are primarily responsible for coordinating the operational tasks of any office, ranging from medical and legal firms to schools and . The specific duties and required skills of an administrative assistant change based on their place of employment and level of expertise, but generally include a combination of clerical and managerial tasks.

The advent of technology in the modern office has greatly expanded the role of the administrative assistant, and many employers now expect job applicants to possess strong computer skills along with basic administrative training. In the past, the majority of administrative assistants honed their skills through on-the-job experience. However, with the demand for administrative assistants currently booming, interested candidates should master the basic duties of an administrative assistant prior to looking for employment.

Basic Duties & Skills

The basic duties of an administrative assistant have remained largely unchanged since the professionals were known as “secretaries”. Their main responsibility is to keep their place of employment running smoothly, thus all of their duties relate back to the operational proceedings of an office. These duties may include scheduling meetings, answering phones, managing databases, disseminating information (through email and internal memos), creating spreadsheets, generating reports, ordering equipment, and working with clients or customers.

The basic skills of an administrative assistant are directly related to the tasks they will be expected to perform. The most essential skill for an administrative assistant is communication. Successful administrative assistants are highly-skilled in typing, writing, grammar, punctuation, and oral communication (which means speaking clearly and correctly on the telephone). Interpersonal skills and client relations are also of paramount importance. Administrative assistants should also be highly organized individuals – their entire job is based around organization! Other skills include good judgement, punctuality, initiative, a good work ethic, and managerial skills.

In addition, employers now expect administrative assistants to have extensive knowledge of computer software. Programs may vary based on the employer, but usually cover word processing, desktop publishing, report generation, project management, and other such relevant applications. Individuals interested in a career as an administrative assistant should brush up on their computer skills in order to make a good impression during the application period! The most versatile candidates are the most attractive to employers.

Specific Duties & Skills

Administrative assistants enjoy a large amount of flexibility in their career path. Just as there are many different kinds of offices, there are many types of administrative assistants with expertise in a particular field. The specific duties of certain types administrative assistants are directly related to the professionals they serve. Though their duties are often clerical in nature, the tasks require a more precise skill set to perform. The most major fields that require administrative assistants with specialized training are medicine and law.

Medical administrative assistants must be aware of medical terminology and procedures in order to effectively do their job. They must be knowledgeable of medical ethics, billing, equipment, and other such operational tasks inherent to the medical field. As assistants to physicians and medical scientists, medical administrative assistants are skilled in researching, writing, preparing reports, and creating presentations as well.

Legal administrative assistants, like their medical counterparts, work in a highly specialized field and therefore must have working knowledge of the law and legal procedures in order to gain employment. They assist lawyers and other legal professionals by composing legal papers such as briefs, motions, and subpoenas. These technical documents can only be prepared by an administrative assistant with a solid background in legal terminology and proceedings.
 
 

Top Administrative Assistant Schools

  • Career Point College Online

    Imagine an exciting new career in the medical, business, legal or computer fields. Career Point College is a great place to learn all of the skills you will need to succeed in these industries and get the future you want! In as few as eight months for a diploma, 15 months for an Associate’s, and 18 months for a Bachelor’s (with an Associate’s first), you could be prepared to enter the job marketplace. Whether it is because of our accelerated programs, hands-on training, personal attention, flexible schedules, lifetime placement assistance or lifetime refresher training, you will see Career Point College is the right school for you!

  • Potomac College

    Potomac College offers students the opportunity to take advantage of all of the same courses, programs, and specializations online that are offered at either of their two physical campuses. This allows students the convenience of flexibility and makes it an ideal institution for fulltime working adults, military persons, or anyone with a busy, demanding schedule seeking to pursue a college degree. In fact, many of our students residing in a close proximity to either our Washington, DC or Herndon, VA campuses have chosen to take both online and on-campus courses for an accommodating blended program.

    Imagine being able to pursue your degree at a pace and time that works with your busy schedule. Potomac College offers practical and tailored curricula to a diverse community of working adults and students. It is our goal to make education obtainable regardless of a student’s schedule and finances. Our academic advisors are trained to assess your educational needs and tailor a curriculum that matches your career goals and expected time of completion.

  • Harrison College

    Harrison College is a nationally accredited college with more than 75,000 graduates. We offer a unique learning environment for students who want to pursue a career-focused, quality education and complete their degree in a student-centered atmosphere. In order to achieve your goals, we believe it’s important for us to take the time to get to know you. In fact, our students are often surprised at the one-on-one attention they receive here as compared to other institutions. You’ll experience it throughout every stage of your Harrison experience, from our Admissions Representatives to our Career Services staff and financial aid analysts to our course instructors. Each of us believes it is our goal to help you achieve yours.

  • TCI - Technical Career Institute

    TCI College is a New York City based technical school that offers continuing technical education to students who want on-site specialized training in competitive fields. Technical Career Institutes provides students with technical training such as web site design, health information technology, electronic engineering technology, and heating ventilation and air conditioning. TCI also offers career placement assistance upon graduation. Visit TCI College in New York City located in lower Manhattan.

  • Career Point College

    Imagine an exciting new career in the medical, business, legal or computer fields. Career Point College is a great place to learn all of the skills you will need to succeed in these industries and get the future you want! In as little as 8-11 months for a Diploma or 18 months for an Associate’s Degree, you can graduate and join the workforce. Whether it is because of our accelerated programs, hands-on training, personal attention, flexible schedules, on-site daycare, lifetime placement assistance or lifetime refresher training, you will see Career Point College is the right school for you!

  • ASA The College For Excellence

    ASA The College For Excellence specializes in offering a superior value in higher education, with programs that balance traditional academic preparation with professional training and hands-on experience. 80% of Graduating Students get into the career field of their choice and many go on to advanced degrees!

  • Milan Institute

    We believe that each student at Milan Institute holds the key to his or her own success. Our staff and instructors strive to help each student develop the professionalism that will open a world of creativity and knowledge. Milan Institute offers a college atmosphere conducive to learning and individual growth. Excellent training and job placement assistance enable our students to become enterprising professionals.

  • Salter College

    Salter College, a private two-year college, offers an enriching balance of liberal arts and professional career education. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our students through quality education and support services while fostering an environment that inspires academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and an interest in life-long learning and continued higher education.

  • West Virginia Junior College

    Our programs are designed for you to be job-ready in months with career-focused, hands-on training in a friendly, small-school environment where you receive individual attention.

    As a WVJC student, you will have access to modern classrooms and laboratory equipment, individualized attention in a small class setting, and job placement assistance.

    Along with academic credentials and certifications, our faculty brings industry knowledge to the classroom, helping students understand both theory and real-world experiences.

  • Laurus College

    Our mission is to provide every student with a quality education and a quality experience that prepares you for success in the global marketplace of the modern world. To do this we provide focused instruction and personalized caring to every student. Our emphasis on career opportunities in all of our program offerings helps open up avenues of opportunity that previously may have gone unrealized.