4 Important Skills to Have as an Administrative Assistant

worker writing in a notebook next to a computer

Unquestionably, one of the most critical roles in top-performing companies across industries, is also one of the most underrated, underappreciated, and misunderstood – the administrative assistant.

Why they can go by many names, the administrative assistant does much more than answer the phone and greet guests upon their arrival. Instead, these born multitaskers are the backbone of the executive branch of the company, responsible for everything from scheduling to communication. So, knowing how critical administrative assistants are, the only next logical question is; what makes a good one?

Glad you asked, and today, we are going to cover just that, with some of the essential skills to have if you want to succeed as an administrative assistant.

Proficient in technology

First off, the word to remember here is proficient. And while the more skills you have, the better, you should be able and confident in using basic scheduling software and apps, word process, spreadsheets and other basic office suite programs, and email. If you can confidently do all of that and can learn new things quickly, you should have no problem with this one.

Good communication

From the time you were in grade school, this skill has likely followed you, and for a good reason. Being able to communicate efficiently is critical for an administrative assistant. From emails that go company-wide to writing letters from the executive team, being able to quickly and confidently convey oneself is a must, but that shouldn’t discount verbal.

Good verbal communication will help you deal with a variety of coworkers, from the top down, which will likely be the case in your job role. Plus, you’ll act as the voice of the company in many respects, so your superiors need to have confidence in your ability.

Time management

If you can’t manage your own time well, how can you be expected to maintain someone else’s? Or for that matter, several people, as is often the case with the modern administrative assistant. Being able to think in large blocks of time will be very helpful in allowing you to plan and manage the day-to-day activities of the business. Plus, being able to use handy software to streamline the process will go even further to make you better at this task, along with also making it more manageable.

Anticipate needs

What separates a good assistant from an out of this world one is their ability to anticipate needs and get a jump start on tasks before they are asked. While this may seem like the work of a mind reader, once you get in the swing of things, you’ll be amazed at how well you can anticipate the needs of those you work for.

Looking for a career change but not sure where to begin? Contact Ascend Staffing today and discover the difference an experienced staffing professional can provide.

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