Administrative assistants handle an office’s administrative activities in nearly every industry, which makes this a versatile and attractive career choice for many. Administrative professionals typically assist with inbound phone calls, scheduling of meetings and events both internally and externally for the business, handle incoming and outgoing mail, edit documents and presentations for meetings, prepare reports, maintain databases and filing systems (both online and offline), and perform basic bookkeeping duties.
Administrative office professionals, or assistants and sometimes referred to as secretaries, use computer software like Microsoft Office to prepare spreadsheets, presentations, reports, and documents for their office team. They may also use videoconferencing and cloud-based file management to connect and coordinate with remote team members. Specific job duties for any assistant position will vary by industry; for example, an assistant in a school environment may handle communication with parents, students, teachers, and the community as well as keeping track of student records and visitors to the school.
Successful administrative assistants are detail-oriented and can be trusted to handle sensitive information in an office. They possess strong interpersonal skills and help to create and foster a positive work environment for the office to run efficiently and effectively.
