Tag Archives: Administrative Professionals Day

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

You might be aware that we celebrate Administrative Professionals Day every year, but did you know why? Everything started during World War II, when there was a shortage of administrative personnel in the United States due to a decline in birth rates.

As a result, the National Secretaries Association was created to promote administrative roles and their importance to the economy. It was in their first year that the Association created National Administrative Professionals Day, then known as National Secretary’s Day.

We now celebrate this day every year to honor administrative assistants for all the work they do. If you’re an administrative professional, or looking to start a career in administrative work, we at Job Journey would like to thank you with a curated selection of blogs made just for you. (more…)

Job Spotlight: Administrative Assistant

Are you ready for an admin adventure?

Despite already having experience with several jobs, many working adults are unable to answer that age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Our Job Spotlight monthly blog series is designed to help with that. In this series, we review all the basics of specific job types, from salary and duties to why people do the jobs they do.

Administrative Assistant

For this month’s Job Spotlight, we’ve chosen to focus on administrative assistants, since tomorrow is Administrative Professionals Day.

Administrative assistants do more than answer the phone. They keep the office running, act as gatekeepers, distribute mail, and master spreadsheets. A perpetually positive disposition and an organized mind are must-have qualities.

Many administrative assistants work with a variety of coworkers from different departments, from accounting and sales to marketing and more. Every day is different—you never know who might walk through the door or call on the phone.

Required Education

High school diploma or GED certificate.

Salary

Although it varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.) administrative assistants can make as much as $40,000 per year.

What Administrative Assistants Do

Administrative assistants handle a variety of responsibilities, which may include:

  • Managing the boss’s calendar.
  • Processing and distributing mail.
  • Data-entry and typing.
  • Answering/screening phone calls.
  • Interacting with clients or customers daily.
  • Acting as the liaison between multiple departments.
  • Preparing conference rooms for meetings.
  • Taking minutes during meetings.
  • And more, depending on the position in question.

What Companies Look for in Administrative Assistants

Although every position is different, a few key skills include:

  • Two or more years of experience in an office setting.
  • Basic understanding of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Type 30+ words per minute.
  • Being a self-motivated multitasker.
  • Verbal and written communication skills.
  • A friendly, outgoing demeanor.
  • Organizational skills.
  • The ability to solve problems skillfully and quickly.

Are you an administrative assistant? How do you feel about your position? Let us know in the comments below!

Portraits of Hope: Administrative Professional Helen Simmons

Helen HeadshotsWith Administrative Professionals’ Day taking place on April 26, we thought it would be appropriate to spotlight one of our own incredibly talented associates. Meet Helen Simmons — a truly exceptional administrative professional.  In fact, Express selected her as the Administrative Employee of the Year in 2012 due to her various talents, flexibility, and strong work ethic.

Helen began working for Express Employment Professionals in 2010 after the economic downturn forced her to close the custom painting business she and her daughter owned in Skagit County, Washington.

Sadly, she eventually lost her home, as well as her business. Desperate for work, Helen remembers calling Express when she realized she had to do something just to cover her basic living expenses.

“They called me back right away and within a few days found me a job,” she said. “I went to work for Express, and I haven’t looked back. Of course, I hope to find that one dream job, but in the meantime, I like the challenge of taking on different positions.”

Some of the other jobs Helen has held include working at a local firehouse as a receptionist and administrative assistant, organizing a dinner and auction which raised $150,000 for a local nonprofit organization, and working for an interior design firm.

What is Helen’s favorite part about being an administrative professional? The people. As Helen says,  “I am a relationship person and so one of the things I enjoy most is getting to meet new people.”

Interested in reading more about Helen and our other incredible associates? Check out Portraits of Hope online.

Portraits of Hope is a book inspired by and dedicated to jobseekers, the hard working, and the individuals who believe that every job, no matter how big or small, is an opportunity to rise above and be more.

 

Strengths of Administrative Professionals

Administrative Professionals Day honors the skills needed to truly excel in the position.

Administrative-Professionals-Day_v21Businesses couldn’t exist without administrative professionals. These are the men and women who run the ship. They do so much more than schedule meetings and answer phone calls. They are often the first person to greet clients or prospects and given that they spend so much time interacting with the public, they need to know everything about the company, from history and departments to statistics, personnel, and more. That’s true dedication.

So what makes for a truly skilled administrative professional?

1.       Communication Skills

Above all else, an administrative professional needs to be able to communicate. As the first point of contact for the office or department, they act as the gatekeeper. A talented administrative professional has an open personality reflective of the company’s own culture and values. He or she communicates with a wide variety of individuals of varying backgrounds, from unsatisfied customers to CEOs. An administrative professional also knows how to communicate across numerous channels, from telephone to in-person to email.

2.       Patience

Administrative professionals must communicate with the executive suite daily to achieve the goals of their department. This can be quite difficult, given the busy schedules of executives, so patience is a must. Administrative professionals must be kings and queens of managing personalities and working through (and sometimes around) problems.

3.       Organizational Expertise

They are able to manage not only their own schedules, but also those of pretty much everyone else. As gatekeepers, they keep track of everyone who enters or leaves the department or office. They meticulously sort through and organize electronic documents and emails. Disorganization is not acceptable on any level. Multitasking skills are a necessity — no two days are ever the same. All of this work requires an incredibly organized mind, given that an administrative professional may be called upon to locate a person or document at a moment’s notice.

4.       Professionalism

Administrative professionals are expected to dress in line with the company’s public image. But professionalism is about more than just dress. It’s also about conduct. They are frequently the first point of contact for vendors and customers. As such, any time spent staring at a phone or surfing the web reflects poorly on the business as a whole.

5.       Technology Know-how

In today’s world, technology skills are essential for strong administrative professionals. At the very least, they should be proficient in the main Microsoft Office Suite programs (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint). The more they know about other programs, such as social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), the better.

Looking for Your Next Administrative Opportunity?

We’re here to help. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S. and Canada. We employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. If you have any questions about the job search, contact your local Express office or create an Express account to apply for jobs online.

 

Looking to become an administrative professional? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day

admins day_April2014Today is Administrative Professionals’ Day, observed in countries around the world to highlight the significant contribution of administrative professionals.

The day came about during World War II, when there was a shortage of administrative personnel in the United States. Now in the U.S., more than 4 million administrative assistants are part of the workforce. In Canada, the number is upward of 475,000.

As years go by and the profession continues to evolve, they deserve to be celebrated for their efforts and the behind the scenes work that many people don’t see.

At Express Employment Professionals, we are proud of our administrative associates and want to wish them a very happy Administrative Professionals’ Day!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.