Administrative Assistant Career

Administrative Assistant Careers That Match Your Lifestyle

As an administrative assistant, you can easily create a career that fits around your lifestyle. Plus, administrative assistants work in almost every industry, you have a greater chance of finding a job that you enjoy and working with similar-minded professionals.

Skills You Need to Become an Administrative Assistant

At a minimum, administrative assistants need to:

• Be able to competently use a computer and common software programs
• Possess good written and spoken communication skills
• Be well organized
• Be able to manage their time efficiently
• Possess problem-solving skills

Where Do Administrative Assistants Work?

The greatest number of administrative assistant jobs are in schools, medical settings, government agencies, and legal offices. With so many available options, you can seek out work in a company where you would enjoy working. In addition to the basic abilities listed above, some positions and industries require that administrative assistants possess additional skills and knowledge. For instance, if you are looking for work in a front office job, you will need to possess excellent attention to detail, good concentration (no succumbing to distractions), and above-average computer skills. If you want to work in a hospital or doctor’s office, you should have a basic working knowledge of medical terminology, while work in a legal office requires familiarity with legal terms.  

Benefits Available for Administrative Assistants

Benefits vary widely between jobs, but you can expect to receive at least some of the following:

• Paid vacations
• Medical insurance
• Life insurance
• Sick leave
• Retirement benefits

Look out for the perks that are most important to you when deciding which jobs to apply for.  

Part Time or Full Time?

Another consideration is whether you would rather work part-time or full-time. There are advantages to both, depending on your needs and lifestyle. For instance, as a full-time worker, you are more likely to receive a greater number of benefits and, of course, a higher salary. You can learn more about what administrative assistants in Texas and other areas make by visiting the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

If your primary concern is being with your children, your choice may depend on the age of your kids. For parents of older children, the best option could be to seek part-time work. Lastly, you need to consider workload versus professional development. Although you will need to work more as a full-time employee, this may give you the opportunity to move up through the company to a higher position in the near future. 

Start your administrative assistant career by taking a course that offers training specific for the area in which you want to work. Employers in Texas see qualified administrative assistants as a valuable asset to their company, and you are much more likely to be hired if you hold a certification versus if you simply possess basic job skills and require on-the-job training. A certification may also open up more employment opportunities, including interesting jobs with higher salaries and better benefits that may eventually lead to positions with more responsibility.