Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

conventional interests greet customers computer telephone material appropriate personnel database operate equipment file

Administrative Assistant (Admin Assistant), Administrative Secretary (Admin Secretary), Office Assistant, Secretary

What they do:
Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.
On the job, you would:
  • Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
  • Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.

Knowledge

Business

  • administrative services
  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Self Control

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Microsoft Dynamics Hot Technology
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Hot Technology

Data base user interface and query software

  • Blackboard software
  • Yardi software Hot Technology

Video conferencing software

  • Cisco Webex Hot Technology
  • Zoom Hot Technology

Education

high school diploma/GED or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Certifications
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Salary:

$46,290
$31,600
$64,150
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about secretaries and administrative assistants.