What’s the best career path for an administrative assistant?

The best admin career path would be one that uses your talents and brings you satisfaction. There is no “best” career field. An admin should expect to deal with spreadsheets, word documents, schedules, event planning, organizing, communicating with others, writing, proofing, data entry, and so much more. The admin field covers many different job duties, but most will require good grammar and verbal skills, and computer skills and software knowledge. I hope this helps.

Admins usually feel there is no way “Up” in this field. If you are well organized, reliable, efficient in the work you do and show initiative to learn more, there are managers who will work with you. Years ago, as a teenager, I started working as an admin because of exceptional typing skills. With a lot of initiative and managers who encourage staff to strive for improvement, I have branched into various aspects in the admin field. I maintain our books (accounting) for the firm; I function as a Off. Manager; I am the “go to” person for all the questions our staff might have. Although my title hasn’t changed, the most effective title would be “right-hand man”. I am satisfied in being known as an admin staff, but I am greatly pleased at what I am able to do for myself and my firm as well. Good luck, and strive to learn something new every day. Life is too short, not to.

I don’t think there is a set career path. I would say the skills and education you have will tell you where you can start. I received a certificate of completion for office assistant from a local community college. When I graduated the only jobs I previously held involved working with children. I was able to pull my organizational skills and others of that type for my resume. But a lot of employers wanted experience in the administrative field. I ended up starting my career as a receptionist because it was an entry level position. I was able to show my skill set I learned in high school and college. Those experiences landed me a higher paying position with another company as a receptionist, and have since been promoted to administrative assistant. As the company grows and higher admin assistant or secretary positions open, I would hope to advance. Like others have mentioned, there are many different directions you can go within the field. You just have to decide what you are best at and what you enjoy. Not every administrative assistant covers the same duties.

I agree with everyone that there is no set career path. You need to decide what you like. I know people who have been receptionists for years and love it. They like the involvement with the outside. Yet I know others who prefer a position where they have variety.

I started in the Admin field 5 years ago as a Receptionist. After about a year I was promoted to HR Administrative Assistant. I left that company a few years ago and I am currently the Office Manager for a small company where I do a little of everything (HR, Accounting, Payroll, Scheduling, Project Management)- my days are never boring, always a little hetic and I love it. I am one of those people who likes to be busy and loves the fact that you never know what challenges a day will bring.

I don’t agree with Egadz regarding the four year degree. I have an Associates Degree and my lack of a four year degree has not held me back. In less than five years I went from Entry level Receptionist to an Office Manager.

Bottom line is you need to decide what will make you happy, find a great company, and work hard.

To the voice of Experience. I think it is presumptuous to say “get out of the admin ranks”. Speaking as someone who has a college degree and LOVES the administrative duties she does, I take offense whenever someone says “no one wants to be a secretary forever”. The administrative field can be just as rewarding to someone who enjoys their work as any other field that you can get a degree for. or for any other job you might have as long as you love what you do. I am an office manager for a busy sales office and I would NEVER want to be a sales person. It takes a certain kind of person to be a sales person and it also take a special kind of person to take care of the salespeople. I am the one that EVERYONE goes to when they want to know how to do ANYTHING in the office or on the computer, and whenever there is anything they need. I like to be that person. And I think that I am just as important to the bottom line as any other person in the company all the way up to the top.

I think that saying “No one wants to be a secretary forever” is terrible! My mother was promoted to Administrative Assistant last year and still has a signature tag on her e-mail that reads “Secretary”. She is proud of what she does and that she helps so many others and does teh best work she can.

You need to remember that it takes all kinds to make the world go round! If there were no secretaries then what would you do?