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Administrative assistants now function as office managers, communication specialists, and software superusers. Completion of an administrative assistant program is not necessary to get a job, but it is important to choose a focus before selecting a program to ensure that courses are available in the appropriate areas. Schools that offer internships with an administrative assistant program should go to the top of the list.
The role of the administrative assistant has evolved dramatically as technology has changed standard office procedures. Administrative assistants now function as office managers, desktop editors, communication specialists, and software superusers. It is also often the duty of the administrative assistant to train staff on new office equipment and business software programs. This means that the most effective administrative assistant programs will offer classes with the latest office technologies and provide students with software skills and knowledge that are up to date, if not ahead of trends in business practices.
Completion of an administrative assistant program is not necessary to get a job, but there are several skills required to actually function as an administrative assistant. If one has no previous office experience, the best path is to complete a two-year administrative assistant program at a community college, technical college, or business training school. The least expensive programs will likely be at public community colleges, but cost is not always the most important factor. The first step in selection is to make a list of all the local schools that offer an administrative assistant program. Then compare all classes offered. Courses must include the latest versions of the most popular trading software. In the United States, these are usually Microsoft Office programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Access, Excel and Outlook.
Checking online job postings for a candidate’s location is an excellent way to build a list of the most common software programs and skills desired. Some other basics are Adobe Acrobat, for creating forms, HTML and CSS for working with websites. A lot depends on the industry you want to work in. For example, an administrative assistant position at a marketing company will likely require more creative desktop publishing tasks, and a position at an accounting firm will require more knowledge of financial software. It is important to choose a focus before selecting an administrative assistant program to ensure that courses are available in the appropriate areas.
Schools that offer internships with an administrative assistant program should go to the top of the list. This is the best way to network, network for future work, and gain the experience you need before your job search. If there are no schools with internships available, schools in large metropolitan areas will offer more opportunities to create their own internship opportunity for those who lack experience. After matching course offerings to desired skills and comparing costs, call the schools at the top of the list and ask about job placement assistance and instructor training. Instructors with Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) credentials are guaranteed to be up-to-date with the latest and greatest business software technologies.
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