Choosing a Career in Administrative Assistance
Choosing a career is a hefty task that requires keen scrutiny of all aspects of the career one intends to join. This paper analyses all the aspects and requirements needed to pursue a successful career in administrative assistance. The career involves management and distribution of information within an office. From tasks such as filing, storage of information, answering calls and managing flow of visitors into and out of the office premises. Administrative assistants also support other staff members as part of their job description making them necessary in every kind of office such as government, legal, school, medical and even commercial offices across all industries. The working hours involved with this career path are full-time eight-hour working days.
Research and Information Sources
This research draws information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website that describes the various metrics and specifications of the career path. The website contains all relevant information describing the aspects of this career such as responsibilities, wages, work environment and the general outlook of the career within the industry presently. In addition, the website also provides information about other careers that bear significant similarity with administrative assistance. From this battery of informative web pages, this paper discusses the various characteristics, aspects, requirements, and implications of administrative assistance as a suitable career path.
Occupational Outlook
This describes the degree of expected change in the number of new employees in a particular industry or career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between the years 2016 and 2026, the number of administrative assistants and secretaries is projected to decline by five percent (Statistics, 2016). This is due to the ever-increasing popularity of the career. New employment will arise due to the need to replace leaving, retiring or promoted employees that previously held the position.
Factors Affecting the Career
Certain factors affect the work requirements and daily activities of administrative assistants in their career. Technology has transformed the workplace over the last few decades and this has impacted the field of administrative assistance the most. The introduction of computers and mobile phones has caused changes in office tasks such as communication, filing, and access of data as well as security. This has even affected the way training for the career path is offered with institutions focusing on developing writing, etiquette, and computer/IT skills to provide this service effectively in the current industry. The legislation also affects the career extensively as various laws exist that require businesses to meet certain safety and health regulations before enrolling any person as an employee and these regulations are made aware to the said employees. This is a single example among many other laws that affect the recruitment and employment of administrative assistants. Global working practices also influence the work of administrative assistants. Such practices include requirements on working hours with certain companies requiring full-time, part-time or satellite workers depending on the requirements of the company.
Required Skills
Being an administrative assistant requires excellent writing and communication skills which I have acquired and will continue to acquire as I further my education. The career also requires good organizational skills especially with tasks that require filing and organization of documents. I have had previous experience with filing and data storage which has equipped me with skills necessary to perform such tasks effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, being an administrative assistant requires passion in order to progress within the ranks as well as perform to the required expectations. It has been my aspiration to pursue a career in administrative assistance, indicative of my passion for the job.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of an administrative assistant are vast. They are responsible for handling and operating all communication channels in the office. This means they take all calls and process all physical and electronic mail as well as distributing information between offices within the company. In addition to this, they are tasked with management and storage of records and other documents within a company or organization. Other tasks that fall on the shoulders of administrative assistants are basic housekeeping tasks that involve maintenance of the office environment; ensuring it is clean and tidy. Other basic bookkeeping and database accuracy management tasks are also entrusted to administrative assistants.
Job Market and Earning Potential
There are over fifty thousand jobs annually in the field of administrative assistance in the United States. These are scattered in various fields such as medical, education and business sectors. In the medical sector, the career is expected to grow in the rate of employment by thirty-six percent by 2022 due to increase in demand for medical care for the aging. Other sectors are however projected to grow only by a meager twelve percent by 2022 and an overall decline by five percent by the year 2026(Statistics, 2016). The career pays substantially well with the bottom ten percent earning around twenty thousand dollars annually while the top ten percent earning up to fifty-seven thousand dollars per annum.
Conclusion
The above career choice allows one to have some time to spend with the family without making significant lifestyle adjustments. It is fairly easy to pursue the career within the United States upon meeting required certifications and qualifications. Developing communication, writing and organizational skills is important for longevity and progress within the ranks of the said career path.
References
Statistics, B. O. L. (2016). Occupational outlook handbook. Claitors Pub. Division.
